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Ready to join HIF health insurance? Applying for cover is easy! If you'd like to join online now, the online application process takes approximately 5-10 minutes and we'll do all the associated paperwork for you, including applying for the Australian Federal Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance on your behalf. If you're switching to HIF health insurance from another health fund, we can also contact your old fund on your behalf and request that your policy is cancelled from the date you choose to commence cover with HIF.

It's great to hear you're planning to switch to HIF health insurance! To authorise us to arrange the transfer on your behalf, simply:

1. check the box during the online application process
2. enter the name of your previous health fund
3. enter the membership number on your old policy

Alternatively, if you're joining over the phone, you can instruct your Sales Consultant to complete the authorisation details for you. Once we have your authorisation, we'll then contact your previous fund and request that they send us what's known as a 'Clearance Certificate'.

The certificate provides HIF with all the details we need in order to finalise your new policy with us, including any waiting periods that may still be outstanding, plus any Lifetime Health Cover loading that may apply. Please note that Australian health funds have up to 14 days to issue Clearance Certificates, so if you would like your old fund to issue your certificate as a matter of urgency, please let us know and we can escalate it as a priority request. Alternatively, you can contact your previous fund yourself and submit a direct request for a certificate to be sent to HIF.

Important, please note: If your partner is switching to HIF health insurance and would like us to cancel their policy with their previous health fund too, they must provide authorisation. To do this simply ensure they have checked the partner authorisation box during the online application process and enter the name of their previous health fund and membership number of their old policy.

If you've recently become an Australian permanent resident, congratulations! You're now eligible for full Medicare benefits (so you may want to change your overseas policy to a domestic policy). Please note though, that you must take out a domestic policy within 12 months of your permanent residency being granted in order to avoid Lifetime Health Cover Loading (LHC). To find out more, visit 'Does the Medicare Levy Surcharge affect Overseas Visitors?'.