6 weeks free plus no 2 & 6 month waits on extras* when joining on combined cover. *T&Cs apply.
What is Silver Hospital cover?
Silver Hospital cover sits in the mid-to-high level of cover – it's a solid, comprehensive cover.

Understanding hospital cover levels
Hospital cover comes in four simple tiers: Basic, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each tier covers certain services, making it easy to compare across health funds. See a 'Plus' option? That means you get some bonus services without the jump to the next level.
Benefits of private hospital cover
With private hospital cover, you have the option of being treated as a private patient, often within a private hospital.
Hospital cover gives you the option to choose your own doctor or specialist and you can avoid the public hospital waiting list by receiving treatment in a private hospital.
Earn over $101k as a single or $202k as a couple? Did you know that getting hospital cover may save you money at tax time?
Canstar approved, four years in a row!
GMHBA has done it again with Canstar’s 2025 Winner of Outstanding Value Award – Hospital & Extras Insurance: VIC. We are proud to provide Australians with 5 star health cover for our hospital and extras products.
^Pricing based on Single, aged 30 living in VIC earning $101,000 or less (Base Tier Australian Government Rebate) and excludes . Prices and displayed products can change if details vary.
How does silver hospital cover compare?
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Silver Plus Hospital
FROM$ 30 .25
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per week
Hospital Excess $750A popular choice offering a range of services with some exclusions to keep costs down-
No excess for children under 21
-
Excess waiver for same day stays
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Heart & vascular system
-
Lung & chest
Hospital Services
- Tonsils, adenoids and grommets
- Joint reconstructions
- Hernia and appendix
- Gynaecology
- Dental surgery
- Brain and nervous system
- Eye (not cataracts)
- Ear, nose and throat
- Bone, joint and muscle
- Kidney and bladder
- Male reproductive system
- Digestive system
- Gastrointestinal endoscopy
- Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer
- Pain management
- Skin
- Breast surgery (medically necessary)
- Diabetes management (excluding insulin pumps)
- Blood
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary)
- Podiatric surgery (by an accredited podiatric surgeon)
- Back, neck and spine
- Rehabilitation
- Palliative care
- Heart and vascular system
- Lung & Chest
- Implantation of hearing devices
- Sleep studies
- Cataracts
- Joint replacements
- Dialysis for chronic kidney disease
- Insulin pumps
- Pain management with device
- Hospital psychiatric services
- Pregnancy and birth
- Assisted reproductive services
- Weight loss surgery
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Silver Plus Premium Hospital
FROM$ 43 .25
-
per week
Hospital Excess $750High level cover with minimal exclusions-
No excess for children under 21
-
Excess waiver for same day stays
-
Joint replacements
-
Cataracts
Hospital Services
- Tonsils, adenoids and grommets
- Joint reconstructions
- Hernia and appendix
- Gynaecology
- Dental surgery
- Brain and nervous system
- Eye (not cataracts)
- Ear, nose and throat
- Bone, joint and muscle
- Kidney and bladder
- Male reproductive system
- Digestive system
- Gastrointestinal endoscopy
- Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer
- Pain management
- Skin
- Breast surgery (medically necessary)
- Diabetes management (excluding insulin pumps)
- Blood
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary)
- Podiatric surgery (by an accredited podiatric surgeon)
- Back, neck and spine
- Rehabilitation
- Palliative care
- Heart and vascular system
- Lung & Chest
- Implantation of hearing devices
- Sleep studies
- Cataracts
- Joint replacements
- Dialysis for chronic kidney disease
- Insulin pumps
- Pain management with device
- Hospital psychiatric services
- Pregnancy and birth
- Assisted reproductive services
- Weight loss surgery
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Lifetime Health Cover (LHC)
The Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading is a Government loading on your private hospital cover premiums. It was introduced on July 1, 2000 to encourage people to take out private hospital cover earlier, and to maintain their cover.
Understanding what services are covered
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Included
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Not Included
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Restricted
Restricted services are limited to a minimum (default) benefit as set by the Australian Government for accommodation as a private patient in a shared room of a public hospital. The benefit does not cover the cost of a private room in a public hospital or any room in a private hospital, and does not cover theatre costs. If you are admitted to a private hospital for treatment that is restricted by your policy, large out-of-pocket expenses will apply.
Waiting periods
Hospital services
A waiting period is the time between when you first take out health insurance or upgrade your cover and when you're actually covered for a hospital treatment.
Hospital waiting period durations – when treatment or service is included on your cover – are as follows:
Waiting period: 0 days (accidents must occur after joining)
Accidents - bodily injuries resulting from accidents which occur after the date of joining GMHBA or upgrading to a higher cover.
Waiting period: 2 months
Any other benefit for hospital (or hospital substitution) treatment unless otherwise stated.
Waiting period: 12 months
Obstetrics and maternity, pre-existing ailment, illness or condition (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care).
Pre-existing conditions
A pre-existing condition is one where signs or symptoms of your ailment, illness or condition, in the opinion of a medical practitioner appointed by GMHBA (not your own doctor), existed at any time during the six months preceding the day on which you purchased your hospital insurance or upgraded to a higher level of hospital cover and/or benefit entitlement.
A special waiting period applies to obtain benefits for hospital treatment for new members who have pre-existing conditions. The waiting period also applies to existing members who have recently upgraded their level of hospital cover. If the ailment, illness or condition is considered pre-existing:
New members
New members must wait 12 months for any hospital benefits (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care).
Existing members (transferring or upgrading)
Members transferring/upgrading to a higher hospital cover must wait 12 months to get the higher hospital benefits (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care).
Waiting periods
Extras services
A waiting period is the time between when you first take out health insurance or upgrade your cover and when you're actually covered for a treatment or service.
Waiting periods for extras services – when included on your cover – are as follows:
Waiting period: 0 days
Ambulance transport and subscriptions
Waiting period: 2 months
Any services that are not specified below
Waiting period: 6 months
Optical
Waiting period: 12 Months
Major dental, orthodontics, podiatry surgical procedures and orthotic appliances (foot), orthopaedic appliances (GMHBA approved), medical devices and aids including hearing aids, blood glucose monitor, extremity pump, nebuliser pump, pressure garments, prostheses (GMHBA approved, non-surgical), sleep apnoea monitor and tens monitor.
Join on combined cover to get
6 weeks free plus no 2 & 6 month waits on extras*
*For new members only joining direct on hospital and extras cover, paying by direct debit. Must pay first months premium to receive discount. Other waits (including hospital waits), annual and sub limits apply.

No excess for same day hospital stays^
GMHBA waive the hospital excess for any private and public hospital day stays, so you don't have to pay your excess if you don't stay the night.
^Does not apply to closed hospital products. All hospital waiting periods apply, including standard 2- and 12-month waiting periods and waiting periods for pre-existing conditions which may be up to 12 months.
FAQs answered
Silver hospital products are a great option if you are looking for a high level of cover but don't need to be covered for everything. You won’t have to pay a higher premium for services you may not use like pregnancy.
GMHBA has a range of Silver Plus hospital covers, and you can compare the different covers to find out which is the best fit for you.
If you upgrade to a higher level of hospital cover, you will need to serve waiting periods on any services that you have not previously held hospital cover for (and if you haven't served all your waits, they will also be transferred to your new level of cover).
Learn more about waiting periods here
If you're switching on a similar level of hospital cover, you won't have to re-serve waiting periods for services you were already covered for. If you're switching to a higher level of cover, or there are new services in your new cover, you will need to serve waits for these items.
Learn more about waiting periods or switching to GMHBA.
Silver Plus hospital covers are products that contain more services than required for the Silver category.
For example - GMHBA Silver Plus Premium Hospital includes cover for joint replacements, insulin pumps, pain management devices and sleep studies, services that are not a requirement for Silver.
Gold hospital cover is the most comprehensive health insurance on the market, it provides unrestricted coverage for all 38 clinical categories, whereas Silver Plus hospital excludes a limited number of clinical categories, for some making it a more suitable choice of cover.

Why choose GMHBA?
Founded by cement workers in Geelong to make everyone feel cared for.
90 years on, as a not-for-profit health insurance and care company, that care still stands strong. Our size may have changed but who we are remains the same.
Your health and wellbeing are always put first because we want to make sure you get personalised cover for the moments that matter.
Whatever stage of life you’re at, we’re here for you.
Need some help?
If you can't quite find what you are looking for, visit our help page or contact our friendly customer service team.
