HIF extras cover
Is HIF Essential 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 $73.90 a month before the rebate, $56.08 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
$619 behind
That costs $200 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $673 in premiums and get $54 back.
112th of the 219 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. nib’s DentalPass does best, $609 better off over the year.
Two dental visits and new glasses
$364 behind
That costs $700 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $673 in premiums and get $309 back.
86th of the 189 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. Latrobe’s Core Essential Extras does best, $413 better off over the year.
Two dental visits, new glasses and six physio sessions
$154 behind
That costs $1,240 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $673 in premiums and get $519 back.
80th of the 181 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. HCF’s Flex My Extras does best, $524 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 | $54 a visit | $1,250shared with major dental, endodontic (root canal) and orthodontic | 2 months |
| Major Dental | $720 a visit | $1,250shared with general dental, endodontic (root canal) and orthodontic | 12 months |
| Endodontic (Root Canal) | $129 a visit | $1,250shared with general dental, major dental and orthodontic | 12 months |
| Orthodontic | 100% of the fee | $1,250shared with general dental, major dental and endodontic (root canal) | 12 months |
| Optical | 100% of the fee | $200 | 2 months |
| Non-PBS Medications | $80 a visit | $200 | 2 months |
| Physiotherapy | $35 a visit | $400shared with chiropractic, podiatry, dietetics, exercise physiology and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Chiropractic | $28 a visit | $400shared with physiotherapy, podiatry, dietetics, exercise physiology and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Podiatry | $28 a visit | $400shared with physiotherapy, chiropractic, dietetics, exercise physiology and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Acupuncture | $28 a visit | $150shared with remedial massage and chinese herbal medicine | 2 months |
| Remedial Massage | $28 a visit | $150shared with acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine | 2 months |
| Chinese Herbal Medicine | $28 a visit | $150shared with acupuncture and remedial massage | 2 months |
| Dietetics | $30 a visit | $400shared with physiotherapy, chiropractic, podiatry, exercise physiology and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Exercise Physiology | $25 a visit | $400shared with physiotherapy, chiropractic, podiatry, dietetics and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Health Management | 100% of the fee | $75 | 2 months |
| Osteopathy | $28 a visit | $400shared with physiotherapy, chiropractic, podiatry, dietetics and exercise physiology | 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
Some services are explicitly not covered under this policy.
What it costs
| State | Single | Couple | Family | Single parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $73.90 | $147.80 | $151.50 | $147.80 |
| VIC | $71.85 | $143.70 | $147.30 | $143.70 |
| QLD | $70.20 | $140.40 | $143.90 | $140.40 |
| WA | $66.95 | $133.90 | $137.25 | $133.90 |
| SA | $69.50 | $139.00 | $142.50 | $139.00 |
| TAS | $67.80 | $135.60 | $139.00 | $135.60 |
| NT | $61.15 | $122.30 | $125.35 | $122.30 |
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 A9/NBWL10 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.