How does HCF cover dental?

HCF offers a wide range of dental policies that will cover you for up to 100% of your treatment.

Updated Jan 2, 2020

HCF offers a whopping eight different extras policies, all offering some level of dental protection. From the basic Bronze policy to the fully comprehensive Platinum policy, every single HCF member is also eligible for 100% off certain treatments through HCF's More for Teeth program.

This gives you a lot of options to help you protect your pearly whites without breaking the bank.

How does HCF cover dental?

You can find dental cover in every extras policy HCF offers. HCF's extras line-up consists of five standalone extras policies and three extras policies that come bundled together with a hospital policy.

Here are details about every single one, including what specific dental treatments are covered, what the limits are and how long you have to wait after buying your policy before you can claim.

Standalone extras policies

You do not need an HCF hospital policy to purchase any of the five standalone extras policies that follow. All of these are available for singles, couples and families. A couples policy will cost you twice the amount of a singles policy. With a family policy, you'll pay the same as you would for a couples policy (kids are added free).

The following tables show you how these policies treat dental cover. Each policy also contains a range of other treatments besides dental and you can read more about those here.

Starter Extras: HCF's Starter policy covers a range of general dental procedures like check-ups and teeth cleans. It does not cover any major dental work like root canals or dentures. It also doesn't include orthodontics.
Starter Extras (with optical): - Just like the first Starter policy, HCF's Starter (with optical) policy covers only general dental treatments. However, it does offer higher limits.
Mid Extras: HCF's Mid Extras policy covers all your general dental work and all your major dental work, but not orthodontics.
Vital Extras: HCF's Vital Extras policy covers all dental work you might need, including general dental, major dental and all orthodontics.
Top Extras: Like the Vital Extras policy, HCF's Top Extras policy covers general dental, major dental and orthodontics, but with higher limits.

HCF's Bronze policy covers a range of general dental procedures like check-ups and teeth cleans. It does not cover any major dental work like root canals or dentures. It also doesn't include orthodontics.

	Covered?	Number of treatments allowed	Yearly limit	Waiting period
Exams	Yes	1 per person per year	$350 per person Max $700 per family	2 months
Single film X-rays	Yes	No limit	$350 per person Max $700 per family	2 months
Teeth cleaning	Yes	1 per person per year	$350 per person Max $700 per family	2 months
Fluoride	Yes	1 per person per year	$350 per person Max $700 per family	2 months
Simple tooth removal	Yes	No limit	$350 per person Max $700 per family	2 months
Direct fillings	1–2 surfaces	No limit	$350 per person Max $700 per family	2 months
Indirect fillings	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Surgical extractions	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gum treatments	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Root canals	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Crowns and bridges	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Dentures	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Orthodontics	No	N/A	N/A	N/A

Just like the Bronze policy, HCF's Bronze Plus policy covers only general dental treatments. However, it does offer higher limits than the Bronze.

	Covered?	Number of treatments allowed	Yearly limit	Waiting periods
Exams	Yes	1 per person per year	$400 per person Max $800 per family	2 months
Single film X-rays	Yes	No limit	$400 per person Max $800 per family	2 months
Teeth cleaning	Yes	1 per person per year	$400 per person Max $800 per family	2 months
Fluoride	Yes	1 per person per year	$400 per person Max $800 per family	2 months
Simple tooth removal	Yes	No limit	$400 per person Max $800 per family	2 months
Direct fillings	1–2 surfaces	No limit	$400 per person Max $800 per family	2 months
Indirect fillings	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Surgical extractions	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Gum treatments	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Root canals	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Crowns and bridges	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Dentures	No	N/A	N/A	N/A
Orthodontics	No	N/A	N/A	N/A

HCF's Silver policy covers all your general dental work and all your major dental work, but not orthodontics.

	Covered?	Number of treatments allowed	Yearly limit	Waiting period
Exams	Yes	2 per person per year	$650 per person	2 months
Single film X-rays	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	2 months
Teeth cleaning	Yes	2 per person per year	$650 per person	2 months
Fluoride	Yes	1 per person per year	$650 per person	2 months
Simple tooth removal	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	2 months
Direct fillings	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	2 months
Indirect fillings	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	12 months
Surgical extractions	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	12 months
Gum treatments	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	12 months
Root canals	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	12 months
Crowns and bridges	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	12 months
Dentures	Yes	No limit	$650 per person	12 months
Orthodontics	No	N/A	N/A	N/A

HCF's Gold policy covers all dental work you might need, including general dental, major dental and and all orthodontics.

	Covered?	Number of treatments allowed	Yearly limit	Waiting period
Exams	Yes	2 per person per year	No limit	2 months
Single film X-rays	Yes	No limit	No limit	2 months
Teeth cleaning	Yes	2 per person per year	No limit	2 months
Fluoride	Yes	1 per person per year	No limit	2 months
Simple tooth removal	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $800 pp Year 2: $950 pp Year 3+: $1,100 pp	2 months
Direct fillings	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $800 pp Year 2: $950 pp Year 3+: $1,100 pp	2 months
Indirect fillings	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $800 pp Year 2: $950 pp Year 3+: $1,100 pp	12 months
Surgical extractions	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $800 pp Year 2: $950 pp Year 3+: $1,100 pp	12 months
Gum treatments	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $800 pp Year 2: $950 pp Year 3+: $1,100 pp	12 months
Root canals	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $800 pp Year 2: $950 pp Year 3+: $1,100 pp	12 months
Crowns and bridges	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $800 pp Year 2: $950 pp Year 3+: $1,100 pp	12 months
Dentures	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $800 pp Year 2: $950 pp Year 3+: $1,100 pp	12 months
Orthodontics	Yes	No limit	$700 Lifetime limit: $2,100	12 months

Like the Gold policy, HCF's Platinum policy covers general dental, major dental and orthodontics, but with higher limits.

	Covered?	Number of treatments allowed	Yearly limit	Waiting period
Exams	Yes	2 per person per year	No limit	2 months
Single film X-rays	Yes	No limit	No limit	2 months
Teeth cleaning	Yes	2 per person per year	No limit	2 months
Fluoride	Yes	1 per person per year	No limit	2 months
Simple tooth removal	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $1,000 pp Year 2: $1,150 pp Year 3+: $1,300 pp	2 months
Direct fillings	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $1,000 pp Year 2: $1,150 pp Year 3+: $1,300 pp	2 months
Indirect fillings	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $1,000 pp Year 2: $1,150 pp Year 3+: $1,300 pp	12 months
Surgical extractions	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $1,000 pp Year 2: $1,150 pp Year 3+: $1,300 pp	12 months
Gum treatments	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $1,000 pp Year 2: $1,150 pp Year 3+: $1,300 pp	12 months
Root canals	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $1,000 pp Year 2: $1,150 pp Year 3+: $1,300 pp	12 months
Crowns and bridges	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $1,000 pp Year 2: $1,150 pp Year 3+: $1,300 pp	12 months
Dentures	Yes	No limit	Year 1: $1,000 pp Year 2: $1,150 pp Year 3+: $1,300 pp	12 months
Orthodontics	Yes	No limit	$800 Lifetime limit: $2,400	12 months

Combined hospital plus extras policies

The following tables show you how dental treatments are covered on all three of HCF's combined hospital plus extras policies. You cannot purchase this cover separately.

Each of these will also cover a range of other extras treatments like optical and physio.

My Future 500 Basic Plus: Ideal for healthy young singles and couples, this packages has a $750 combined limit.
My Future 250 Basic Plus: The same cover as 500 Basic but with a higher combined limit of $900.
My Family Silver Plus: Tailored to families, this has a $800 combined limit per person per year, helping cover things like indirect fillings, simple extractions and examinations for the whole family.
My Family Advanced Silver Plus: Similar to the previous Silver category but with a higher combined limit of $1200 per person per year as well as orthodontics services.

Inclusions and % back on important treatments:

	My Future 500 Basic Plus	My Future 250 Basic Plus	My Family Silver Plus	My Family Advanced Silver Plus
Exams	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Single film X-rays	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Teeth cleaning	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fluoride	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Simple tooth removal	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Direct fillings	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Indirect fillings	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Simple extractions	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Treatment of tissue surrounding teeth	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Root canals	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Crowns and bridges	No	No	Yes	Yes
Dentures	No	No	Yes	Yes
Orthodontics	No	No	No	Yes

What is HCF's More for Teeth program?

More for Teeth is HCF's name for its no-gap dental program, which is a program that lets you avoid out-of-pocket costs related to certain dental treatments.

In most cases, your extras cover will only pay a percentage of each individual treatment and you will pay the rest. The part you pay is called the gap.

With the More for Teeth program, HCF has partnered with dentists all around the country and if you visit one of them, HCF will pay the full price, up to your benefit limit, for a range of basic procedures including:

1 or 2 check-ups per calendar year (depending on your cover)
1 scale and clean
1 fluoride treatment
2 mouthguards (limits apply)

You can also take advantage of More for Teeth at one of 11 HCF Dental Centres (9 in Sydney, 1 in Melbourne and 1 in ACT).

More for Teeth is just one of six different no-gap extras programs HCF offers. Others include More for Backs, More for Feet, More for Eyes, More for Muscles and More for Hearing.

How to book an appointment with an in-network dentist

To take advantage of the More for Teeth program, all you need to do is use HCF's More for Teeth search tool to find an in-network dentist close to you. Then just call up and book directly.

You can also book an appointment with one of the 11 HCF Dental Centres by filling out the booking request form on the HCF website. A receptionist will then contact you to confirm your appointment within four business hours.

How does this compare with other health funds?

Not all health funds are created equal when it comes to extras policies and dental cover. Here are some pros and cons to HCF's dental cover:

Pros:

Choice. HCF offers numerous extras policies that offer something for everyone regardless of your dental needs, your family situation or your budget.
More for Teeth program. Many insurers are offering no-gap dental programs but not all of them include mouthguards like HCF's More for Teeth. Plus you get access to the rest of the More for You scheme like More for Eyes and More for Muscles.

Cons:

Lack of combined extras. Combined extras gives you one benefit limit to use how you wish, meaning you could use it all on dental if that's what you need. Unfortunately, most HCF policies give you separate limits for dental, physio, pharmacy and others, meaning you couldn't shift the funds from physio to dental even if you needed it for dental more.

How to claim

The easiest way to claim is by having your dentist swipe your membership card at the terminal before you pay for your treatment, but this is only available with in-network providers.

Otherwise, you'll have to pay for the treatment up-front, submit your claim later and then have HCF deposit your refund into your bank account. You can do this in one of the following ways:

Submit your claim directly through the mobile app.
Submit your claim directly using the online member portal.
Visit a branch and fill out a claim form there.
Print a claim form from the HCF website or have HCF send you one and then post it back to HCF, GPO Box 4242, Sydney NSW 2001.

Thank you for your feedback!

Brad Buzzard

Brad Buzzard was an insurance writer at Finder.

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How does HCF cover dental?