The tiers are
Basic
Bronze
Silver
Gold

Get started on hospital cover with just the basics

The basic tier is entry-level hospital cover, designed to cover you in the case of accidents. It’s a great way for healthy people to get started with private hospital cover. Having and holding even a basic level of hospital cover means you might not have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS).1 It’s also enough to avoid accruing the Lifetime Health Cover loading, which makes your premiums go up the longer you don’t have hospital cover, after the age of 30 (up to 70%).

Features of Basic tier:

  • Entry level cover
  • Could exempt you from the Medicare Levy Surcharge
  • Provides some protection against unexpected accidents
View our Basic Hospital products
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*Minimum direct debit frequency is fortnightly. Price is for a single in NSW under the age of 65. No Lifetime Health Cover loading applied, and base tier Australian Government Rebate included. Price does not include age-based discount. Hospital cover price is based on an excess of $750.

Compare the different tiers

How to read our table:

Included Included  Restricted Restricted cover  Not included Not Included

See our Glossary for help on definitions


Hospital treatment coverage by clinical category and insurance tier
Hospital treatment by clinical category Basic Bronze Silver Gold
Rehabilitation Restricted Restricted Included Included
Hospital psychiatric services Restricted Restricted Restricted Included
Palliative care Restricted Restricted Included Included
Brain and nervous system Not Included Included Included Included
Eye (not cataracts) Not Included Included Included Included
Ear, nose and throat Not Included Included Included Included
Tonsils, adenoids and grommets Not Included Included Included Included
Bone, joint and muscle Not Included Included Included Included
Joint reconstructions Not Included Included Included Included
Kidney and bladder Not Included Included Included Included
Male reproductive system Not Included Included Included Included
Digestive system Not Included Included Included Included
Hernia and appendix Not Included Included Included Included
Gastrointestinal endoscopy Not Included Included Included Included
Gynaecology Not Included Included Included Included
Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy Not Included Included Included Included
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer Not Included Included Included Included
Pain management Not Included Included Included Included
Skin Not Included Included Included Included
Breast surgery (medically necessary) Not Included Included Included Included
Diabetes management (excluding insulin pumps) Not Included Included Included Included
Heart and vascular system Not Included Not Included Included Included
Lung and chest Not Included Not Included Included Included
Blood Not Included Not Included Included Included
Back, neck and spine Not Included Not Included Included Included
Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary) Not Included Not Included Included Included
Dental surgery Not Included Not Included Included Included
Podiatric surgery (provided by a registered podiatric surgeon) Not Included Not Included Included Included
Implantation of hearing devices Not Included Not Included Included Included
Cataracts Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Joint replacements Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Dialysis for chronic kidney failure Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Pregnancy and birth Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Assisted reproductive services Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Weight loss surgery Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Insulin pumps Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Pain management with device Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Sleep studies Not Included Not Included Not Included Included

Source: Australian Government Private Health Insurance Reforms

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Basic tier hospital cover will exempt you from needing to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you earn over $105,000 as a single or $210,000 as a couple, single parent, or family.1

Read more: Bupa’s Tax Information

Yes, the Basic Accident Only Hospital cover is Bupa’s cheapest hospital cover. Bupa also offers Basic Plus Starter Hospital cover, which adds more clinical categories for a small additional cost. 

Need help or advice?

Talk to a health insurance specialist.

1Applicable rebate percentages and income thresholds are reviewed annually by the Australian Government. Single parents and couples (including de facto couples) are subject to family tiers. For families with children, income thresholds are increased by $1,500 for each Medicare Levy Surcharge dependant child after the first child. For more information, visit the ATO website.

† If claimable from another source, a benefit won’t be paid by Bupa. Benefits for ambulance transportation is only payable where the provider describes the transportation as an ‘Emergency’. For more, see the Important Information Guide. There is a 1 day waiting period for emergency ambulance and on-the-spot treatment.

¥ Subject to availability and eligibility. Private room must be booked and requested at least 24 hours before admission. For every night a private room is unavailable, you’ll receive $50 back per night from the hospital. Applies to overnight admissions only. Excludes nursing home type patients, emergency care, same-day stays or where a private room is not medically appropriate. Not available in the NT. Any co-payment excess as part of your cover will still apply.