Do you know what health insurance you need for an Australian visa? 

When moving to Australia, having the correct overseas health cover is equally as important as arranging your travel and accommodation. Health insurance should be at the top of your to-do list before you get ready to depart for Australia. 

Having adequate overseas health cover during your stay in Australia is mandatory for almost all visa types. OVHC is specifically designed to help overseas visitors meet their visa requirements and get access to the services they need during their stay.

8501 Visa Condition For Overseas Visitors 

The 8501 visa condition covers health insurance for visitors to Australia. The Home Affairs website states, “In the absence of Medicare eligibility, all visitors to Australia are strongly recommended to make their own arrangements for private health insurance (regardless of whether or not it is a visa condition) to ensure they are fully covered for any unplanned medical and or hospital care they may need while in Australia.”

Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) usually helps provide the required level of health insurance for overseas visitors but it is encouraged that the insured know what is and is not covered under the OVHC plan they select. 

Not all coverage plans offer the level of cover needed to meet an individual’s health care needs despite satisfying all visa conditions.

The Australian visa types that require health insurance include the following:

• BVA 010 (Bridging Visa A)
• BVB 020 (Bridging Visa B)
• BVC 030 (Bridging Visa C)
• BVE 050 (Bridging Visa E)
• 403 (Temp. Work International Relations)
• 405 (Investor Retirement)
• 407 (Training)
• 408 (Temporary work activity)
• 410 (Retirement)
• 417 (Working Holiday)
• 461 (NZ Citizen Family Relationship)
• 462 (Work and Holiday)
• 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage)
• 485 (Temporary Graduate – Graduate work, Post study work, Replacement stream)
• 500 (Student)
• 590 (Student Guardian)
• 6002 (Visitor: Tourist) 
• 771 (Transit)
• 870 (Sponsored Parent)
  

H2. The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement

Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) is an arrangement between the Australian government and a select few other countries that grants visitors from those nations access to medical treatment through Australia's Medicare system. 

According to the Home Affairs website, any overseas visitors from a country that Australia has a RHCA with may be eligible for medical care under Medicare while they are here. This means eligible citizens of RHCA countries can have access to Australia’s Medicare system at no additional cost.

Eligible countries include Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The services covered and the length of time that visitors are eligible for Medicare vary depending on the individual agreement with each country. Importantly however, you will need to apply for your reciprocal health care card and so you may need cover before it is granted.

How to Choose the Right Health Insurance for Your Stay

If you’re planning on visiting Australia and your visa has a 8501 condition, you should try to get your health cover as soon as possible. While it may not seem like the most important task, if you send your visa application off without proof of OVHC your application will likely be refused.

When choosing health insurance for your stay, read the fine print and take note of all that’s included. Do your research on all potential insurance providers and rate them based on price, cover, and benefits.

The best way to research is by starting with reputable OVHC providers. In Australia, the following 7 OVHC providers meet the 8501 requirement for visitor visas::

• AIA
• Allianz
• Bupa 
• CBHS International Health
• Frank Health Insurance
• Medibank
• NIB

Before selecting your OVHC provider, consider your individual needs beyond the 8501 condition. Do you need extra support, medical history, or out of hospital treatment? Factor all of these in, do your research, and then make an informed decision.

Frequently Asked Questions About OVHC

Is OVHC mandatory for all Australian visas?

While OVHC is not mandatory for all Australian visas, it is a condition for a majority of them and only citizens of certain countries can claim exemptions. The visa types where OVHC is required are visas BVA 010, BVB 020, BVC 030, BVE 050, 403, 405, 407, 408, 410, 417, 461, 462, 482, 485, 500, 590, 6002, 771, and 870.

The Home Affairs website states that most visitors to Australia will not have access to Medicare and will be personally responsible for all costs associated with public or private hospital and medical health care received in Australia.

This means an uninsured individual will be billed as a private patient if they are not fully covered for any unplanned medical care and will need to pay any costs themselves at the time of treatment.

Can I use my home country’s health insurance in Australia?

The short answer to this is: No. Although some national health insurance plans offer limited coverage abroad (such as emergency care), many do not. Your home country’s health insurance is also unlikely to cover routine or non-emergency treatments in other countries or the minimum benefits set out under condition 8501. 

The countries included in Australia’s RHCA are Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

What happens if I don't have adequate health insurance while in Australia?

Not having adequate health insurance while in Australia can lead to significant financial exposure for health care costs, visa issues, legal issues, penalties, and other risks. 

Visa requirements usually require that you maintain a certain level of health cover, if you do not meet these requirements your visa could be canceled or refused.

Being uninsured in Australia can expose you to out-of-pocket healthcare costs if you end up requiring emergency care. Medical costs can be extremely high for non-residents without insurance. Not to mention, in the event of an accident, illness, or other medical emergency, not having health insurance can leave you in a vulnerable position.

Ensuring Peace of Mind with the Right Health Insurance

Choosing the right health insurance is your first step to ensuring your time in Australia goes as smoothly as possible. Remember to read the fine print and do your research before making your final decision.

Compare OHVC plans online today with OVHC Insurance to find the best health cover for your needs.