THURSDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2024: HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, has launched BookNow, an innovative 24-hour online dental booking tool that will allow members to schedule appointments with selected dental providers in HCF’s More for Teeth network.
Built in partnership with Australian digital health company HealthShare, the tool allows members to find the next available appointment time and then seamlessly book an appointment with participating dental practices, making it easier and more convenient for members to prioritise their oral health.
HCF Chief Officer of Member Health, Julie Andrews emphasised the importance of dental care for overall health: “We know that good oral health is closely linked to overall health and wellbeing and HCF data1 shows that members who access the More for Teeth program are 1.5 times less likely to need major dental work.
“By making it easier for our members to book and manage their dental appointments, we’re helping them stay on top of their dental care, which plays a key role in preventing more serious health issues in the future.”
The introduction of BookNow comes at a time when the rising cost of living has prompted many Australians to delay essential dental care. Recent data shows that 43% of women and 35% of men have postponed or avoided dental visits,2 and nearly a quarter of Australians refrain from check-ups due to out-of-pocket costs.
With 45% of Australians not having a regular dentist,3 the convenience of online booking can help more members access the care they need.
Rami Weiss, Co-Founder of HealthShare, said, “The BookNow tool simplifies the booking process for both patients and providers. We’re excited to work with HCF in supporting members with a faster, more convenient way to manage their dental appointments at a time that suits their schedule.”
For more information, visit HCF’s Find a Provider platform. Members are encouraged to check with their local More for Teeth provider to find out if they can book online.
REFERENCES
1. HCF 2016 financial year figures.
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, November 2023, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oral-health/oral-health-and-dental-care-in-australia/contents/costs
3. Australian Patients Association, November 2022 More than half of Australians are forced to skip the GP due to cost - Australian Patients Association
ENDS
Media enquiries to:
Joni Thomes 0475 576 738 or jthomes@hcf.com.au
About us:
ABOUT HCF HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund protecting Australians since 1932, covers almost 2 million members with health and life insurance, travel, pet, home and car insurance. HCF has been awarded Outstanding Value Health Insurance by Canstar nine years in a row from 2016-2024. On average over the last ten years, HCF has paid out more cents in every dollar in premiums to members as benefits than the industry average. ** To learn more about HCF go to hcf.com.au/about-us
** 89.2% compared to 85.6% across the industry. Calculated based on the average of the past 10 years, sourced from APRA Statistics: Private Health Insurance Operations Reports 2014-23.
ABOUT HEALTHSHARE HealthShare is a leading Australian digital health company dedicated to improving health outcomes with innovative and efficient digital tools that help support patients and health professionals. Over 10M Australians use HealthShare’s products every year as well as tens of thousands of GPs, non-GP specialists, allied health and dental professionals. For more information about HealthShare, please visit www.healthsharedigital.com.
Contact details:
Joni Thomes 0475 576 738 or jthomes@hcf.com.au
