The Problem with Extras
Reviewed June 2026 by Our Content Experts.
HBF Extras vs Smile™ Dental Cover: Which Gives You Better Value?
Smile™ vs HBF: Dental Cover is Better with Smile™
For most Australians, dental health means dealing with a massive health fund—a company like HBF—that bundles dental into an expensive 'Extras' package. But when it comes to getting the best value for your smile, this traditional approach is broken.
Why Australians Are Reconsidering Their HBF Extras
If you're tired of paying huge cover costs only to also be slugged with out-of-pocket costs, waiting periods, treatment exclusions and annual benefit limits, you are not alone. It's time to move past this traditional approach and discover the dedicated, top-rated dental cover that beats HBF Extras cover.
The key difference? HBF is a health insurer that bundles and charges you for many services you don't or rarely need. Smile™ is exclusively dental cover that offers superior value on the spot, none of the usual restrictions, and no annual increase of the cover fee.
Why Members Overpay
The Pain Points of HBF Extras: Hidden Cost of "Comprehensive"
HBF Extras Pain Points: What Members Actually Face
HBF, like other major funds, forces you to pay for a whole suite of health services (physio, chiro, podiatry, etc.) whether you use them or not. This is where the core value problem lies.
Here are the critical traps HBF members face when trying to use their dental benefits, and how the Smile™ solution delivers true peace of mind.
The 'Premium and Gap Trap'
The Reality for HBF Members
From $197+ to $2,900+ a year for a bundled Extras cover [1]— and yet, even with those hefty premiums, you still pay out-of-pocket gap costs.
The Smile™ Solution
$79 to $119 a year for a dedicated dental cover and you get reduced and capped dental fees that keep your out-of-pocket gap costs low — with a cover fee that's only a fraction of HBF's price.
The 'Bundle Trap'
The Reality for HBF Members
You pay high, constantly-increasing premiums for Extras cover that includes services you don't or rarely need, —like chiro and podiatry to get dental coverage.
The Smile™ Solution
Pay Only for What You Actually Need. Smile™ covers dental, exclusively. You're not having to pay for other health services that you don't or rarely need.
The 'Restrictions Trap'
The Reality for HBF Members
Waiting Periods, Benefit Limits, & Exclusions. You must wait up to 2-12 months for general and major dental, face annual benefit limits (e.g., $1,000), and deal with treatment exclusions that leave you uncovered when it matters most. Need urgent work? You either wait or pay 100% out-of-pocket. Once your limit's gone or a service isn't covered, the costs are all yours.
The Smile™ Solution
No Restrictions, Just Peace of Mind. No waiting periods, no annual benefit limits, and no treatment exclusions. As soon as you become a member, you get reduced & capped dental fees on the spot on ALL treatments at every visit to any of our 4,000+ Smile™ dentists nationwide.
Real-Life Comparisons
Real-Life Comparisons: How Smile™ Beats HBF on General and Major Dental
1. General Dental – Check-up and Clean
HBF Extras vs Smile™: What Does a Dental Checkup and Clean Actually Cost?
Meet Mark from NSW, like millions of Australians, just needs his annual check-up and clean. The standard fee for this service is up to $394 [2]. Let's see what Mark actually pays out-of-pocket for one year of dental cover:
General Dental - Check-up & Clean
Based on NSW check-up & clean, standard fee is up to $394
| Smile™ Single Dental Cover | HBF Single Top 70 | More Details | |
| Annual Cover Fee | $79 | $1,426 [3] | |
| Treatment Cost Paid By Member | $207 | $0 | |
| Mark Pays Up To | $286($79 annual cover fee + $207 capped fee) | $1,426 $1,426 annual cover fee + $0 gap fee | |
| The Winner is... | Winner! | Pay $1,140 more |
The Reality
HBF heavily promotes that you get "100% back on dental check-ups a year". While the treatment itself is $0 out-of-pocket at a Members Plus provider, the real annual cost is the $1,426 cover cost you are forced to pay for the 'Single Top 70' cover that includes dental, physio, chiro, and other services you never or rarely need.
The Smile™ Peace of Mind
Smile™ is pure dental cover for $79 a year. Even with a small capped payment for the treatment, Mark's total annual cost is a fraction of what HBF charges. Why pay $1,426 to cover a $394 service? With Smile™, you don't.
2. Major Dental – Root Canal Treatment
HBF Extras vs Smile™: Cost of a Root Canal
Now meet Sarah from NSW. She needs a Root Canal Treatment with a Filling, a critical procedure that is often unexpected, carrying a high fee of up to $1,842. See how Smile™ is the best solution for Sarah, better than HBF.
Major Dental – Root Canal Treatment
Based on NSW root canal (1 canal) with filling, standard fee is up to $1,842
| Smile™ Single Dental Cover | HBF Single Top 70 | More Details | |
| Annual Cover Fee | $79 | $1,426 | |
| Treatment Cost Paid By Member | $789 [4] | $842 | |
| Sarah Pays Up To | $868($79 annual cover fee + $789 capped fee) | $2,268 $1,426 annual cover fee + $842 gap fee | |
| The Winner is... | Winner! | Pay $1,400 more |
The Hidden Catch:
For a major procedure, HBF hits Sarah with two crippling costs:
- The 'Premium Trap': Sarah must first pay the $1,426 annual fee for the HBF Single Top 70 cover just to qualify for the rebate.
- The 'Gap Trap': Even with a high-level cover offering a "70% rebate limit", Sarah is left with a substantial $842 gap cost.
- The 'Restrictions Trap': The HBF cover has a $1,000 annual benefit limit for Major Dental. If Sarah needs any other major dental work (e.g., a crown) in the same year, the entire additional cost is 100% out-of-pocket once that limit is reached.
The Smile™ Peace of Mind
Why pay $2,268 with HBF — using up your benefit limits and still facing a high gap — when with Smile™, Sarah only pays $79 annual fee plus a capped $789 treatment fee, totaling just $868 — $1,400 less? Plus, with no limits or restrictions, Smile™ ensures she's covered for any future routine and major dental care, giving her true peace of mind. Like Mark and Sarah, you can enjoy the same peace of mind against unpredictable costs with our reduced & capped dental fees on ALL treatments at 4,000+ Smile™ dentists—cover free from restrictions & no annual increase. Join Smile™ today and benefit instantly!
The Numbers Don't Lie
Smile™ vs HBF: Why Smile™ Members Come Out Ahead
HBF Health Insurance Review: What Do Extras Cover Members Get Back?
When choosing a dental cover, the key question is simple: Am I getting the highest value for what I pay? Let's take a look at what members typically pay — and what they actually get back.
1. HBF's Return Rate
According to HBF’s 2025 Annual Report and APRA data, their aggregate overall return rate — the proportion of premiums paid back to members as benefits — is about 82.4% [5]. However, that figure includes hospital claims. For Extras-only, the return rate drops to around 60–70%, meaning members typically get back far less than what they pay. So, you're losing a lot of money.
2. The Real Cost of HBF Extras
HBF's Extras-only cover could cost around [6]:
Basic / Lower-Level
Mid-Level
Higher-Level
3. What HBF Members Get Back
Across all funds, Extras members receive an average of $464.68 in annual benefits, according to APRA. For HBF members, dental makes up the largest share — around $204.69 per person per year — yet that's still far less than the typical extra cover cost [7].
Even HBF's "Members Plus" network, which advertises up to 100% back on check-ups per year, comes with a catch: you're still paying hundreds more in cover costs just to access that benefit. So, you're paying more than you get back hence, you're making a loss.
4. The Smile™ Difference: Lower Annual Cover Fees
Real Member Savings: Smile™ vs HBF Extras
While HBF makes you pay more than you get back, Smile™ turns that around – helping you keep more money in your pocket to spend with the ones you love and on the things you love.
Smile™ is a new era of dental cover. It's a better, simpler dental cover, giving 1+ million members instant access to reduced and capped dental fees on all treatments at 4,000+ Smile™ dentists — from $79 a year, cover free from restrictions & no annual increase.
5. The Smile™ Difference: Real Smile™ Member Savings
Smile™ members typically save more than the cost of their cover, with the majority saving hundreds to thousands each year on treatments.
With Smile™, it's not just about paying less — it's about getting peace of mind, knowing you're covered against unpredictable costs with our reduced and capped dental fees on all treatments, especially when you need care the most. So, you're coming out ahead… profiting!
The Final Verdict
Smile™ Beats HBF on Value and Cost
Smile™ vs HBF Extras Cover: Full Side-by-Side Comparison
While HBF continues to raise premiums and shrink returns, Smile™ members enjoy real, immediate benefits. Here's how Smile™ dental cover beats HBF Extras cover.
Smile™ Flips the Script: Smile™ is a new era of dental cover! It's simple and built purely around what you actually need — great-value dental cover from unpredictable and expensive dental costs with reduced & capped dental fees on the spot at 4,000+ quality-monitored dentists nationwide. Stop paying for expensive HBF extras to cover you for health services that you don't or rarely need, plus many restrictions, & cover fee increases every April.
Dental Cover is Better with Smile™
Enjoy peace of mind with cover for $79 to $119 a year, no waiting periods, no treatment exclusions, no annual benefit limits, no annual cover fee increase, no overpaying for cover for services you don't need - just dental, done right.
Simple as 1, 2, 3
Here's How Smile™ Works and How You Can Benefit Instantly!
Visit
Visit any of 4,000+ Smile™ dentists, show your Smile™ card, & pay reduced & capped dental fees!
Check Savings
Request your printed invoice from the Smile™ dentist then use the Smile™ app to Check Savings!
Got Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: HBF Extras vs Smile™
Quick Facts About Smile™ Dental Cover
1. What is the difference between HBF Extras and Smile™ dental
cover?
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2. How much does HBF Extras cover cost compared to Smile™?
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3. Can I switch to Smile™ at any time, or do I need to wait until
my current extras cover renews?
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4. How does Smile™ work?
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1. Join: Join Smile™ online to get your Smile™ app with Smile™ card instantly!
2. Visit: Visit any of 4,000+ Smile™ dentists, show your Smile™ card, & pay reduced & capped dental fees!
3. Check Savings: Request your printed invoice from the Smile™ dentist then use the Smile™ app
5. Does Smile™ have waiting periods like HBF?
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6. Does Smile™ increase the cover fee each year like HBF?
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7. Can Smile™ replace my extras cover if dental is my major need?
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8. How do Smile™ members claim or receive benefits?
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References
- HBF Extras Cover - Extras Only Health Insurance - Link
- Dental Cost In NSW - Check-Up & Clean - 1st Visit - Link
- HBF Single Top 70 for a single person with top extras in NSW on an annual income under $101,000 as of June 2026 - Link
- Dental Cost In NSW - Root Canal (1 Canal) With Filling Example - Link
- HBF 2025 Annual Report - Link
- Canstar - What does extras-only cover cost? - Link
- APRA Quarterly private health insurance membership and benefits summary - March 2025 - Link
- HBF Extras Cover - Extras Only Health Insurance - Link
- Product Review - HBF Health Insurance - Link