HBF health insurance

Is it a good health insurer?

HBF has 18 hospital and 8 extras policies in our comparison, from $92.06 a month for hospital cover (Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess, after rebate).

Issued by HBF Health Limited. Hospital, extras or both.

Explore 18 hospital and 8 extras products, or find cover by treatment. Sources for HBF

Reviewed, Edited and Designed by

Grace Connolly

Created with AI assistance

Our editorial process

Page updated 26 October 2026 · Prices effective 9 September 2026

I need cover for…

Compare cover across all Australian health funds.

HBF cover: the main choices.

For pain management with a device

Bronze Hospital Plus covers pain management with a device. Check the hospital cover for exclusions and restricted benefits before choosing.

Compare hospital inclusions

If you claim psychology every year

Core Extras has a $400 psychology limit that it shares with other services. Check the extras benefits for shared pools and claim conditions.

See the benefit differences

Before you pay for Basic Plus

Basic Hospital Plus Elevate adds blood treatment and other categories compared with Basic Hospital Plus. What the hospital cover step costs depends on your household, state and excess.

Compare hospital inclusions

HBF policies and example prices.

The profile you choose updates the HBF price tables, hospital shortlist and alternative-policy comparison below.

Who needs cover?

SingleCoupleFamilySingle parent

State or territory

Hospital excess

Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess · example premiums after rebate.

Monthly examples include the 24.118% government rebate, the maximum for adults under 65. Your rebate and final quote may differ.

Price assumptions

Need an HBF price for your circumstances? Compare HBF with cover across all Australian health funds.

Compare my options

Hospital cover

9 of 18 product lines

HBF hospital policies: monthly example premiums after rebate for Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess
Tier	Product	Monthly premium after rebate	Explore
Basic	Basic Hospital Accident OnlyBasic Hospital Accident Only	$79.96/monthat $750 excess	Policy details: Basic Hospital Accident Only
Basic Plus	Basic Hospital PlusBasic Hospital Plus	$92.06/month	Policy details: Basic Hospital Plus
Basic Plus	Basic Hospital Plus ElevateBasic Hospital Plus Elevate	$106.93/month	Policy details: Basic Hospital Plus Elevate
Bronze Plus	Lite Bronze Hospital PlusLite Bronze Hospital Plus	$106.60/month	Policy details: Lite Bronze Hospital Plus
Bronze Plus	Bronze Hospital PlusBronze Hospital Plus	$122.19/month	Policy details: Bronze Hospital Plus
Silver Plus	Essential Silver HospitalEssential Silver Hospital	$137.70/month	Policy details: Essential Silver Hospital
Silver Plus	Silver HospitalSilver Hospital	$148.51/month	Policy details: Silver Hospital
Silver Plus	Silver Hospital PlusSilver Hospital Plus	$207.20/month	Policy details: Silver Hospital Plus
Gold	Gold Hospital ElevateGold Hospital Elevate	$341.10/month	Policy details: Gold Hospital Elevate

Not sold in NSW: Basic Hospital Accident Only & Ambulance Care, Basic Hospital Plus & Ambulance Care, Basic Hospital Plus Elevate & Ambulance Care, Bronze Hospital Plus & Ambulance Care, Lite Bronze Hospital Plus & Ambulance Care, Silver Hospital & Ambulance Care, Essential Silver Hospital & Ambulance Care, Silver Hospital Plus & Ambulance Care, Gold Hospital Elevate & Ambulance Care.

$133.90 more per month for Gold Hospital Elevate versus Silver Hospital Plus after rebate for the selected example profile.

Assisted reproductive services is an additional inclusion, not the complete list of differences.

Extras cover

8 product lines

HBF extras policies: monthly example premiums after rebate for Single in NSW, with no hospital excess
Product	Monthly premium after rebate	Explore
Smart Start ExtrasSmart Start Extras	$16.82/month	Policy details: Smart Start Extras
Basic ExtrasBasic Extras	$21.89/month	Policy details: Basic Extras
Value 50Value 50	$32.15/month	Policy details: Value 50
Flex 50Flex 50	$38.94/month	Policy details: Flex 50
Core ExtrasCore Extras	$42.37/month	Policy details: Core Extras
Flex 60Flex 60	$60.11/month	Policy details: Flex 60
Complete 60Complete 60	$73.56/month	Policy details: Complete 60
Top 70Top 70	$128.69/month	Policy details: Top 70

JavaScript is off. Prices show Single / NSW / $500 excess; the shortlist shows cataracts and the alternatives show HBF Essential Silver Hospital comparisons. All policy links remain available.

All HBF policy pages

HBF joining offer

Current offer

Up to 12 weeks free plus a gift card of up to $200

New members who start and keep eligible combined hospital and extras cover get 4 weeks free after 60 days. They get another 4 weeks after 13 months. The last 4 weeks come after 26 months. The gift card is $100 on single and single parent policies and $200 on couples and family policies.

For new members, or people who have not held an HBF policy in the last 60 days.

Ends 8 December 2026

Offer terms

Offer information checked: 26 October 2026. Prices, benefits and promotions can change. Before applying, check the insurer's official website for current availability, eligibility requirements, expiry dates and full terms. Read our Terms of Use. Report an error to info@healthinsurance.au.

HBF eligibility and offer terms

Join through HBF's website and select the promotion. HBF excludes members who join through a third-party broker or aggregator, other than Finder. Eligibility and other conditions apply.

Start eligible HBF hospital and extras cover, bought together, by 8 December 2026. The offer ends at 11.59pm AWST that day.

Pay premiums monthly or fortnightly by direct debit. If you join online, select the 'Up to 12 weeks free plus gift card' promotion.

Keep the cover for 26 months to receive all 12 weeks. Prezzee emails the gift card about 68 days after the policy starts.

You cannot get it if you redeemed another HBF promotion, save offer or corporate discount in the last 12 months. The direct debit discount does not count.

Corporate policies eligible for a corporate discount, and staff of HBF and its see-u and Queensland Country Health Fund brands, are excluded.

What does HBF hospital insurance cover?

Choose a treatment

2 HBF hospital policies fully cover cataracts

Tier	Product	Monthly premium after rebate	Explore
Silver Plus	Silver Hospital PlusSilver Hospital Plus	$207.20/month	Check policy details: Silver Hospital Plus
Gold	Gold Hospital ElevateGold Hospital Elevate	$341.10/month	Check policy details: Gold Hospital Elevate

Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess. Only policies that fully include cataracts are shown. How we read hospital categories

Compare selected treatment categories across all 18 hospital policies

Selected HBF treatment categories.

Treatment	Basic Hospital Accident Only & Ambulance CareBasic	Basic Hospital Accident OnlyBasic	Basic Hospital PlusBasic Plus	Basic Hospital Plus ElevateBasic Plus	Basic Hospital Plus & Ambulance CareBasic Plus	Basic Hospital Plus Elevate & Ambulance CareBasic Plus	Lite Bronze Hospital PlusBronze Plus	Bronze Hospital PlusBronze Plus	Bronze Hospital Plus & Ambulance CareBronze Plus	Lite Bronze Hospital Plus & Ambulance CareBronze Plus	Essential Silver HospitalSilver Plus	Silver HospitalSilver Plus	Silver Hospital PlusSilver Plus	Silver Hospital & Ambulance CareSilver Plus	Essential Silver Hospital & Ambulance CareSilver Plus	Silver Hospital Plus & Ambulance CareSilver Plus	Gold Hospital ElevateGold	Gold Hospital Elevate & Ambulance CareGold
Cataracts	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included	Included	Included	Included
Joint replacements	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included	Included	Included	Included
Heart and vascular system	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Pregnancy and birth	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Included
Assisted reproductive services	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Included
Hospital psychiatric services	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Included	Included
Pain management with a device	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Included	Not included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included
Rehabilitation	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted	Included	Restricted	Included	Restricted	Included	Included	Included	Included
Blood	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Bone, joint and muscle	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Digestive system	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Ear, nose and throat	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Gastrointestinal endoscopy	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Kidney and bladder	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Male reproductive system	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Skin	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included

How we read hospital categories

More premium does not mean more back on everything.

HBF extras limits per 12 months unless the statement says otherwise

Selected benefit	Smart Start Extras	Value 50	Core Extras	Flex 60	Complete 60	Top 70
Optical / physio benefit examples	Optical: 100% of eligible charge. Physio: $39.00 set benefit for an initial visit	Optical: 100% of eligible charge. Physio: 50% of eligible charge	Optical: 100% of eligible charge. Physio: $50.00 set benefit for an initial visit	Optical: 100% of eligible charge. Physio: 60% of eligible charge	Optical: 100% of eligible charge. Physio: 60% of eligible charge	Optical: 100% of eligible charge. Physio: 70% of eligible charge
Optical limit	$120.00	$200.00	$250.00	$220.00	$250.00	$275.00
Physiotherapy limit	$200.00Shared with chiropractic & osteopathy	$300.00Shared with chiropractic, exercise physiology & osteopathy	$400.00Shared with chiropractic, exercise physiology & osteopathy	$1,000.00Shared with general dental, major dental, endodontic and 11 more services	$500.00Shared with chiropractic, podiatry, exercise physiology, orthotics & osteopathy	$600.00Shared with exercise physiology
Major dental + endodontic limit	Not included	$500.00Shared with general dental	$800.00Shared with general dental	$1,000.00Shared with general dental, non-PBS medicines, physiotherapy and 10 more services	$800.00sub-limits apply. Shared with general dental	$1,000.00
Psychology included?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Optical waiting period	2 months	2 months	2 months	2 months	2 months	2 months
Source statement	Single-policy example	Single-policy example	Single-policy example	Single-policy example	Single-policy example	Single-policy example

Single-policy examples. Each links to its policy statement.

About these examples

Core Extras → Complete 60

Both single-policy examples have a $250 optical limit. But the upgrade raises the shared physio limit from $400 to $500.The reason to upgrade is the wider benefits you need, not an assumption that every cap rises.

Top 70's higher benefit examples

The optical examples stay at 100%, with a $275 optical limit and $600 shared physio limit for the Single-policy example.Compare these benefits with the premium.

Why HBF's shared limits and waiting periods matter

Every optical benefit shown has a standard waiting period of 2 months.

How shared limits work

HBF vs. HCF vs. Bupa

How HBF compares with similar hospital policies.

These are selected Silver Plus examples from HCF and Bupa, not identical policies or a search for the cheapest cover across the market.

Compare alternatives to

Comparing HBF Essential Silver Hospital with HCF Hospital Standard Silver Plus and Bupa Silver Plus Essential Hospital. Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess · Silver Plus hospital cover

Change price profile ↑

HBF and selected alternatives: monthly prices and verified coverage differences.

Compare	HBFEssential Silver HospitalReference policy	HCF Hospital Standard Silver Plus$3.14 more a month than HBF	Bupa Silver Plus Essential Hospital$3.52 more a month than HBF
Monthly premium after rebate	$137.70/month (lowest price in this row)	$140.84/month	$141.22/month
Cataracts	Not included	Not included	Not included
Joint replacements	Not included	Not included	Not included
Pregnancy and birth	Not included	Not included	Not included
Hospital psychiatric services	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted
Heart and vascular system	Included	Included	Included
Policy details	View HBF Essential Silver Hospital	View HCF Hospital Standard Silver Plus	View Bupa Silver Plus Essential Hospital

Price assumptions

What the differences mean for you

All 38 treatment categories have the same status for these policies. That does not mean the policies have identical terms or out-of-pocket costs.

These alternatives match HBF Essential Silver Hospital on tier, cataracts and joint replacements. How we choose alternatives

Compare all 38 hospital treatment categories

HBF and the alternatives: all 38 treatment categories, policy information as at 26 October 2026.

Compare	HBFEssential Silver Hospital	HCF Hospital Standard Silver Plus	Bupa Silver Plus Essential Hospital
Rehabilitation	Included	Included	Included
Insulin pumps	Not included	Not included	Not included
Pain management with a device	Not included	Not included	Not included
Dialysis for chronic kidney failure	Not included	Not included	Not included
Cataracts	Not included	Not included	Not included
Joint replacements	Not included	Not included	Not included
Hospital psychiatric services	Restricted	Restricted	Restricted
Pregnancy and birth	Not included	Not included	Not included
Assisted reproductive services	Not included	Not included	Not included
Heart and vascular system	Included	Included	Included
Back, neck and spine	Included	Included	Included
Blood	Included	Included	Included
Bone, joint and muscle	Included	Included	Included
Brain and nervous system	Included	Included	Included
Breast surgery (medically necessary)	Included	Included	Included
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer	Included	Included	Included
Dental surgery	Included	Included	Included
Diabetes management (excluding insulin pumps)	Included	Included	Included
Digestive system	Included	Included	Included
Ear, nose and throat	Included	Included	Included
Eye (not cataracts)	Included	Included	Included
Gastrointestinal endoscopy	Included	Included	Included
Gynaecology	Included	Included	Included
Hernia and appendix	Included	Included	Included
Implantation of hearing devices	Included	Included	Included
Joint reconstructions	Included	Included	Included
Kidney and bladder	Included	Included	Included
Lung and chest	Included	Included	Included
Male reproductive system	Included	Included	Included
Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy	Included	Included	Included
Pain management	Included	Included	Included
Palliative care	Included	Included	Included
Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary)	Included	Included	Included
Podiatric surgery (provided by a registered podiatric surgeon)	Included	Included	Included
Skin	Included	Included	Included
Sleep studies	Included	Included	Included
Tonsils, adenoids and grommets	Included	Included	Included
Weight loss surgery	Not included	Not included	Not included

Compare HBF with cover from every Australian health fund.

Compare all funds

HBF against the industry.

HBF members had no gap on 92.7% of in-hospital medical services in the 2024-25 financial year, against 87.1% across the industry. State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25 · accessed 26 October 2026
HBF paid 52.3% of members' extras (general treatment) charges in the 2024-25 financial year, against 50.7% across the industry. State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25 · accessed 26 October 2026
HBF increased premiums by an average of 2.15% in 2026, against 4.41% across the industry. Government premium-increase figures · accessed 23 October 2026

Google

3.1 / 5

136 Google reviews

Voluntary customer reviews · HBF Health Insurance Australia

Snapshot: 26 October 2026. This is the Google listing for HBF Health Insurance Australia, not a rating of HBF as a whole or a representative survey.

Read HBF Health Insurance Australia reviews at the source

Complaint share is below market share

Share of all complaints, 2024-254.4%

Market share, 30 June 20257.9%

0%12%

State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25 · checked 26 October 2026

HBF's share of complaints the Ombudsman received in 2024-25 is below its market share at 30 June 2025. Its share of complaints the Ombudsman investigated that year is 5.5%.

Latest quarter, January to March 2026. The Ombudsman referred 34 complaints about HBF Health Limited to it to resolve, 5.1% of those it referred about all insurers. It also investigated 1 complaint about HBF Health Limited, 33.3% of those it investigated about all insurers. Ombudsman Quarterly Update · checked 26 October 2026

Read the State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25

App Store

4.8 / 5

43,814 App Store ratings

HBF Health app · HBF Health LTD

Snapshot: 22 October 2026. HBF Health is HBF's own app. This rates the app on the Australian App Store, not HBF's cover or claims.

See HBF Health on the App Store

Google Play

4.6 / 5

About 9,570 Google Play reviews

HBF Health app · HBF Health Ltd

Snapshot: 22 October 2026. HBF Health is HBF's own app. This rates the app on Google Play, not HBF's cover or claims.

See HBF Health on Google Play

What review and complaint figures mean

Check the practical details.

Check your provider
Confirm that HBF recognises your provider. Ask for a treatment plan and item numbers so HBF can estimate your benefits and out-of-pocket costs.
HBF provider search
Make or track a claim
Use HBF's website for claims guidance and member login: receipts, claim tracking and remaining benefits are handled there.
Official website

Contact HBF

For quotes and joining, call 133 423. Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm (AEST).Contact details checked 22 October 2026.Official contact details and messaging options

Before you choose HBF.

Who owns HBF?

HBF is owned by its members and operates as a not-for-profit fund. That does not make every policy the best value for your needs.

Source: Government insurer profile, checked 23 October 2026.

What is the cheapest HBF hospital policy?

Basic Hospital Plus is the cheapest HBF hospital policy for a single person in NSW with a $500 hospital excess, at $92.06 a month after the 24.118% government rebate for adults under 65 (prices effective 9 September 2026). This compares all 18 HBF hospital policies, not the whole market. Check what it excludes before choosing on price.

Source: How we compare prices, checked 26 October 2026.

What changes if I move from Basic Hospital Plus to Basic Hospital Plus Elevate?

HBF Basic Hospital Plus Elevate adds cover for blood, digestive system and 8 more categories compared with Basic Hospital Plus. For the Single / NSW / $500 excess example it costs $14.87 more a month, so check what each policy covers before you upgrade.

Source: Private Health Information Statements, checked 26 October 2026.

Sources for HBF.

Policy information retrieved 26 October 2026. Prices effective 9 September 2026.

Private Health Information Statements · HBF · checked 26 October 2026
State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25 · HBF · checked 26 October 2026
Government insurer profile · HBF · checked 23 October 2026
Government premium-increase figures · HBF · checked 23 October 2026
Government rebate rates and eligibility · Australian Government · checked 26 October 2026
Google listing for HBF Health Insurance Australia · HBF · checked 26 October 2026
App Store listing for HBF Health · HBF Health LTD · checked 22 October 2026
Google Play listing for HBF Health · HBF Health Ltd · checked 22 October 2026
Official contact details · HBF · checked 22 October 2026
Offer terms · HBF · checked 26 October 2026

How we compare health insurers

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