600 visa health insurance

Pricing is based on a single person living in the State of New South Wales on a visa and is not from a country that Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with and is not eligible for cover under Medicare. Prices are accurate for 2020 but are subject to change.

Visitor visa 600 health insurance: An overview

What treatments does OVHC cover?

Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) is a type of private health insurance tailored to visa holders coming to work, live and visit Australia, like those on the 600 visa. It can cover you for the following:

Hospital treatment, accommodation and theatre fees

Doctor, surgeon and specialist fees

Emergency ambulance transportation fees

Prescriptions and General Practitioner (GP) consultations

Important note: Not all OVHC policies meet the visa health insurance requirements for condition 8501. If you have this condition on your visa, you'll need to make sure you choose the right insurance cover.

How to provide evidence of your health insurance arrangements

"If applicants are required to provide evidence of their health insurance arrangements, any the following may be considered acceptable, unless a particular visa subclass instruction requires other specific information:

• a copy of the insurance policy;
• a written letter or cover note from an acceptable insurance provider, certifying that the primary visa applicant and any accompanying family members immediately upon visa grant or their arrival in Australia, are, or will be, covered by insurance that is at least as comprehensive as the prescribed adequate level of cover;
• evidence that the visa applicant has lawfully enrolled with Medicare via Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RCHA);
• evidence that the primary visa applicant and any accompanying family members immediately upon visa grant or their arrival in Australia, are, or will be, covered by health insurance that is at least as comprehensive as the adequate level of cover required under policy, with the understanding that the applicants will either enrol with Medicare under a RHCA or enrol in a private insurance arrangement after arrival; or
• for citizens from the Republic of Ireland that may access RCHA, evidence that they hold an Irish passport.

Family members applying separately from the primary visa applicant or visa holder must produce evidence as per above, which clearly indicates that they, as dependant applicants, will be covered upon arrival in Australia by a policy with an adequate level of cover."

— Kaku Caro is a lawyer in LegalVision's Corporate Immigration team. He has previous experience in the areas of commercial litigation, corporate and personal immigration. He also has experience advising on visa eligibility and preparing visa applications such as partner visas, employer-sponsored work visas, parent visas, and general skilled migration visas.

Am I covered by Medicare on a 600 visa?

Australia's public healthcare system, Medicare, generally only covers Australian citizens and permanent residents.

You may be partially covered by Medicare, however, if you're visiting Australia from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) in place.

Cover varies based on the country you’re visiting from but generally includes:

• Free or reduced-cost treatment in a public hospital
• Subsidised prescription medicines
• Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital medical treatment and doctor’s visits.

If you're a visitor, you aren't generally eligible for Medicare unless you are from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement in place with Australia. You may be partially covered by Medicare if you're from one of the following countries that Australia has an RHCA with:

Did you know?

An ambulance can cost over $1,800 in Australia and isn't covered by Medicare unless you live in Queensland or Tasmania.

Why you can trust Finder's overseas health cover experts

We're free

Our Overseas Visitor Health Care comparisons are completely free to use. You pay the same as buying directly from the health insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site.

We're experts

We've researched and rated hundreds of policies as part of our Finder Awards. We've published 250+ guides and our in-house experts regularly appear on Sunrise, 7News and SBS News.

We're independent

Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and you can compare multiple OVHC funds in Australia on the site (and find a better deal).

We're here to help

Since 2014, we've helped 350,000+ people find health insurance by explaining your options simply. We'll never ask for your number or email to see prices. We're here to help you make a decision.

Frequently asked questions

• What is OVHC and why do I need it?

  OVHC stands for Overseas Visitor Health Cover, which is a type of health insurance for visitors to Australia on a temporary visa. This insurance covers the cost of medical treatment and hospital care for the duration of your stay in Australia. It is required for individuals who hold a 600 visa and is necessary in order to meet the visa's health requirement.

• What types of OVHC policies are available?

  There are several types of OVHC policies available to visitors to Australia on a 600 visa. These include basic policies that cover the cost of treatment for certain conditions, as well as more comprehensive policies that cover a wider range of medical services. Some policies also offer additional benefits such as ambulance cover and private room accommodation.

• What companies offer OVHC to 600 visa holders?

  There are several companies that offer OVHC to visitors to Australia on a 600 visa. Some examples of these companies include Allianz Care Australia, Bupa and nib. It is important to compare the policies and prices offered by different companies to find the one that best meets your needs and budget. You should also make sure that the policy you choose meets the requirements of the 600 visa, as not all policies may be accepted.

• Does OVHC include out-of-hospital services?

  Neither Medicare nor OVHC usually includes out-of-hospital services like dental, physiotherapy and optical. However, lots of policies allow you to add extras cover onto your OVHC policy for as little as $3 per week.

• Are there waiting periods before I will be covered?

  Yes, a waiting period is the time you need to serve before you can submit a claim. The Australian government sets the waiting periods for hospital treatments, so they are the same no matter which health insurer you choose.

  • 12 months for pre-existing conditions (excluding psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care).
  • 12 months for pregnancy and maternity services.
  • 2 months for all other hospital treatments and services.

• Is the 600 or 651 the best tourist visa to visit Australia?

  It depends on your personal circumstances. The 651 visa is for eligible passport holders from a select group of countries for stays up to 3 months at a time. The 600 visa is for people who don't hold an eligible passport or for stays longer than 3 months and up to 12 months.