Medibank vs Bupa vs HCF

Medibank vs Bupa vs HCF - These are the Big 3 players in Australia for private health insurance (PHI).

After reading, google-ing in the internet and asking friends and co-workers,  I've got to know these 3 PHI better.

As such, I will share the infos I already solicited and summarized.

Medibank

• Medibank perhaps is the biggest player being a formerly owned or part-owned by the Australian government as claimed to those who I have talked with. 
• They could be found in almost every mall.
• Highest premium among the 3 PHI
• Most popular. Clinics, health boutiques and kiosks - most of them probably accepts Medibank

Bupa

• Multi-national. I believe they could be of serviced in UK and in Europe.
• They could be found in almost every mall.
• Cheapest among the 3 in terms of premium
• The least recommended among the 3 in forums

HCF

• Not-for-profit
• Most recommended PHI in forums
• Slightly higher than Bupa in terms of premium

There you go! I cannot comment more on their services regarding hospitalization as I have not experienced it yet and hoping not to experience it at all (hoping and praying).

How do you decide?

Choose the one that you are most comfortable with, the one that you believe into, the most convenient for you during your shopping-around days, the cheapest but reasonable one and the one that will convince you with their marketing and sales-talk.

You may also consider which one is/are affiliated to your company and offer the biggest discount.

You may never go wrong since these are the Big 3 players already.

Personally, I went for HCF because of the following reasons:

• convenience - they could be reached via internet, phone and they have a branch near our place.
• discount - they offered me a good discount for being en employee of IBM
• I like the fact that they are not-for-profit; this give me the impression that their staff will be customer-oriented and their premiums just being reasonable enough.
• Their website is very informative; it contains health topics and sample cases of surgeries that can answer most of your enquiries

At the end of the day, after securing a PHI, whichever it is, you will have the peace of mind since you have an insurance for your health as well as for your loved ones.