Understanding the difference between Hospital cover and Extras cover is crucial to help you choose the right health insurance for you. This guide will explain both, how they work, and why you might consider one or both to better support your health – as well as your hip pocket.
What is Hospital cover?
Put simply: when you’re admitted to hospital as a private patient, Hospital cover allows you to receive benefits towards the costs of your treatment – like doctor’s fees, operating theatre costs, meals, accommodation etc.1
The type of services you’re eligible to receive benefits for, depends on:
- the level of cover and inclusions in your policy, and
- whether you’ve served any waiting periods that apply.
Generally, the higher the level of cover, the more services you can claim towards. Gold is the most comprehensive level of cover, then Silver, Bronze, and Basic. All health insurers are required to categorise their policies in this way, to help make it easier to understand and compare health insurance products.
Learn more: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Basic: Private Health Insurance Tiers Explained
Is Hospital cover worth it?
Let’s face it, no one wants to go to hospital. But when you have to? Having more control, choice and flexibility throughout your experience can help you feel better supported.
That’s where having Hospital cover can help – by giving you more say in where you’re treated, who you’re treated by*, and you may even have some control over when you receive your treatment.2 Once you’ve had your treatment, you may be able to recover with the comfort and privacy of your own room in a private hospital.#
Medibank's Find a Provider tool can also help you find Members’ Choice providers and GapCover specialists in your area where clinically necessary, who may charge no-gap or a known-gap fees, which could reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.&
Hospital cover can also help make your finances healthier:
What is Extras cover?
Extras cover can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for out of hospital treatments that generally aren’t covered by Medicare and that can help you stay healthy – services like dental, optical, physio, and more. So while Medicare or your Hospital cover might help with the big stuff like surgeries and hospital stays, Extras cover steps in for those routine and preventative services that help you stay in tip-top shape.
The types of services you can claim back on depends on the level of Extras cover you select. The benefits you receive depend on things like the claim back percentage, waiting periods and your annual or lifetime limits.
Not only does Extras cover help with some costs - it could help you better manage your health. With Medibank, members have access to exclusive perks designed to support and encourage better health – things like rewards, discounts, offers, services and health programs.
Learn more: Is Extras cover worth it?
Benefits of combining Hospital and Extras cover
In general, taking out both Hospital and Extras cover as a combined policy could be more convenient when managing your payments and claims and help you feel like your healthcare needs are looked after, both in hospital and out.
Frequently asked questions
Need help finding cover that's right for you?
Whether you're searching for Hospital cover, Extras cover or both – Medibank can help you stay on top of your health.
Why consider Medibank?
100% back on dental check-ups twice a year on eligible extras
Here’s something to smile about – Medibank members with eligible Extras cover for two months or more get 100% back on up to two dental check-ups every year, including x-rays, at any Members’ Choice Advantage dentist.=
24/7 Medibank Health Support
Health concerns keeping you up at night? Members with health insurance can speak to a registered nurse or mental health professional at no extra cost.@ Chat over the phone or online any time of the day or night.
Accident Cover Boost
If you have an Accident, you’ll have access to all clinical categories included in Gold level Hospital cover, no matter what level of Hospital cover you have, thanks to our Accident Cover Boost.+
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Things you need to know
1 Australian Government: Department of Health and Aged Care; Hospital cover and product tiers; retrieved March 2025.
2 Better Health Victoria; Hospitals in Victoria; retrieved March 2025.
3 PrivateHealth Gov; Ambulance; retrieved March 2025.
* Subject to doctors availability and hospital resourcing.
# Subject to hospital resourcing, availability and clinical need.
& An excess or co-payment may still be payable, depending on the product a member has chosen and whether they are claiming under their hospital cover for the first time in a calendar year. The Medibank Member Guide and Fund Rules sets out hospital benefit exclusions, which apply to all hospital admissions for Medibank members. There may be out-of-pocket expenses associated with outpatient appointments, such as your initial visit with a participating surgeon in their consulting rooms.
$ The single parent/couple/family income threshold is increased by $1,500 for each MLS dependant child after the first child. 'income’ and 'dependants' have a specific meaning for Medicare Levy Surcharge purpose. Learn more.
^ Waiting period applies. For ambulance attendance or transportation to a hospital where immediate medical attention is required and your condition is such that you couldn't be transported any other way. TAS and QLD have State schemes that provide ambulance services for residents of those States.
= Eligible members on Medibank extras (excluding Healthy Living Extras and Gold Ultra Health) can claim a maximum of two 100% back dental check-ups per member, per year at a Members’ Choice Advantage provider (including bitewing x-rays where clinically required). For members on eligible extras, the first two check-ups do not count towards your annual limit. Members with Healthy Living Extras can get 100% back on one dental check-up each year at a Members’ Choice Advantage provider (including up to two bitewing x-rays, where clinically required) or at a Members’ Choice dentist (excluding x-rays). Members with Gold Ultra Health can get 100% back on up to three dental check-ups at a Members’ Choice or Members’ Choice Advantage provider. Members’ Choice and Members’ Choice Advantage providers are not available in all areas. Two month waiting period applies. Some products may have other dental benefits, check your cover summary for details.
@ Some referred services may involve out of pocket costs and waiting periods may apply.
+ For Accidents that occur in Australia after your cover starts. Must seek medical treatment within 7 days and receive hospital treatment within 12 months of the Accident occurring. Excludes Private Emergency Department Benefit, hospital bonus, claims covered by third parties and our Private Room Promise. Out-of-pocket costs may apply.
General disclaimer: While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. It is not health advice and is not tailored to meet your individual health needs. You should always consult a trusted health professional before making decisions about your health care. While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them. For these reasons we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss that may be sustained from acting on this information (subject to applicable consumer guarantees).