The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia, commonly referred to as HCF, is an Australian private health insurer headquartered in Sydney, New South Wales.

Founded in 1932, it has grown to become one of the country's largest combined registered private health fund and life insurance company.

In 1900, HSF introduced individual subscription hospital insurance, where contributors and their families paid a regular weekly sum to the fund.

[7][8] The fund's first office was established on the first floor of Adyar House (later the Savoy Building and now demolished) in Bligh Street.

This building, duly named MHCF House, has now long since been demolished to make way for yet another high rise development in Sydney's booming commercial area.

During these years MHCF House was never left unattended, day or night, in compliance with National Emergency Services regulations.

An air raid shelter was built in the basement and the entire male staff of 24 was formed into a voluntary patrol to protect the building.

[13] Despite many difficulties of the World War II years, including the severe drain on manpower resources and the cessation of many employment groups, the Fund's revenues continued to grow, indicating the high value now placed by the community on an equitable and efficient hospital insurance system.

[18] HCF decided to seek registration under the Act, which was duly granted and the Fund's total disbursements of the Commonwealth hospital benefit of 4/- a day[19][20] from 1 January 1952 (the start of the Scheme) to 30 June 1952 amount to £34,073.

[25] On 1 November 1963, HCF resumed independent operations from 199 Liverpool Street and launched its combined medical and hospital benefits plan.

In 1964 HCF upgraded its administrative procedures by installation of its own computer and introduced electronic data processing as an integral part of its operations.

In October 1974, HCF, in association with MBF, challenged the refusal by the then Commonwealth Minister for Social Security to approve increases in contribution rates which the funds required to meet benefit payments on higher public hospital charges.

The case was heard in the NSW Supreme Court, the fund's challenge was successful and the new rates were introduced in accordance with the original submissions.

[27][28] The Commonwealth Government's Medibank (now Medicare) fund was established in 1975, and provided medical benefits of 85% of the Schedule Fee for everyone in the community under an income tax levy system.

To maintain its community service role in this new environment, HCF introduced its Multicover plan from 1 July 1975, providing cover for the medical "gap" (the difference between the Medibank benefit and the Schedule Fee) and for a wide range of other health care services, such as dental, optical, physiotherapy, home nursing and overseas health care, which were not covered by Medibank.

[13] In 1983 the Federal Government introduced Medicare (Medibank's replacement) to cover medical and public hospital treatment.

Full service agents operate at outlets in country areas where membership and claims may be lodged and processed.

By 2010 there were over 3,000 providers registered on the HCF Oral Health program across Victoria, Queensland, ACT, South Australia and regional NSW.

In early 2007 HCF was caught providing personal information of its clients to McKesson Asia Pacific to use for promotional purposes.