Applying for an Australian 489 visa? Compare health insurance policies that satisfy your entry requirements.
Compare OVHC for 489 visas from participating providers
- Compare OVHC for 489 visas from participating providers
- What determines adequate health insurance under the 489 visa rules?
- Do any exclusions apply to OVHC?
- How long do I have to wait before I can claim?
- What are 489 visa designated areas?
- Are all overseas visitors excluded from Medicare?
- Who offers OVHC in Australia?
What determines adequate health insurance under the 489 visa rules?
To be considered "adequate" for 489 visa requirements, all OVHC policies must:
- Provide a minimum level of cover equivalent to a domestic public hospital policy.
- Include benefits for day surgery accommodation costs.
- Cover some prosthetic devices.
- Include benefits for emergency ambulance transport.
- Cover all Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listed medications.
- Cover all medical treatments listed under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
Do any exclusions apply to OVHC?
Depending on the level of OVHC you purchase, you may be unable to claim for certain treatments. It's recommended that you study each policy carefully so that you're aware of what is and isn't claimable, especially if you are seeking cover for something specific such as maternity services, which is usually excluded from more basic OVHC policies.
Examples of commonly excluded treatments
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.
If you are planning to purchase extras cover with your OVHC policy for out-of-hospital services such as dental or physiotherapy, be aware that each health fund can set the waiting periods for these services individually, so remember to take this into account when comparing policies.
What are 489 visa designated areas?
The areas of regional Australia that you are able to live and work in will depend on whether your 489 visa application was either:
- Nominated by a State or Territory government agency. Defined as regional and low population growth metropolitan areas.
- Sponsored by an eligible relative. Defined as designated areas.
The regional, low population and designated areas for each pathway option can be found below:
Regional and low population growth metropolitan areas
| State or territory | Postcodes |
|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) |
|
| Queensland (QLD) |
|
| Victoria (VIC) |
|
| Western Australia (WA) |
|
| South Australia (SA) |
|
| Northern Territory (NT) |
|
| Tasmania (TAS) |
|
Designated areas
| State or territory | Postcodes |
|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) |
|
| Queensland (QLD) |
|
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) |
|
| Victoria (VIC) |
|
| South Australia (SA) |
|
| Western Australia (WA) |
|
| Northern Territory (NT) |
|
| Tasmania (TAS) |
|
Are all overseas visitors excluded from Medicare?
As the holder of a 489 visa you cannot receive subsidised health care services from the public health system called Medicare, unless you are from a country that Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with. These countries are:
Be aware that the cover you receive from the RHCA is very limited and you are likely to incur out-of-pocket expenses for everything but the most essential medical treatments. This is why it can be worth considering an OVHC policy even if you come from an RHCA nation.
Who offers OVHC in Australia?
The following providers offer health insurance for 489 visa holders, which is fully compliant with the Australian Department of Border Protection and Immigration requirements relating to working visas:
- Allianz Global Assistance
- Australian Unity
- Bupa
- Frank Health Insurance
- HBF
- HCF
- HIF
- nib
Compare visitors health insurance for 489 visas and get covered
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