Choosing a Specialist

Your doctor will be able to recommend and refer you to a sleep physician or sleep laboratory where you can have a sleep study.

You may be happy to accept the advice of your doctor, or you may like to investigate your choices.

You can locate sleep laboratories through the Australasian Sleep Association. Some sleep labs offer bulk billing if you have a referral from your doctor.

To find out which physicians participate in our Medicover No Gap or Known Gap* arrangement:

• Call us on 13 13 34
• Visit an HCF branch
• Search for a participating provider online

Can you use your referral on any specialist?

Your referral can be transferred to any specialist you choose, as long as they’re in the same medical field. Alternatively, you can ask your GP to write an ‘open referral’ where they don’t specify a particular specialist. A valid referral needs to include:

• relevant clinical information about your condition for investigation, opinion, treatment and/or management
• date of the referral
• signature of your referring doctor.

*Participation in HCF’s medical gap initiative is at the doctor’s discretion. We can’t guarantee these doctors will participate in our gap arrangements for all members or services. Where you will incur any out-of-pocket costs the doctor(s) should advise you of these costs and obtain your Informed Financial Consent so you can make an informed decision before going ahead with the procedure. Members are encouraged to confirm with their doctor(s) whether they will use HCF’s medical gap initiatives for their treatment.