All you need to know before moving to Australia: Health cover & visa essentials

If you are planning to visit, work or stay in Australia, you will likely need health insurance. For many visa holders, it is a legal requirement. Without the right cover, a single hospital visit could cost you thousands of dollars.

This guide explains what Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is, which visas require it, and how to choose the right plan for your situation. We will also cover common mistakes to avoid and tips for using your cover while you are in Australia – so that you can make steps to prepare before you arrive in the country.

Australia has a public health system called Medicare. It provides free or low-cost care to Australian citizens and permanent residents. However, most overseas visitors cannot access Medicare. This means you will need to pay for medical treatment yourself.

The costs can add up quickly. A hospital stay in Australia can be expensive, even for a short admission. Emergency treatment, surgery or specialist care can run into tens of thousands of dollars. Even a routine GP visit comes with a cost you may not be prepared for without cover.

Many Australian visas include condition 8501. This condition requires you to maintain adequate health insurance for the entire time you are in Australia. If you do not have the right cover, you risk having your visa cancelled.

You can check your visa conditions on the Department of Home Affairs website. If your visa has condition 8501, you must have health insurance that meets their requirements. OVHC from a registered provider like Allianz Care satisfies this condition.

The type of health cover you need depends on your visa. Here is a quick guide to help you find the right match.

If you hold a visitor visa 600 or similar visitor visa, you may need health insurance. This depends on whether your visa has condition 8501 attached.

Visitor visa health insurance covers you for hospital treatment, emergency ambulance and medical repatriation. Some policies also include GP visits and prescription medicines. Allianz Care offers Budget Visitors and Standard Visitors cover options to suit different needs and budgets.

If you are coming to Australia to work, you will need OVHC designed for working visa holders. These policies typically offer more comprehensive cover because you may be staying longer and need access to a wider range of services.

Working visa OVHC covers hospital treatment. Some policies also include GP visits, prescription medicines and emergency ambulance. Higher level plans may also include extras like dental, optical and physiotherapy.

If you hold a student visa, you need a different type of cover called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). This is separate from OVHC and is specifically designed for international students. Your education provider can often help you arrange OSHC when you enrol.

Some visitor visas do not have condition 8501. In this case, you are not legally required to have health cover. However, it is still a good idea to get OVHC insurance to protect yourself from unexpected medical costs. Travel insurance alone may not provide the same level of hospital cover.

Finding the right policy does not have to be complicated. Here are the key things to consider.

All OVHC policies cover hospital treatment and emergency ambulance. Beyond that, the level of cover varies. Check whether your policy includes:

• GP visits outside of hospital
• Prescription medicines
• Medical repatriation to your home country

Budget policies may only cover hospital admissions. Standard and higher policies usually include GP visits and prescriptions as well.

Waiting periods are the time you need to wait before you can claim for certain treatments. Most OVHC and OSHC policies have waiting periods, refer to the Policy Wording for more information on waiting periods.

A pre-existing condition is any illness or health issue you had signs or symptoms of in the 6 months before your cover started. If you need treatment for a pre-existing condition during the waiting period, you generally cannot claim for it.

Think about how long you will be in Australia and what level of cover you need. If you are only visiting for a short time and are generally healthy, a budget policy may be enough. Budget policies will only cover admitted hospital services. You may not be able to visit a doctor on a budget policy either. If you are staying longer or have ongoing health needs, a more comprehensive policy could be worth the extra cost.

Some policies let you choose an excess. This is the amount you pay towards a hospital admission before your cover kicks in. A higher excess means lower premiums, but you will pay more if you need to go to hospital.

Not all health insurance meets the requirements for visa condition 8501. Standard travel insurance usually does not count as adequate health insurance. Make sure you choose OVHC from a registered provider that is approved by the Department of Home Affairs.

Keep your premiums up to date to avoid gaps in cover. If you pay by instalments, make sure payments go through on time. Setting up a direct debit or calendar reminder can help you stay on track.