
- Covers dental, optical and physiotherapy
- A very high $100,000 benefit limit for medical repatriation.
- Starts from $104 per month
Why we like it: HCF Top Working Visa was the cheapest policy on Finder that we considered 'comprehensive', including a wider range of coverage than most basic policies, including out-of-hospital services.
For domestic policies, HCF gives back a greater percentage of premiums as benefits than any other health fund that offers OVHC. This doesn't mean it will be exactly the same for overseas policies, but it's a good sign.
HCF is fully not-for-profit, meaning they exist for the benefit of policy holders, not shareholders. HCF is the largest not-for-profit fund offering overseas policies - Frank is also not-for-profit but quite a bit smaller, while Allianz is a for-profit company with a not-for-profit underwriter, Peoplecare, for OVHC.
Why we like it: Allianz Top Working Cover is the most comprehensive OVHC policy available on Finder, with a massive range of coverage categories available.
Why we like it: Frank Basic Workers Cover offers overseas visitors coverage for the basics while at a cheap cost. It may not be as thorough in coverage but it offers the essentials for those who need them on a budget.
Why we like it: Of all the standard OSHC offers in the market, Medibank comes out on top when comparing features that have substantive differences between health funds. For example, Medibank has above average coverage for telehealth and has no waiting period for pre-existing psychiatric conditions.
Medibank OSHC will cover treatment in public hospitals and private hospitals, even outside its partner network. That said, you're still best to get treatment at a public or agreement hospital, to lower the risk of paying extra fees.
Overseas Visitor Health Cover, or OVHC, is a type of health insurance made for people in Australian on a visa. If you're visiting Australia on a working visa or tourist visa, then an OVHC policy will give you the health cover that you need to meet your visa requirements. It also will make sure you don't pay a crazy amount of money if you need treatment while you're here.
Overseas Student Health Cover, or OSHC, is a special type of policy specifically made for students. If you're on a student visa then you'll need OSHC, except in a few very specifc circumstances. Your school or university might have an agreement with a particular insurer to make it easier, but you can also buy your own policy.
Anyone in Australia on a working, tourist or student visa will need 'adequate health insurance' for the duration of their trip. This is generally detailed in the 8501 visa condition. For most folks, that will mean OVHC or OSHC.
There are only a couple of exceptions to this rule:
CBHS OVHC can help you meet your visa requirements while studying in Australia.
The 8501 visa condition means you need to get health insurance for your stay.
Get cover quickly and easily for your stay in Australia.
Find out what health insurance you need for the 590 Visa and how to get cover for pre-existing conditions.
Everything you need to know about the health insurance requirements of the 408 visa and how to find the right cover.
Everything you need to know about the health insurance requirements of the 417 visa and how to find the right cover.
If you incur medical or hospital expenses overseas, will your Australian private health insurance cover the cost? Find out here.
If you’re in Australia on a bridging visa, it’s important that you choose a suitable level of private health insurance cover.
If you’re an international student travelling to Australia on a student visa, you’ll need to take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).