| HBF | |
|---|---|
| Registered insurer | HBF Health Limited |
| Who can join | Open to anyone |
| Business structure | Member-owned mutual, not-for-profit |
| Hospital policies (30 June 2025) | 466,291 (7.6% of all hospital policies), covering 926,746 people. Figure is for HBF Health Limited, which includes see-u by HBF |
| Hospital tiers on sale (1 September 2026) | Gold, Silver Plus, Bronze Plus, Basic Plus, Basic |
| Excess options on open hospital policies | $250, $500, $750 |
| Age-based discount (18–29) | Not offered on its open hospital policies |
| Ambulance | Emergency ambulance on its open hospital policies; some also cover non-emergency transport |
Structure and brands
PrivateHealth.gov.au describes HBF Health Limited as a mutual organisation operating on a not-for-profit basis, based on Wellington Street, Perth. The see-u by HBF brand is part of the same insurer and its figures are included in HBF's. Queensland Country Health Fund describes itself as part of HBF; its own performance figures aren't published on a comparable basis.
HBF's membership is concentrated in Western Australia, where it had 22 private hospital agreements, close to the most of any insurer in the state.
Complaints: well below its market share
HBF (including see-u) accounted for 4.4% of Ombudsman complaints in 2024–25 against a 7.9% market share: roughly 45% fewer complaints than its size would predict. Its share of investigated complaints was 5.5%. Member retention was 88.4%, above the industry's 85.0%.
Benefits and gaps
HBF paid 82.2% of premium income as benefits, below the industry's 84.5%, and its management expenses were 13.4% (industry 10.9%). Members fared well on gaps: 91.1% of hospital charges were covered (industry 89.0%), 92.7% of in-hospital medical services had no gap (industry 87.1%) and 99.1% had no gap or a known gap (industry 97.1%).
What HBF sells
HBF's open hospital policies at 1 September 2026 cover Gold, Silver Plus, Bronze Plus, Basic Plus and Basic, with excess options of $250, $500 and $750. None were listed with the age-based discount (see-u by HBF policies do offer it). Many HBF hospital policies come in two versions, with and without 'Ambulance Care' for non-emergency transport; emergency ambulance is included either way.
HBF against the industry: 2024–25 data
Every year the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman compares all insurers on the same measures, and PrivateHealth.gov.au republishes the results on each insurer's profile. The table below is HBF's (reported at the level of the registered insurer), with the industry result beside each figure. Its complaints-to-market-share ratio was 0.56: a figure of 1.00 means complaints exactly in proportion to size.
| Measure | HBF | Industry | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of all Ombudsman complaints | 4.4% | Market share 7.9% | Fewer complaints than its size |
| Share of investigated complaints | 5.5% | Market share 7.9% | |
| Member retention (hospital cover) | 88.4% | 85.0% | Better than industry |
| Benefits paid as % of premiums | 82.2% | 84.5% | Weaker than industry |
| Management expenses % of premium income | 13.4% | 10.9% | Weaker than industry |
| Hospital charges covered | 91.1% | 89.0% | Better than industry |
| Medical services with no gap | 92.7% | 87.1% | Better than industry |
| Medical services with no gap or a known gap | 99.1% | 97.1% | Better than industry |
| Extras (general treatment) charges covered | 52.3% | 50.7% | Better than industry |
How to read it: complaint share is the fairest single comparison of service across funds of different sizes, because it's measured against market share. Benefits as a % of premiums shows how much of the premium pool went back to members as claims; a mutual that returns more is not necessarily cheaper, and a fund can move this figure by changing prices. The gap measures show how often members avoided an out-of-pocket medical bill after a hospital stay, which is what most people mean by "good cover".
Hospital agreements
| ACT | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | TAS | NT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private hospitals | 5 | 86 | 65 | 51 | 15 | 22 | 6 | 1 |
| Most held by any insurer | 7 | 97 | 74 | 58 | 17 | 23 | 7 | 2 |
| Day hospitals | 8 | 87 | 59 | 44 | 24 | 27 | 5 | 2 |
| Most held by any insurer | 9 | 98 | 64 | 50 | 30 | 28 | 11 | 2 |
What to check before you join HBF
- Benefits paid (82.2%) and management expenses (13.4%) were both weaker than the industry in 2024–25.
- HBF's hospital agreements are strongest in WA. If you live elsewhere, check agreements with hospitals near you.
- Choose the 'Ambulance Care' version of a policy only if you want non-emergency ambulance cover.
- Over 31 and joining for the first time? Work out your Lifetime Health Cover loading first, and if you earn over the threshold, check the Medicare Levy Surcharge you'd avoid.
Common questions about HBF
Is HBF not-for-profit?
Yes. PrivateHealth.gov.au lists HBF Health Limited as a mutual organisation operating on a not-for-profit basis.
Can you join HBF outside WA?
Yes. HBF is an open fund and operates in all states and territories, though its hospital agreements are densest in Western Australia.
Is see-u part of HBF?
Yes. see-u by HBF is a brand of HBF Health Limited, and its figures are reported with HBF's.
Other fund reviews
See every registered health insurer compared on complaints and benefits, or read how the private health insurance rebate and hospital cover tiers work.
This review is general information based on published government and regulator data. We don't rate or rank funds, and it doesn't consider your circumstances. Check a policy's Private Health Information Statement before you buy.
