188 Visa Health Insurance

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20 of 47 results

Finder Score	Hospital cover	Dental	Pregnancy cover	GP visits	Medical repatriation	Price
Promoted Finder Score 8.6 Great Allianz Care Australia Budget Working Cover Most Loved	Finder Score 8.6 Great					$20,000	From $72.50 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted Finder Score 9.7 Excellent Westfund Overseas Workers Essential 500 Hospital	Finder Score 9.7 Excellent					$10,000	From $59.50 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.4 Excellent Westfund Overseas Workers Essential Hospital	Finder Score 9.4 Excellent					$10,000	From $72.50 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.2 Excellent Westfund Overseas Workers Standard 500 Hospital	Finder Score 9.2 Excellent					$10,000	From $98.02 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 8.8 Great Allianz Care Australia Mid Working Cover Most Loved	Finder Score 8.8 Great					$20,000	From $222.30 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 8.7 Great Westfund Overseas Workers Standard Hospital	Finder Score 8.7 Great					$10,000	From $125.02 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 8.5 Great Allianz Care Australia Standard Working Cover Most Loved	Finder Score 8.5 Great					$20,000	From $150.50 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 7.9 Great Westfund Overseas Workers Comprehensive 500 Hospital	Finder Score 7.9 Great					$20,000	From $189.02 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 7.5 Great Westfund Overseas Workers Comprehensive Hospital	Finder Score 7.5 Great					$20,000	From $215.02 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 7.5 Great Allianz Care Australia Top Working Cover Most Loved	Finder Score 7.5 Great					$20,000	From $417.60 per month	Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.9 Excellent Bupa Essential Lite Visitors Cover with Freedom 50 Extras	Finder Score 9.9 Excellent					$100,000	From $119.88 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.7 Excellent HIF Basic Working Visa	Finder Score 9.7 Excellent					$4,000	From $84.95 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.7 Excellent Bupa Essential Lite Visitors Cover with Budget Extras 60	Finder Score 9.7 Excellent					$100,000	From $129.08 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.5 Excellent HBF Overseas Working Visa Hospital	Finder Score 9.5 Excellent		Optional				From $59.90 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.5 Excellent Bupa Essential Lite Visitors Cover with Freedom 60 Extras	Finder Score 9.5 Excellent					$100,000	From $147.33 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.4 Excellent HIF Essentials Working Visa	Finder Score 9.4 Excellent					$4,000	From $112.75 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.4 Excellent Bupa Essential Lite Visitors Cover with Your Choice Extras 60	Finder Score 9.4 Excellent					$100,000	From $156.53 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.3 Excellent Bupa Essential Visitors Cover with Freedom 50 Extras	Finder Score 9.3 Excellent					$100,000	From $161.13 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.2 Excellent Bupa Essential Visitors Cover with Budget Extras 60	Finder Score 9.2 Excellent					$100,000	From $170.33 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.1 Excellent Bupa Essential Visitors Cover with Freedom 60 Extras	Finder Score 9.1 Excellent					$100,000	From $188.58 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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Finder Score for overseas health insurance

To make comparing overseas health insurance even easier, we developed the Finder Score. Factors like price, hospital cover, extras cover, emergency travel, and more are weighted and scaled across 50+ policies from 15+ providers to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score, the more competitive the policy.

Read the full methodology

What are the requirements for the 188 visa?

The 188 has several age, financial and business requirements. Requirements may differ depending on what stream you go onto. The Business Innovation stream's requirements include:

• You must be aged under 55 and have had an overall successful career in business.
• Own a business with a turnover of at least $500,000 for a minimum of 2 of the last 4 fiscal years.
• Have personal and business assets of $800,000 or more.
• Pass the Business Innovation and Investment points test.

You must also have adequate health cover in place or your application will not be granted. The 8501 health requirement means you need comprehensive cover so you do not become a burden on Australian's public health care system, Medicare.

How does health cover work in Australia?

Medicare is Australia's public health care system and is available to all citizens and residents. It pays a benefit towards your doctor's fees of up to 75% for you to be treated as a patient in a public hospital, excluding medication, accommodation and surgery fees. It doesn't cover extras (ancillary) services so most Australians have some form of private health cover.

What are the health requirements for the 188 Visa?

As part of the 188 Visa requirements, you will need to have a health examination and hold comprehensive cover. Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with many European countries including United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden and Ireland. This gives you access to Medicare, satisfying the 188 requirements.

If you are not entitled to Medicare under the RHCA – or want more comprehensive cover – you can get Overseas visitors health cover (OVHC). It can cover you for things like emergency ambulance services, hospital bills, visits to the doctor, out of hospital services like dental and prescriptions.

Pricing is based on a single individual 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.

Expert insight: What are the risks of not taking out insurance?

"If a visa holder does not obtain adequate health insurance or fails to maintain adequate
health insurance during their stay, they will be in breach of their visa conditions. This places
the visa holder at risk if having their visa cancelled for failure to adhere to visa conditions. Additionally, a history of having a visa cancelled, or breaching previous visa conditions may
jeopardise any future visa applications that person makes. If a visa holder believes that they may have breached their visa conditions, it is important that they speak with a migration lawyer to determine their options."

Perry Q. Wood

Managing partner, Australian Migration Lawyers

Who is the 188 Visa for?

The 188 Visa is for individuals with established business skills who want to own and manage a new or existing business in Australia, or to invest in an Australian state or territory.

Depending on your financial situation, aims and goals, you may be eligible for one of the following six streams on the 188 Visa. These include:

• Investor stream: Requires you to invest at least $1.5 million in an Australian State or Territory.
• Significant Investor stream: Requires you to invest at least $5 million in Australian investments.
• Business Innovation Extension stream: Lets Investor stream visa holders extend their stay in Australia for 2 more years.
• Significant Investor Extension stream: Lets Significant Investor stream visa holders extend their stay in Australia for up to 4 more years.
• Premium Investor stream: For people who are nominated by the CEO of Aus-trade and who invest at least $15 million in Australian investments.
• Entrepreneur stream: Allows you to carry out entrepreneurial activities in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

• Who can I include on my 188 visa health insurance policy

  Your 188 visa health insurance policy should cover the principal visa applicant and any family members included on your visa application. This typically includes your spouse or de facto partner and any dependent children under the age of 18 or 25 if they are full time students.

• What exactly does comprehensive health cover mean for the 188 visa

  For the 188 visa, comprehensive health cover generally means a policy that covers hospital and medical expenses. This includes costs for inpatient hospitalisation, doctor's fees for in-hospital treatments and some prescription medications. It must satisfy the Department of Home Affairs visa condition 8501, ensuring you do not become a burden on Australia's public health system.

• What happens to my OVHC if my 188 visa is extended or I apply for permanent residency

  You must maintain continuous Overseas Visitors Health Cover for the entire duration of your 188 visa, even if it is extended. If you apply for a permanent residency visa, you may need to switch to a different type of private health insurance or become eligible for Medicare depending on your new visa status. It is crucial to ensure there are no gaps in your health cover.

• Are pre-existing conditions covered by 188 visa health insurance?

  Most Overseas Visitors Health Cover policies including those for 188 visa holders apply waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. This means you may not be covered for treatments related to a condition you had before taking out the policy for a certain period, often 12 months for hospital and 6 months for psychiatric care. Always check the Product Disclosure Statement for specific details.

• How can I compare 188 visa health insurance policies?

  To compare 188 visa health insurance policies you should consider the level of hospital and medical cover provided, the waiting periods for various services, the inclusions for extras like dental or optical if needed and the overall cost. Use comparison tools to quickly assess different providers and ensure the policy meets your visa requirements and personal health needs.

• When do I need to purchase 188 visa health insurance?

  You need to purchase your 188 visa health insurance before your visa is granted. Proof of adequate health cover is a mandatory requirement for your visa application. Ensure your policy is active from the date you arrive in Australia and covers you for the entire length of your intended stay.

• Can I get a refund on my OVHC if my 188 visa application is unsuccessful?

  Most Overseas Visitors Health Cover providers offer refunds for the unused portion of your policy if your 188 visa application is refused or withdrawn. You will typically need to provide proof of the visa refusal or cancellation. Be aware that admin fees may apply and refund terms vary by insurer so always check with your provider.

• What is the 8501 visa condition?

  Visa condition 8501 requires you to have and maintain adequate health insurance for the entire duration of your stay in Australia. For 188 visa holders this means having comprehensive health cover to avoid placing any burden on the Australian public health system (Medicare). Failure to comply with this condition can lead to your visa being cancelled.

• Which providers offer Overseas Visitors Health Cover for 188 visa holders?

  Several Australian health insurance providers offer Overseas Visitors Health Cover suitable for 188 visa holders. Popular options include Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, HCF, Westfund and HIF. You can compare policies from these and other providers on Finder to find one that meets your visa requirements and personal preferences.

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

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