HCF extras cover
Is HCF Vital Extras worth it?
For one adult in NSW, it costs more than it pays back in all three of the ways of using extras worked through below. It is $84.95 a month before the rebate, $64.46 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
$739 behind
That costs $200 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $774 in premiums and get $35 back.
140th of the 219 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. nib’s DentalPass does best, $729 better off over the year.
Two dental visits and new glasses
$454 behind
That costs $700 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $774 in premiums and get $320 back.
101st of the 189 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. Latrobe’s Core Essential Extras does best, $503 better off over the year.
Two dental visits, new glasses and six physio sessions
$160 behind
That costs $1,240 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $774 in premiums and get $614 back.
81st of the 181 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. HCF’s Flex My Extras does best, $529 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 | $35 a visit | Not published | 2 months |
| Major Dental | $184 a visit | $850shared with endodontic (root canal) | 12 months |
| Endodontic (Root Canal) | $170 a visit | $850shared with major dental | 12 months |
| Orthodontic | $700 a visit | $700 | 12 months |
| Optical | 100% of the fee | $250 | 2 months |
| Non-PBS Medications | $50 a visit | $180shared with vaccinations | 2 months |
| Physiotherapy | $58 a visit first, then $49 a visit | $350shared with exercise physiology | 2 months |
| Chiropractic | $40 a visit first, then $35 a visit | $250shared with osteopathy | 2 months |
| Podiatry | $35 a visit | $200shared with audiology, dietetics, orthotics and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Psychology | $65 a visit | $350shared with occupational therapy | 2 months |
| Acupuncture | Covered, amount not published as a set figure | $250shared with remedial massage and chinese herbal medicine | 2 months |
| Remedial Massage | Covered, amount not published as a set figure | $250shared with acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine | 2 months |
| Hearing Aids | $600 a visit | $600 | 12 months |
| Glucose Monitor | $45 a visit | $45 | 12 months |
| Audiology | $60 a visit | $200shared with podiatry, dietetics, orthotics and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Chinese Herbal Medicine | Covered, amount not published as a set figure | $250shared with acupuncture and remedial massage | 2 months |
| Dietetics | $45 a visit | $200shared with podiatry, audiology, orthotics and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Exercise Physiology | $33 a visit | $350shared with physiotherapy | 2 months |
| Health Management | $150 a visit | $150 | 2 months |
| Occupational Therapy | $62 a visit | $350shared with psychology | 2 months |
| Orthotics | $110 a visit | $200shared with podiatry, audiology, dietetics and speech therapy | 12 months |
| Osteopathy | $48 a visit first, then $41 a visit | $250shared with chiropractic | 2 months |
| Speech Therapy | $60 a visit | $200shared with podiatry, audiology, dietetics and orthotics | 2 months |
| Vaccinations | $50 a visit | $180shared with non-pbs medications | 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
This policy has a maximum benefit over the lifetime of your membership.
What it costs
| State | Single | Couple | Family | Single parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $84.95 | $169.90 | $171.59 | $135.92 |
| VIC | $86.96 | $173.92 | $175.65 | $139.13 |
| QLD | $91.23 | $182.46 | $184.28 | $145.96 |
| WA | $75.27 | $150.54 | $152.04 | $120.43 |
| SA | $91.13 | $182.26 | $184.08 | $145.80 |
| TAS | $62.91 | $125.82 | $127.07 | $100.65 |
| NT | $56.76 | $113.52 | $114.65 | $90.81 |
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 I23/NGET10 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.