Special Options
A Extras-only product from HIF. Below is the cover registered in the government data: waiting period, benefit per visit and annual limit for each service.
Services covered (15)
| Service | Waiting period | Max benefit per visit | Annual limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| General dental | 2 months |
| $1,000 a yearShared with Major dental, Root canal (endodontics), Orthodontics (braces) |
| Major dental | 12 months |
| $1,000 a yearShared with General dental, Root canal (endodontics), Orthodontics (braces) |
| Root canal (endodontics) | 2 months |
| $1,000 a yearShared with General dental, Major dental, Orthodontics (braces) |
| Orthodontics (braces) | 12 months |
| $1,000 a yearShared with General dental, Major dental, Root canal (endodontics) |
| Glasses and contact lenses | 2 months |
| $200 a year |
| Non-PBS prescription medicines | 2 months |
| $200 a year |
| Physiotherapy | 2 months |
| $450 a yearShared with Chiropractic, Podiatry, Acupuncture, Remedial massage, Chinese herbal medicine, Osteopathy |
| Chiropractic | 2 months |
| $450 a yearShared with Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Acupuncture, Remedial massage, Chinese herbal medicine, Osteopathy |
| Podiatry | 2 months |
| $450 a yearShared with Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Remedial massage, Chinese herbal medicine, Osteopathy |
| Acupuncture | 2 months |
| $450 a yearShared with Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, Remedial massage, Chinese herbal medicine, Osteopathy |
| Remedial massage | 2 months |
| $450 a yearShared with Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Osteopathy |
| Chinese herbal medicine | 2 months |
| $450 a yearShared with Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, Acupuncture, Remedial massage, Osteopathy |
| Dietetics | 2 months |
| $252 a year |
| Health management programs | 2 months |
| $75 a year |
| Osteopathy | 2 months |
| $450 a yearShared with Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, Acupuncture, Remedial massage, Chinese herbal medicine |
Not covered: Orthoptics, Hearing aids, Audiology (hearing tests), Exercise physiology, Orthotics, Psychology, Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, Vaccinations, Blood glucose monitors, Antenatal and postnatal care, Home nursing
Annual limits
Services in the same group share one limit.
General dental, Major dental, Root canal (endodontics), Orthodontics (braces)
$1,000 a year
Also includes other services not listed
Glasses and contact lenses
$200 a year
Non-PBS prescription medicines
$200 a year
Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, Acupuncture, Remedial massage, Chinese herbal medicine, Osteopathy
$450 a year
Also includes other services not listed
Dietetics
$252 a year
Health management programs
$75 a year
Insurer's notes (original English)
Product features
Special Options includes all those essential services like dental, optical, podiatry, chiro, pharmacy, physio, ambulance and more. It’s a step up from Saver Options, covering those more complex ‘major’ dental services like orthodontics, crowns and bridges. It also offers bigger benefits for services like optical, chiro and physio.
Other services
A 12 month waiting period applies to dental items: 322-324, 331, 595, and 596. Benefits for replacement dentures and partial dentures are not paid within three years of previous supply. Pharmacy benefit paid after deduction of the PBS co-payment at 100% up to $80 per script. A $20 benefit (1 per person, per calendar year) will be paid on eligible claims for flu vaccinations from a registered pharmacy only. Like most Extras health covers, there are annual limits (a limit on how much we will pay toward your claims) for most services under Special Options. However, your benefit limits will be refreshed every year on January 1. What’s more, we’ll increase your annual limits on a number of services. For example, benefits and annual limits for major dental services increase each year for the first five years of membership.
Special features
Optical benefit paid on frames and prescription optical items. The limits detailed below are subject to a combined overall person limit of $450 ($900 per couple or family membership) for complementary therapies, chiro, osteo, physio and podiatry consultations. Our Complementary Therapies sub-limit $200 per person ($400 per couple or family membership) includes: acupuncture, myotherapy, remedial massage and traditional Chinese medicine. Treatment must be provided by a practitioner who is registered with HIF in the speciality for which the charge is raised. Benefits are not payable on medicines.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Special Options pay for a scale and clean?
What are the waiting periods for Special Options?
Can Special Options be bought on its own?
Already have Extras? Make the most of your limits
Tell us your insurer and product name. We'll help you see what you can claim and find providers who speak your language and offer on-the-spot HICAPS claims.