Best OVHC Policies for travel in Australia

We compared dozens of Overseas Visitor Health Cover policies to find some of the best policies for visitors and tourists.

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Best Mid cover: HCF Top Working Visa

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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.

Best Top Cover: AllianzCare Budget Working Cover

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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.

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Best for cheap: Frank Basic Workers Cover

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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.

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Best for students: Medibank Essentials OSHC

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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.

What is OVHC?

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.

What is OSHC?

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.

Do I need OVHC?

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:

  • If you're an Australian citizen: If you are an Aussie citizen or permanent resident, or become one at some stage, you'll have access to public health care in Australia.
  • If you have a reciprocal health care agreement (RHCA): 11 countries have a RHCA that gives them acces to public health care in Australia. This is sometimes all you need for your visa, but not always. Students especially will probably still need OSHC.
  • If you have travel insurance: If you're in Australia as a tourist, then a comprehensive travel insurance policy from your home country may be enough to cover you.

Frequently asked questions

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A seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience in news, politics and finance reporting, Tim has previously held roles at the ABC, SBS and Fairfax Media. Tim’s expert insights have been quoted in The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more. He regularly appears on TV and radio, and has been interviewed on 7 News, Sunrise, SBS News, ABC Local, 3AW and 5AA. Tim is passionate about simplifying complex insurance topics for Australian consumers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Macquarie University and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). If you’re interested in a media interview with Tim, please reach out to our PR team at aupr@finder.com. See full bio

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Tim has written 134 Finder guides across topics including:
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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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Gary Ross has written 637 Finder guides across topics including:
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