Compare Silver Hospital Cover

Silver cover tackles some of the most common health issues and conditions in Australia. Take heart conditions, for instance. In 2023, ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death¹Australian Bureau of Statistics – Causes of Death, Australia and heart, stroke and vascular disease were the sixth most common chronic health issue in Australia in the previous year.²Australian Bureau of Statistics – Health conditions prevalence So they might be something you feel better being covered for, especially if you’re getting on in years, since acute coronary events unfortunately become more common as we age. And with silver cover, this may be one less thing you need to worry about.

Worried about asthma? You’re not alone – in 2022, it was Australia’s fourth most common chronic health issue, affecting more than 10% of the population.³As above Breathe easy, because silver cover steps in help with lung and chest.

Did you know that a whopping 15.7% of Australians had back problems in 2022?⁴As above Silver cover has your back, literally. It jumps in for back, neck, and spine, ensuring you’ll get the care you need.

After those big numbers, are you wondering what Australia’s most prevalent chronic health condition is? In 2022 it was mental and behavioural conditions, affecting a huge 26.1% of our population.⁵As above So where does silver stand on that one? Silver cover includes hospital psychiatric services on a restricted basis, meaning that it might partially cover costs if you’re a private patient in a public hospital. For unrestricted psychiatric cover, you’ve gotta go for the next step up in cover: gold.

Keep in mind that this is just for hospital treatment, though. If you see a psychiatrist or psychologist outside of hospital, Medicare could cover some or all of the cost, as could an extras policy that covers psychology.

While silver cover has your back on a bunch of common health issues, there are a few things it generally doesn’t cover. For instance, if you’re eyeing up cataract surgery, planning a joint replacement, or dealing with chronic kidney issues that need dialysis, silver cover won’t be suitable.

Here are the primary exclusions of silver cover:

• cataracts
• joint replacements
• dialysis for chronic kidney failure
• pregnancy and birth
• assisted reproductive services
• weight loss surgery
• insulin pumps
• pain management devices
• sleep studies.

While you could potentially find some of these in a silver plus policy, it’s not guaranteed. Instead, you might want to make the move up to a gold policy.

A silver plus policy has everything you’ll find in a standard silver plan – plus more! You could find a bonus treatment or two that you’d otherwise have to pick a gold policy for. That could include treatments like pregnancy and birth, joint replacements, cataracts, insulin pumps, sleep studies, and more. Think of it as a step between the silver and gold tiers.

When you sign up for silver hospital cover, you’ll see some waiting periods come with it, including:

• twelve months for pre-existing conditions: If you’ve had signs or symptoms in the six months before joining or upgrading, you’ll be in waiting mode for a year before you can claim on that particular health issue.
• two months for psychiatric, rehabilitation, and palliative care: This includes pre-existing conditions.
• two months in all other circumstances.

If you switch insurers or policies without a coverage break, you’re in the clear for waiting periods you’ve already completed, as long as you’re switching to the same or a lower level of coverage. But for new or upgraded items, buckle up for some waiting.