Gold Cover: Understanding the Highest Health Policy Tier

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Updated 14/08/2023
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Written by

Francis Taylor

Updated 14/08/2023

What changed?

Updated sources.
Our aim is to help you make better informed decisions. That’s why iSelect’s content is produced in accordance with our fact-checking and editorial guidelines.

Edited by

Laura Crowden

Find out more about how we make money.

View our Privacy Policy.

Check out our range of private health funds

iSelect does not compare all providers or policies in the market and not all policies or special offers are available at all times, through all channels or in all areas. Not all policies available from our providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements and customer circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Learn more.

What is Gold Hospital Cover?

Gold Cover policies are pretty awesome, offering more protection than any other type of Hospital Cover. In fact, they sit at the very top of the tier system that the Aussie Government introduced in 2019,1Australian Government | Department of Health and Aged Care – Private health insurance reforms and as a result you may hear Gold Cover also referred to as ‘top cover’.  With Gold, you’ll get coverage for more in-hospital treatments than Basic, Bronze or Silver policies.2PrivateHealth.gov.au – Product Tiers 

Why go Gold?

Among the number of things that Gold has going for it, includes that it covers you for more medical treatments than other tiers of Hospital Cover.3As above  It also ensures unrestricted cover for every category of in-hospital treatment.4PrivateHealth.gov.au – Product Tiers

Who is Gold Cover suitable for?

People planning pregnancy

If you’re planning on getting pregnant and want to give birth as a private patient in a private hospital, and/or have the option of choosing your own obstetrician, then Gold cover may be for you. Gold hospital insurance also gives people who are having difficulty conceiving access to in-hospital IVF treatment (as long as it’s medically required).

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People with chronic conditions

Gold cover might suit people who suffer from diabetes, osteoarthritis or other chronic conditions. The right level of cover can give them the option to get treated in a private hospital and (potentially) skip the public system’s waiting lists. This means they might be able to get treatments like a hip replacement or an insulin pump sooner rather than later. 

Older Australians

Sadly, as you get older, you are more likely to be affected by certain conditions. By the age of 80, most people will develop cataracts1Healthdirect – Cataracts and around 1 in 10 Australian adults has signs of chronic kidney disease.2Healthdirect.gov.au – Chronic kidney disease 

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People who want peace of mind

Even people who don’t fall into these categories may find Gold Cover useful. One of the best ways to determine if it’s a good match or not is to simply think about whether you’ll ever need medical treatment for the additional conditions it covers, or simply prefer to have the peace of mind.

But if you don’t think you’ll need it (or if you’re fine with getting treatment as a public patient), then a lower product tier might be worth considering. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

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iSelect does not compare all health insurance providers or policies in the market. The availability of policies will change from time to time. Not all policies available from its providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, your stated needs and circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Some policies and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers