HBF Acquisition

QCHF is joining HBF as part of an acquisition that is occurring.

HBF and Queensland Country Health Fund are both purpose-driven organisations with a long history of delivering for members in the moments that matter.

HBF is very similar to Queensland Country Health Fund, a purpose-driven Australian health fund that puts members’ interests at the heart of everything they do. With over 80 years of experience in the health insurance industry and around one million members - you can rest assured we are in the care of a well-resourced fund committed to being there for members in the moments that matter.

If you’ve not heard of HBF before:

• HBF have been in business since 1941. That’s over 80 years’ experience supporting their members’ health and wellbeing needs.
• HBF have had some of the lowest premium increases of all the major funds over the longer term.
• HBF is currently the most trusted private health insurer in Australia, according to the Roy Morgan Net Trust Survey 2022

Both Health Insurance and Banking industries are highly competitive and rapidly changing. When looking to the future of both sectors and our desire to continue to offer the high standard of products and services that our Members value and deserve, it’s apparent that both of our businesses need to scale up rapidly.

Both banking and health insurance industries are experiencing rapid digitization and continue to become more complex.

In the past 12 months, we have given considerable thought to how we will compete effectively into the future when our larger competitors are investing heavily in digital transformation. With this digital investment in mind, the Board of Queensland Country has made the decision to sell its health insurance business to HBF, which will enable the growth required in both businesses and ensure both businesses maintain their strong competitive positions.

This change enables both organisations to focus on their core businesses and purposes. Even after the acquisition of QCHF by HBF, both organisations will continue to work together to improve customer and Member outcomes and increase the strength of both organisations into the future. For example, QCH will continue to distribute its products through QCB branches and other channels, even after ownership transfers to HBF.

Our sale to HBF is great news for Members, as it brings the benefits of being with a not-for-profit fund that has scale.

In the next 12 months, there will be no changes to your cover or the way you currently interact with QCHF.

As we work to become one organisation, we’ll be putting our Members’ interests first and believe that for most of you, any changes that arise from this process will be positive.

Rest assured you will remain on the same QCHF cover you are on now. HBF will communicate with you to make sure you’re kept up to date on any changes in the future.

We intend to have our normal premium increase on April 1, 2023, and we will notify you about its impact on your policy and any associated increase in benefits. Until then your premiums will remain the same. HBF will make sure you’re kept up to date on any changes in the future.

Any current discount that applies to your policy will continue. Any changes to policies or premiums in the future will be communicated in the usual way.

There will be no changes to your service at this stage. HBF will communicate with you to make sure you’re kept up to date on any changes in the future.

Our sale to HBF is great news for Members, as it brings the benefits of being with a not-for-profit fund that has scale.

Rest assured you will remain on the same cover you are on now. HBF will communicate with you to make sure you’re kept up to date on any changes in the future.

While you didn’t choose HBF for your health cover, there are a lot of similarities between HBF and Queensland Country Health Fund. We are both purpose driven organisations who put their members at the heart of everything we do.

There will be no changes to your health cover in the short term, and no changes in the way the way you interact with Queensland Country Health Fund. HBF’s dedication to our Members also means that we will continue to be committed to providing the service and support you’re used to. However, if you have any concerns, we can review your cover to ensure it’s still meeting your needs.

If you have any issues you can continue to call, email, or visit a branch and someone will be able to help you.

HBF will make sure you’re kept up to date on any changes that may occur in the future.

There will be no changes to the way you interact with Queensland Country Health Fund. You can continue to call, email, or visit a branch to make a change to your policy.

If there are any changes, HBF will communicate with you regularly and make sure you’re kept up to date on what you need to do.

What if I don’t want my personal information shared between Queensland Country Health Fund and HBF?

HBF have purchased Queensland Country Health Fund. As an Australian operated organisation, HBF are required to adhere to strict privacy laws. You can rest assured that your personal information will continue to be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act, ensuring a high standard of privacy, security and respect is maintained.

HBF may send out a new privacy collection statement in the future. In the meantime you can view their privacy policy here.

You can continue to claim as normal. There will be no changes to the way you use your health cover or interact with Queensland Country Health Fund. If there are any changes, HBF will communicate with you regularly and make sure you’re kept up to date on what you need to do

While there is no obligation to change your cover, anyone can purchase an HBF product. If you would like to see which product might suit your needs, you can visit the [Product Recommendation Tool] on the HBF website.

Once you’re an HBF member, you will be able to access all the additional benefits of an HBF membership.

While there will be changes to the way that Queensland Country Health Fund team Members work, the primary aim is to ensure minimal disruption to Members. You can continue to contact Queensland Country Health Fund and claim as normal. Any changes to how you manage your policy or contact your us will be communicated to you by HBF.

All Queensland Country Health Fund employees who are currently working within the Queensland Country Health Fund business will be offered employment with HBF.

You can continue to call the current contact numbers. If there are any changes, HBF will communicate with you regularly and make sure you’re kept up to date on what you need to do.

Yes, you can continue to make changes to your health cover, including switching products. HBF will communicate any changes to you directly and make sure you’re kept up to date with any key changes to your policy.

While there is no obligation to change your cover, anyone can purchase an HBF product. If you would like to see which product might suit your needs, you can visit the Product Recommendation Tool on the HBF website.

Once you’re an HBF member, you will be able to access all the benefits of an HBF membership.

Yes, you can continue to access or contact Queensland Country Health Fund the way you normally do. HBF will make sure you’re kept up to date with any key changes.

Yes, you can continue to access or contact Queensland Country Health Fund the way you normally do. HBF will make sure you’re kept up to date with any key changes.

Yes, you can continue to claim to the way you normally do. If there are any changes to the way you will claim in the future, HBF will communicate any changes to you directly.

No. As there is no immediate change for QCH Members there is no need to replace your existing card.