489 Visa Health Insurance

Pricing is based on a single person living in the State of New South Wales on a 489 visa who 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 subject to change.

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Do I need health insurance on a 489 visa?

The 489 visa closed to new primary applicants in November 2019 and was replaced by the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Family members can still apply to join a 489 visa holder. If you hold a 489 visa, you need to fulfil Condition 8501 of your visa, which requires you to have adequate health insurance in place.

All the Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) policies above are designed to meet this criteria. When you take out cover, they will email you a confirmation letter, which you can keep as proof of your cover.

What's covered with OVHC?

Hospital treatment, accommodation and theatre fees

Doctor, surgeon and specialist fees

Emergency ambulance transportation fees

Prescriptions and General Practitioner (GP) consultations

Can 489 visa holders access Medicare?

You usually can't receive subsidised health care services from the public health system Medicare, unless you're from a country that Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with. These countries include the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy.

However, Medicare doesn't cover everything. Even if you're covered by an RHCA, you will still have to pay for ambulances, dental, optical, physio and chiro. Extras cover can pay benefits towards out-of-hospital services like dental, optical and physio.

Did you know?

Ambulance services can cost over $1,800AUD in Australia, unless you live in Queensland or Tasmania and are covered by Medicare.

How long do I have to wait before I can claim?

Just like domestic health insurance, OVHC policies have different waiting periods applied to different services. The Australian Government sets the waiting periods for hospital treatments so they do not differ between health funds:

• 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.

What are the waiting periods for out of hospital treatment?

If you're planning to purchase extras cover with your OVHC policy for out-of-hospital services such as dental or physiotherapy, each health fund can set the waiting periods for these services individually, so remember to take this into account when comparing policies.

Who offers OVHC in Australia?

The following providers offer health insurance for 489 visa holders, which is fully compliant with the Department of Home Affairs requirements relating to working visas:

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.

General FAQs about the 489 visa

• What happens if I do not maintain adequate health insurance for my 489 visa?

  Failure to maintain adequate health insurance breaches Condition 8501 of your 489 visa. This can lead to your visa being cancelled by the Department of Home Affairs. It is crucial to have continuous cover for the entire duration of your stay in Australia.

• What is the minimum level of health insurance required for a 489 visa?

  The Department of Home Affairs requires you to hold "adequate" health insurance. This generally means a policy that covers at least the minimum benefits for hospital, medical and pharmaceutical services comparable to the Australian public health system Medicare. All Overseas Visitors Health Cover OVHC policies listed are designed to meet this minimum requirement.

• Can I switch OVHC providers while holding a 489 visa?

  Yes you can switch OVHC providers. If you decide to change insurers you must ensure there is no gap in your cover to avoid breaching your visa conditions. Any waiting periods you have already served may be recognised by your new insurer if you switch to a comparable level of cover.

• What happens to my OVHC if my 489 visa status changes or I apply for permanent residency?

  If your visa status changes, for example if you transition to a permanent residency visa, you may no longer be eligible for OVHC. You would then need to explore health insurance options available to Australian permanent residents which include Medicare and private health insurance designed for permanent residents. You should contact your insurer or a migration agent for specific advice.

• Can I temporarily suspend my OVHC if I leave Australia during my 489 visa period?

  Some OVHC providers may allow you to suspend your policy for a period if you leave Australia. However this is subject to the insurer's terms and conditions and must comply with your visa requirements. You should check directly with your health fund before making any travel plans.

• How do I renew my OVHC policy for my 489 visa?

  Your OVHC provider will typically contact you before your policy is due to expire to offer renewal options. You can usually renew online by phone or in person. It is important to renew your policy before it lapses to maintain continuous cover and comply with your visa conditions.

• Is dental, optical or physiotherapy covered by 489 visa health insurance?

  Basic OVHC policies typically only cover hospital and medical treatment. To get cover for services like dental, optical or physiotherapy you will generally need to purchase an OVHC policy that includes extras cover. These are optional and come at an additional cost.

• Can I include my family members on my 489 visa health insurance policy?

  Yes you can usually include eligible family members such as your spouse or dependent children on your OVHC policy. This ensures that all members of your family unit meet the visa health insurance requirements. The cost of the policy will increase with more members.

• What is the difference between Overseas Visitors Health Cover OVHC and Overseas Student Health Cover OSHC?

  OVHC is designed for temporary visitors to Australia including those on working visas like the 489 visa. OSHC on the other hand is specifically for international students on a student visa subclass 500. Each cover is tailored to the specific visa conditions and requirements for these different groups.

• Are there any government rebates or tax benefits for OVHC for 489 visa holders?

  No, OVHC policies are generally not eligible for the Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance. This rebate is primarily for Australian citizens and permanent residents. Similarly there are no specific tax benefits for purchasing OVHC.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

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Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

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