Compare Silver Cover Health Insurance

Silver Cover tackles some of the most common health hiccups in Australia. Take heart conditions, for instance. In 2022, heart conditions were the leading cause of death and the sixth most common chronic health issue in Australia.¹Australian Bureau of Statistics – Causes of Death, Australia and Health conditions prevalence So they might be something you feel better being covered for, especially if you’re getting on in years, as prevalence increases with age. And with Silver Cover, this is one less thing you need to worry about.

Worried about asthma? You’re in good company – in 2022, it was Australia’s fourth most common chronic health issue, affecting more than 10% of the population.²As above Breathe easy, because Silver Cover steps in for lung and chest treatments.

Did you know that a whopping 15.7% of Australians had back problems in 2022?³As above Silver Cover has your back, literally. It jumps in for back, neck, and spine issues, ensuring you’ll get the care you need.

After those big numbers, are you wondering what the most prevalent chronic health condition is? In 2022 it was mental and behavioural conditions, affecting a huge 26.1% of the Australian population.⁴As 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 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 
• Knee 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, you usually won’t find them in a standard Silver Plan. 

A Silver Plus plan has everything you’ll find in a standard Silver Plan – plus more! You could find a bonus treatment or two that are listed under Gold in the Australian Government’s hospital treatment product tiers. That could include treatments like jointreplacements, cataracts, insulin pumps, sleep studies and more. Think of it as a step between the Silver and Gold tier.

When you sign up for Silver Hospital Cover, you’ll see some pesky waiting periods. Here’s the lowdown:

• 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.