Health insurance is traditionally described as ‘hospital and extras’ cover. These extras provide a rebate - or benefit, towards the cost of everyday non-hospital services like optical.

Whilst Medicare often covers eye tests, optical products like glasses and prescription sunglasses aren’t. However, with optical extras you are entitled to a rebate or discount on many optical products and services.

Shade Files has partnered with Industry leader HICAPS to help make processing health rebate claims fast and seamless in-store. 

Simply bring your health fund card into store and one of our helpful staff members will swipe and tell you how much you can claim.

The claim will be made right there on the spot with most insurers, making the process of getting new prescription glasses or shades quick and easy.

Following the purchase of optical products online at Shade Files you will receive an itemised invoice which includes our Online Optical Dispenser Provider numbers along with the product item codes. You must then pass this invoice to your selected Health Fund in order for them to refund you the eligible amount. 

Optical Extras cover is not unlimited. All policies have a maximum benefit it will pay for certain extras, like optical - which renews each year. Ranging from ‘no gap’ offers to percentage discounts, your entitlements will depend on the health fund you are insured with, in addition to your level of cover.

Levels of cover varies between insurers. For instance, basic policies will have a lower annual rebate limit compared to someone with a comprehensive policy. Whatever the limit, once reached you will need to wait until the policy reset’s before claiming again.

The limit for what and how much you can claim is dependent on your specific health insurance policy. Each policy includes an annual limit for optical, and a defined amount of how much can be claimed on each service. If you are unsure about how much you can claim, simply head into our store and speak to our team.

Until you hit your annual limit, you are entitled to claim as often as you like. On average most health funds pay around $200 per year, although they can range from as low as $100 all the way up to $500. 

Most health funds renew with the calendar year, however some also work to the financial year or when you signed up for your insurance. It is important to keep note of when your health insurance renews as any unused benefit from the previous year does not roll over into the next.  It is also worth mentioning that you can claim your benefit at any point throughout the year.

We are covered by most major and participating health funds as listed below:

Major health funds:

• BUPA
• Medibank
• nib
• HCF
• HBF
• AHM
• Australian Unity 

Other participating health funds

• ADF Family Health
• CBHS
• Defence Health
• Emergency Services Health
• GMHBA
• Grand United
• HIF
• Hunter Health Insurance
• Latrobe Health Services
• Mildura Health Fund
• My Own Health Insurance
• Navy Health
• Nurses & Midwives Health
• Onemedifund
• Peoplecare
• Phoenix Health Fund
• Police Health
• Queensland Country Health Fund
• St Lukes Health
• Teachers Federation Health Ltd
• Transport Health
• TUH
• UNI Health
• Westfund