Gold health insurance is the highest tier of hospital cover available in Australia, offering the most comprehensive protection. It provides full coverage for all eligible treatments as a private patient in a hospital, making it ideal for people who need access to complex or high-cost procedures and specialised care.
What does Gold hospital insurance cover?
Gold hospital cover offers unrestricted cover for all 38 clinical categories mandated by the Australian Government. These are:
- Palliative care
- Psychiatric services
- Rehabilitation
- Brain and nervous system
- Eye (not cataracts)
- Ear, nose and throat
- Tonsils, adenoids and grommets
- Bone, joint and muscle
- Joint reconstructions
- Kidney and bladder
- Male reproductive system
- Digestive system
- Hernia and appendix
- Gastrointestinal endoscopy
- Gynaecology
- Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer
- Pain management
- Skin
- Breast surgery (medically necessary)
- Diabetes management (excluding insulin pumps)
- Heart and vascular system
- Lung and chest
- Blood
- Back, neck and spine
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary)
- Dental surgery
- Podiatric surgery
- Implantation of hearing devices
- Cataracts
- Joint replacements
- Dialysis for chronic kidney failure
- Pregnancy and birth
- Assisted reproductive services
- Weight loss surgery
- Insulin pumps
- Pain management with device
- Sleep studies
What does Gold hospital cover not include?
While Gold insurance includes all hospital categories, it will not cover:
- Elective cosmetic surgery and other procedures not considered medically necessary.
- Non-emergency ambulance services, though emergency ambulance is included (except in Tasmania and Queensland, where it is covered by the state).
- Outpatient services, which are generally covered by Medicare or, if not, require a separate extras plan.
How much does Gold hospital cover cost?
Gold hospital cover is the most expensive type of health insurance, with premiums that are significantly higher than other plans. This is because Gold policies cover the most complex and costly treatments and services.
The cost of a policy varies depending on who is covered, where you live, the excess you choose, and the provider you select, but monthly premiums generally run into hundreds of dollars.
Based on Gold cover quotes from some of Australia’s largest insurers, a person in NSW could expect to pay the following per month for their Gold policy:
| Cover type | Monthly premium |
|---|---|
| Single | $268 – $332 |
| Couple | $511 – $560 |
| Family | $535 – $599 |
| Single parent | $455 – $531 |
| Quotes are based on Gold-tier premiums from Medibank, Bupa, HCF and HBF in March 2026. Prices shown are for 35-year-old adult(s) in NSW, earning a base-tier salary, with a $750 per person excess. | |
April 2026 price rises
In April 2026, private health insurance premiums will rise by an average of 4.41%, but if you have Gold-level cover, you could see the price of your insurance rise significantly more. According to analysis by CHOICE, people on Gold health plans will see an average rise of 13.3%, with some plans increasing by as much as 25%.
To save on your health cover, you can pay your annual premium in full to lock in cheaper rates or compare and switch to a lower-cost plan.
Why compare health insurance policies through Savvy?
What’s the difference between Basic, Bronze, Silver and Gold health insurance?
There are four tiers of hospital cover available in Australia: Basic, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each tier includes a set number of clinical categories, with higher tiers providing coverage for more services and treatments than the one below.
Higher tiers like Gold and Silver health insurance provide more comprehensive coverage, offering broader protection for a wide range of treatments and services, but they come with higher premiums.
Lower tiers like Basic and Bronze hospital plans are more affordable but cover a limited selection of services, focusing on more common treatments.
The cost difference between a lower-tier plan and a Gold policy can be thousands of dollars per year, so don't just set and forget. While your health can be hard to predict, don't pay for what you don't need.
Here’s what’s covered at each tier:
Is Gold hospital cover right for me?
Gold cover is best suited for people who need access to treatments or services not covered by lower tiers, such as:
- People who are planning to have a baby, including those who might need IVF.
- Older adults who may need cataract surgery or joint replacement.
- Those requiring ongoing treatment for chronic conditions.
However, if you don’t need the services included in a Gold plan, you could save money with a lower tier plan that meets your needs without paying for services you won’t use.
Silver Plus hospital policies include some Gold-tier categories but come with lower premiums, so it’s worth checking whether the services you need are covered under a Silver Plus policy before choosing Gold cover.
