HCF extras cover
Is HCF Starter Extras (With Optical) worth it?
For one adult in NSW, it pays back more than it costs in one of the three ways of using extras worked through below, and costs more than it pays back in the other two. It is $23.94 a month before the rebate, $18.17 after.
Three ways of using it
Worked for one adult in NSW, under 65, on the 24.118% rebate, over a year, at typical prices: $200 for general dental, $300 for optical and $90 for physiotherapy.
One dental check-up a year
$189 behind
That costs $200 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $218 in premiums and get $29 back.
17th of the 219 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. nib’s DentalPass does best, $179 better off over the year.
Two dental visits and new glasses
$60 behind
That costs $700 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $218 in premiums and get $158 back.
17th of the 189 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. Latrobe’s Core Essential Extras does best, $109 better off over the year.
Two dental visits, new glasses and six physio sessions
+$140 ahead
That costs $1,240 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $218 in premiums and get $358 back.
21st of the 181 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. HCF’s Flex My Extras does best, $229 better off over the year.
Your year won’t look like any of those.
Put in what you actually use and the calculator sets this policy beside every other one, with the working.
What it pays
| Service | Benefit | Yearly limit | Wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Dental | $29 a visit | $400 | 2 months |
| Optical | 100% of the fee | $100 | 2 months |
| Physiotherapy | $42 a visit first, then $36 a visit | $200 | 2 months |
| Chiropractic | $33 a visit first, then $28 a visit | $100shared with acupuncture, remedial massage, chinese herbal medicine and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Acupuncture | $30 a visit | $100shared with chiropractic, remedial massage, chinese herbal medicine and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Remedial Massage | $30 a visit | $100shared with chiropractic, acupuncture, chinese herbal medicine and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Chinese Herbal Medicine | $30 a visit | $100shared with chiropractic, acupuncture, remedial massage and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Osteopathy | $40 a visit first, then $36 a visit | $100shared with chiropractic, acupuncture, remedial massage and chinese herbal medicine | 2 months |
As listed for one adult in NSW. A percentage is of the provider’s fee; a dollar figure is the most paid per visit. Where a benefit differs by item, the commonest one is shown.
Conditions to know
Higher benefits may require using specific providers or networks.
Limits are shared across all members on this policy, not per person.
What it costs
| State | Single | Couple | Family | Single parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $23.94 | $47.88 | $48.35 | $38.30 |
| VIC | $25.53 | $51.06 | $51.57 | $40.84 |
| QLD | $28.73 | $57.46 | $58.03 | $45.96 |
| WA | $22.01 | $44.02 | $44.46 | $35.21 |
| SA | $25.64 | $51.28 | $51.79 | $41.02 |
| TAS | $19.45 | $38.90 | $39.28 | $31.12 |
| NT | $15.70 | $31.40 | $31.71 | $25.12 |
Listed premiums a month, before the rebate. The rebate takes 24.118% off for most households under 65.
What beats it
For two dental visits and new glasses, from funds anyone can join:
- 1Latrobe Core Essential Extras+$49 ahead
- 2Health Partners Flex Extras: Eyes+$47 ahead
- 3HCF Flex My Extras+$45 ahead
Worked from the Australian Government’s Private Health Open Listing, 01-Oct-2026, with the same sums as the calculator: listed premiums after the rebate, benefits capped by each policy’s limits and waiting periods. Product code I21/NGEP10 on privatehealth.gov.au. How the sums work.
This is general information, not personal financial advice. Confirm the premium and benefits with the fund before you buy or switch. Independent of every fund listed · No affiliate fees, no commissions.