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What you need to know
Worker visa holders need health insurance to meet their visa requirements.
Visa holders from a handful of countries such as the UK are not required to get health insurance.
Compare OVHC visa compliant options
What health insurance do overseas workers need?
If you're coming to Australia on a temporary working visa, you'll need a specific type of Overseas Visitor Health Cover – workers cover. This is a type of health insurance designed for people who come to work in Australia on a temporary basis.
When you apply for a visa, most come with condition 8501 which states that you need to have health insurance while you're in Australia. All the policies above meet the requirements outlined in your visa.
This also means you'll need to purchase a policy before you complete your visa application. When you take out cover, they'll send you a certificate straight away to put with your application. You generally won't be charged until you arrive in Australia.
What do I get with Overseas visitor health insurance?
Hospital bills
Your insurer will pay up to 100% of the MBS fee as long as your policy covers the treatment. You may be covered for less if you use a hospital that doesn't have a partnership with your insurer.
Doctor's visits
Your insurer will pay up to 100% of the amount that the Australian Government has determined that a standard GP consultation should cost. You'll need to pay the difference if your doctor charges more.
Prescriptions, x-rays and bloodwork
You generally get a yearly dollar limit that you can claim for prescriptions and specialist service costs such as x-rays and bloodwork.
Emergency ambulance rides
Your insurer will pay for ambulance rides in an emergency. If it's not an emergency, you'll need to pay for the costs.
Want dental cover as well?
OVHC can also cover out-of-hospital services like dental, physio and chiro. In Australia, these are known as extras and you can often add them onto your policy.
What is not included with overseas workers health insurance?
There are certain service and treatment exclusions that your policy will generally not cover, such as:
Cosmetic surgery
IVF and assisted reproduction services
Treatments not covered by the Australian public health system
Treatment you require while travelling to or from Australia
Claims for treatment costs that could otherwise be covered by compensation or damages
Any treatments you have arranged before travelling to Australia
Non-emergency ambulance transportation
Is OVHC compulsory for all nationalities?
No. Some people on visas from countries which have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia do not need to get OVHC. They are eligible to receive subsidised health care treatment (Medicare).
Australia has agreements in place with the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy:
If you're coming from any of these countries to work in Australia, you should enrol for Medicare when you get to Australia.
RHCAs don't cover everything. You will be out of pocket for ambulance transportation (in most states) dental care, medical evacuation and private patient treatment, so it might still be worth getting OVHC even if you are eligible for Medicare.
FAQs about health insurance for overseas workers
Yes. If you have signed up for OVHC, you will be covered for emergency ambulance cover.
No, the only health insurance that complies with Australia's visa requirements are policies offered by Australian providers.
No, not in most cases. You'll need to take out cover when you are applying for your visa. The health insurers will provide you with a certificate proving you've met the 8501 condition. You can attach this to your visa application.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, news.com.au, The Telegraph, Explore Travel and Escape. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Kaplan Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
Need health cover for gastroscopy? Find out how private health insurance and Medicare cover treatment and compare the costs for the most affordable option.
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