Compare Overseas Visitor Health Cover

What is overseas visitors health cover?

Overseas visitors health cover (OVHC) is private health insurance designed specifically for people coming to Australia on a temporary visa. It's mandatory on some visas, but you may be exempt if you're a citizen of a country with a reciprocal health care agreement. If you're a student, you may need overseas student health cover.

OVHC can cover the following:

Hospital care

Cheaper policies will cover emergency ambulance rides and treatment in a hospital, plus accommodation fees. Other common services include cover for hernias, cancer and joint replacements.

Extras (out-of-hospital services)

Extras cover includes out-of-hospital care such as dental, optical, physiotherapy and chiropractic. Some more expensive OVHC policies will cover these treatments automatically. In other cases, you may need to take out a separate extras policy in addition to basic OVHC cover.

Doctor's appointments

This is when you need to make an appointment at a doctor's clinic, known as a General Practitioner (GP) in Australia, because you're feeling unwell or have some other health issue that may require medication.

Prescribed medicine

If you are on medication, it's likely worth getting a policy that will cover your prescriptions. Otherwise, medicine can be quite expensive in Australia.

Repatriation

If you become seriously unwell or suffer a life-altering disability, most overseas visitor policies will pay to fly you home under medical supervision.

Do you need overseas visitor health cover?

If you plan on working in Australia, your visa application will generally require you to have OVHC in place by the time you enter Australia, unless you're a citizen of a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.

Visas that require OVHC

Frequently asked questions

• What is Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC)?

  Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is private health insurance designed for temporary visitors to Australia who aren't covered by the public Medicare system. It helps cover medical and hospital costs you might incur while in Australia, such as hospital admissions, doctor visits and some treatments. Some visas require you to hold adequate OVHC for the entire duration of your stay.

• Do I need OVHC for my visa?

  Many temporary visas require you to hold OVHC before you enter Australia. If your visa has a health insurance condition (often condition 8501), you must maintain adequate cover for your entire stay. Without it, your visa could be refused, delayed or even cancelled, and you may be responsible for expensive medical bills.

• What does OVHC typically cover?

  OVHC policies usually cover essential hospital treatment and a portion of doctor's fees. They can also include benefits for prescriptions, emergency ambulance services and some out-of-hospital treatments. Keep in mind, cover levels and benefits vary between providers and policies, so it's important to compare what's included before buying.

• Is OVHC cover mandatory if I have travel insurance?

  While travel insurance is useful for things like lost luggage, trip cancellation and repatriation, but it doesn't meet the Australian visa health requirements. If your visa requires OVHC, you must have it in place regardless of travel insurance. OVHC is specifically designed to cover medical and hospital costs in Australia.

• How much does OVHC cost?

  OVHC costs vary depending on the provider, level of cover and length of stay, but basic policies can start from around $60 per month. More comprehensive cover will cost more and premiums can differ based on age, visa type and whether you include extras like dental or optical.

• Can I include extras like dental or optical?

  Yes, some OVHC policies offer optional extras like dental, optical or physiotherapy benefits. These aren't compulsory for visa requirements but may be useful if you expect to need these services. Always check the policy details to see what extras are included or available and whether they significantly affect the premium.

• What happens if my visa status changes?

  If your visa status changes (for example, switching from a tourist to a working visa), you should notify your insurer to ensure your level of OVHC still meets the new visa health requirements. Failing to maintain appropriate cover could affect your visa compliance and result in gaps in protection.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

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

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 572 Finder guides across topics including:

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
• Managing the cost of living