HICAPS stands for Health Industry Claims and Payments Service.
HICAPS is an electronic health claims system that allows HIF members to claim automatically on the spot at their health service provider.
How does HICAPS work?
Following a visit to an Extras provider (e.g. a dentist or physio), the receptionist will provide you with a bill and ask if you have health cover. At that point you can hand them your HIF membership card and they'll swipe it through an electronic claiming terminal known as a HICAPS machine.
The machine will automatically process HIF's contribution towards your bill, meaning you just need to pay any remaining fees (if any apply). In instances where a portion of the fees may be outstanding and therefore need to be paid by you, this is referred to as a "gap payment".
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