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Pros
HIF is not-for-profit, so its surpluses go back to its members.
It's good for the environment. It's Australia's first carbon-neutral health fund.
It's one of a handful of insurers that allow its members to choose their healthcare provider.
Cons
At around $80.70 a month for a basic hospital policy, it's around the same price as other health funds, only slightly more expensive than ahm and Frank at $71.55.
It's only physical branch is in Perth, all operations are done online or over the telephone
*Quotes are based on a single individual with less than $90,000 income, $750 excess and living in WA.
HIF health insurance: Our verdict
HIF health fund is a unrestricted not-for-profit fund based in Perth that makes a big deal of its progressive values.
HIF is good if:
You like not-for-profits.
You want to support progressive social programs - HIF is Australia's first Carbon Neutral health fund and supports groups like Australian Marriage Equality.
HIF is not great if:
You prefer physical branches, but live outside of Perth.
Basic Plus Hospital cover: This gives access to care as a private patient and not much else. It's good for avoiding the MLS.
Bronze Hospital cover: This covers all 18 necessary treatments to qualify for a bronze rating. That includes:
Brain and nervous system
Eye (not cataracts)
Ear, nose and throat
Bronze Plus Hospital cover: This covers all 18 bronze treatments plus 5 additional treatments. It costs around $17 per week and cover includes:
Lung and chest
Blood
Diabetes (excluding insulin pumps)
Silver Hospital cover: This high-level of cover costs around $22 a week with exclusions for a small number of procedures. It can cover treatments such as:
Dental surgery
Podiatric surgery (provided by a registered
podiatric surgeon)
Implantation of hearing devices
Silver Plus Hospital cover: This is a very comprehensive policy covering 32 treatments and costing around $31 per week. It's good for completed families. It can cover you for:
Pain management with device
Sleep studies
Joint replacements
Gold Star Hospital cover: HIF's most comprehensive policy costs around $35 per week and covers all 38 clinical categories including:
Dialysis for chronic kidney failure
Pregnancy and birth
Assisted reproductive services
Extras coverage
Extras
Simple Options. This provides 60% back or more on things like major and general dental, physio, optical, ambulance and chiro.
Vital Options cover. It provides general dental, emergency ambulance and periodontal cover. Plus a 50% rebate for select services like chiropractic, osteopathic, ambulance and physiotherapy up to the limits of the policy.
Saver Options. Additional cover includes general dental, podiatry, physiotherapy, pharmacy and optical.
Special Options. Additional cover includes the above and major dental.
Super Options. Additional cover includes speech therapy, psychology, peak flow meter, orthoptics, orthotics, occupational therapy, hearing aids, medical appliances, diabetics education and auxiliary home nursing.
Premium Options. Additional cover includes a much higher benefit and no limits for several treatments. For customers who require regular extra services, this option is useful as it covers all treatment with highest benefits.
Combined coverage
You can combine any of HIF's hospital and extras policies. It also offers options for visitors to Australia which provides non-Australian residents visa compliant cover and cover for businesses.
Ambulance coverage
Ambulance cover is included in all HIF extras policies. It covers 100% of emergency call-outs and transportation costs, while non-emergency call-outs and transportation attract a $50 co-payment.
HIF health insurance complaints
We looked at the 2020 Ombudsman health insurance complaints among funds with at least a 0.5% national market share.
It had a higher complaints ratio than its market share.
It had the highest complaints ratio of all the health funds in this list.
This chart shows the weighted volume of complaints received by each health fund, according to the Commonwealth Ombudsman. The lower the number, the better. HIF health fund is 17th overall in this ranking. The weighting ensures that funds are compared fairly; larger funds serve more customers so can potentially get more complaints.
How many hospital agreements does HIF have in my state?
If you receive hospital treatment in Australia, the benefit paid by your health fund depends on two main factors:
The level of health insurance cover you have in place
Whether your health fund has an agreement with the hospital where you are treated
The table below features a full list of the number of hospital agreements HIF has in place in each Australian state and territory. The industry maximum figure for all health funds is also included as a guide.
State
Private hospital agreements
Day hospital agreements
NSW
95
91
ACT
5
8
VIC
76
72
QLD
50
51
SA
26
27
WA
21
23
TAS
8
4
NT
2
1
HIF frequently asked questions
Yes, HIF is a not-for-profit health fund, based in Perth.
If you need to make an extras claim with HIF, there are several ways to submit your claim:
On the spot. Healthcare providers with electronic claiming technology can settle your account with you on the spot. All you need to do is swipe your HIF membership card and pay the difference (if any).
Online. HIF's Online Member Centre gives you access to a range of services to help manage your policy including lodging an Extras claim online. Even better, you'll instantly see the estimated benefit payable! Before you get started, you'll just need to ensure that your provider's fees are paid in full before uploading receipts.
On your mobile. Submit Extras claims anytime, anywhere, with our easy-to-use mobile App. It's fast, free and reduces paper waste. HIF's Member App also allows Members to update their contact details, view their policy information and claims history, order replacement membership cards, contact HIF and more.
By email or fax. For paid Extras accounts, simply email a scan of your completed HIF claim form and associated receipts to claims@hif.com.au. Alternatively, you can fax everything to (08) 9328 1685.
By post. Complete an HIF claim form and post it to: HIF, GPO Box X2221, Perth WA 6847.
Dependents can stay on family membership until their 21st birthday. After this they can stay on the family membership longer if they are full time students and are not married or in a de-facto relationship.
No. HIF does not offer any overseas student health cover (OSHC) policies.
Yes. HIF offers OVHC policies for working visa and non-working visa holders. Working visa holders can choose fromBasic Working Visa, Essential Working Visa, Intermediate Working Visa or Comprehensive Working Visa. Non-working visa holders can choose from Visitor Saver or Visitor Value cover
Gary Hunter is a writer at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, health, travel, home and pet insurance for over three years, has pored over hundreds of product disclosure statements and written more than 500 insurance articles. Gary is passionate about helping Aussies understand their insurance policies so that they can get better value for their money.
The outbreak of covid-19 has many people wondering about their insurance options. This guide helps answer all you life insurance question during the coronavirus outbreak.
If you need to find out what your current coverage is with HIF, you may need to contact them directly to be assisted. You may also check on your insurance certificate to know more on what coverage policy you have taken with HIF. Please contact HIF from a landline by dialing 1300 134 060, or for mobile phones please phone (08) 9227 4200 (standard call charges will apply). HIF customer support is open Monday to Friday at the following times across the country: 6:30am – 5:30pm WA. Hope this helps!
I am a member of over 50 years and would like Bowen therapy added to the claim list as we do not use our physio allotment since having Bowen.
Has this question been asked before?
You have contacted finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually HIF Health Insurance.
You will need to contact HIF Health insurance directly to see if they intend on adding cover for Bowen Technique in the near future. If not, the Bowen Association of Australia has a list on their website of all health funds that cover that treatment.
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I would like to know what my cover is so I can add my detail to the form to submit to Dr Simon Smith please. Cheers David
Hi David,
Thank you for leaving a question.
If you need to find out what your current coverage is with HIF, you may need to contact them directly to be assisted. You may also check on your insurance certificate to know more on what coverage policy you have taken with HIF. Please contact HIF from a landline by dialing 1300 134 060, or for mobile phones please phone (08) 9227 4200 (standard call charges will apply). HIF customer support is open Monday to Friday at the following times across the country: 6:30am – 5:30pm WA. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I am a member of over 50 years and would like Bowen therapy added to the claim list as we do not use our physio allotment since having Bowen.
Has this question been asked before?
Hi Gary,
Thank you for your question.
You have contacted finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually HIF Health Insurance.
You will need to contact HIF Health insurance directly to see if they intend on adding cover for Bowen Technique in the near future. If not, the Bowen Association of Australia has a list on their website of all health funds that cover that treatment.
All the best,
Zubair