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Health insurance for parents visiting Australia

If you have parents visiting Australia from overseas, they may need private health insurance coverage.

Life Insurance

If you're expecting a visit from your overseas parents, they will most likely need Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) while they're in Australia. The only exception is if your parents are from a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Those countries are listed below.

If your parents are from any other country, if they're coming from India for example, then it's a good idea to get them covered by an OVHC policy. Depending on the policy, OVHC can cover your parents for accidental injury, heart procedures, cancer treatments, joint reconstructions, pregnancy, gastric banding and much more.

Compare the best health insurance for visiting parents

There's no one best health insurance for visiting parents, as the available policies can vary depending on which visa they're on. Use the tabs and tables below to compare the appropriate policies from different Australian health funds.

Name Product AUFHI-HEL Visa Compliant Hospital Cover Dental Pregnancy Cover GP Visits Medical Repatriation Price
Allianz Care Australia Budget Working Cover
$20,000
From $66.40 per month
Medibank Overseas Visitors Starter Hospital and Medical
From $53.55 per month
More Info
Australian Unity Basic Overseas Visitors Cover
$20,000
From $80.95 per month
More Info
Australian Unity Mid Overseas Visitors Cover
$20,000
From $132.85 per month
More Info
Medibank Overseas Visitors Everyday Hospital and Medical
From $197.25 per month
More Info
Australian Unity Top Overseas Visitors Cover
$20,000
From $207.70 per month
More Info
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Name Product AUFHI-HEL Meets condition 8501 Hospital Cover Dental Pregnancy Cover GP Visits Medical Repatriation Price
Allianz Care Australia Budget Working Cover
$20,000
From $66.40 per month
Medibank Overseas Visitors Starter Hospital and Medical
From $53.55 per month
More Info
Australian Unity Basic Overseas Visitors Cover
$20,000
From $80.95 per month
More Info
Australian Unity Mid Overseas Visitors Cover
$20,000
From $132.85 per month
More Info
Medibank Overseas Visitors Everyday Hospital and Medical
From $197.25 per month
More Info
Australian Unity Top Overseas Visitors Cover
$20,000
From $207.70 per month
More Info
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*Pricing is based on a single male planning to live and work in the State of New South Wales on a working visa who is not applying for permanent residency, is not from a country that Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with and is not eligible for cover under Medicare. Prices reflect the April 1 premium rise and are accurate for October 2024 but are subject to change in the future.

What is Overseas Visitors Health Cover?

Overseas Visitors Health Cover is a type of health insurance that is specifically designed for overseas visitors to Australia. Most Australian funds offer a range of policies depending on whether you are travelling for business or for pleasure, and most will let you choose options ranging from inexpensive basic cover to more valuable comprehensive protection. Most OVHC policies will pay for:

  • Hospital accommodation and theatre fees
  • In-hospital doctor and specialist consultations
  • In-hospital medical fees
  • Intensive care fees
  • Removal of adenoids, appendix and tonsils
  • Emergency ambulance
  • Day surgery
  • Prostheses
  • Repatriation
  • Some ancillary services (usually for an additional fee)
However, most OVHC policies will not pay for:
  • Services related to assisted reproduction (e.g. IVF)
  • Treatment provided outside Australia
  • Treatment arranged in advance of the visitor’s arrival
  • Treatment for a pre-existing medical condition in the first 12 months of the policy
  • Treatment covered by compensation or damages
  • Elective cosmetic surgery

Are visiting parents eligible for Medicare in Australia?

The following countries have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia. If your parents live in one of the countries listed below, they will be eligible for certain benefits. If your parents’ country is not on this list then they do not get any Medicare benefits in Australia.

CountryEntitlementsPeriod of cover
Belgium
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Must have eligible European Health Insurance card
  • Covered for the duration of stay or until card expires
Finland
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Italy
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Must be an Italian citizen or resident
  • Covered for 6 months from arrival in Australia
Malta
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Must be a Maltese citizen or resident
  • Covered for 6 months from arrival in Australia
Netherlands
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Must have eligible European Health Insurance card
  • Covered for the duration of stay or until card expires
New Zealand
  • Public patient and public hospital and outpatient services
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Norway
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Republic of Ireland
  • Public patient and public hospital and outpatient services
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Slovenia
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Must have eligible European Health Insurance card
  • Covered for the duration of stay or until card expires
Sweden
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
United Kingdom
  • Free public hospital treatment
  • Subsidised medicine
  • Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
  • Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay

Even if your parents are from one of these countries, they may not be sufficiently protected by Medicare. For example, if they are visiting from Italy, Medicare will only cover them for six months and with certain benefits. You may still need an OVHC policy even if they are eligible for Medicare.

Which funds offer Overseas Visitors Health Cover?

The following table shows the kinds of Overseas Visitors Health Cover offered by some of Australia's best health funds:

FundWhat’s covered?More info
HIF health insuranceVisitor Saver: covers the basics in a shared room in a public hospital. Services include:
  • Ambulance
  • Inpatient medical bills
  • Theatre fees
  • Pharmaceutical drugs
  • Surgically implanted prostheses

Visitor Value: covers you for a shared room in a private or public hospital, plus some out-of-hospital medical expenses such as x-rays and GP visits. Services include:

  • Ambulance
  • Inpatient medical bills
  • Theatre fees
  • Labour ward charges
  • Pharmaceutical drugs
  • Surgically implanted prostheses
More info
Australian Unity logoAustralian Unity offers three levels of cover: Basic, Mid and Top Overseas Visitors Cover. The benefits include:
  • Hospital accommodation and theatre fees
  • Assistance with medical fees
  • Emergency room fees
  • Emergency ambulance
  • Day surgery
  • Prostheses
More info
HCF-LogoHCF Overseas Visitors Health Cover provides cover for various situations including:
  • Government-approved prostheses
  • Hospital accommodation
  • Intensive care costs and removal of adenoids
  • Appendix
  • Tonsils
More info
nib health insurancenib offers four levels of overseas visitors cover including: Budget, Basic, Mid and Top Visitor Cover. Benefits include:
  • Ambulance
  • Hospital accommodation
  • Repatriation
  • Funeral benefit
  • Extras cover
More info
FundWhat’s covered?More info
Allianz Care AustraliaBudget Visitors (Hospital Only) provides cover towards:
  • The cost of in-hospital doctor’s fees
  • Overnight and same-day accommodation
  • Operating theatre
  • Intensive care
  • Ward fees
  • Surgically implanted prostheses
  • Accidents
  • In-hospital pharmacy benefits
  • Emergency ambulance
  • Medical repatriation

Standard Visitors Cover provides cover towards all the same in-hospital services plus:

  • Out-of-hospital cover towards the cost of GP visits
  • Pathology
  • Radiology
  • Specialist consultations
More info
BupaStandard Visitors Cover provides:
  • Medium cover for hospital services and inpatient and outpatient medical services
  • Plus 60% of outpatient pharmacy benefit
  • You can also add extras for an additional cost

Standard Visitors Cover with Top Extras provides high cover for:

  • Hospital services and inpatient medical services
  • Medium cover for outpatient medical services
  • 60% of outpatient pharmacy benefits

Extras Cover includes:

  • Dental
  • Optical
  • Physio
  • Chiropractic
  • Natural therapies
  • Speech therapy
  • Occupational therapy
More info
hbfStandard Overseas Visitors Cover includes:
  • Core hospital services
  • Psychiatric care
  • Rehab
  • Theatre fees
  • Non PBS in-hospital pharmacy
  • Out-of-hospital medical
  • Urgent ambulance
  • Palliative care
More info
MedibankMedibank’s Overseas Visitor Health Insurance includes:
  • Accommodation and doctors
  • Specialists
  • Surgeons and anaesthetists fees for in-hospital services including
  • Ambulance
  • Appendix
  • Tonsils
  • Adenoids and wisdom teeth removal
  • Joint reconstruction surgery and investigations
  • Colonoscopies
  • Spinal fusion
  • Weight loss surgery and bone marrow and organ transplants.
  • It also pays 100% of the MBS fee for GP visits.
More info
Table displays health funds from Finder partners

How much does health insurance cost?

We ask hundreds of Australians what they're paying for health insurance every month. Here's what their bill looked like in September 2024.
  • Extras only: $73
  • Basic: $100
  • Bronze: $153
  • Silver: $178
  • Gold: $204
Price based on 500+ responses for single hospital or extras insurance.

Visas for parents visiting Australia

Your parents might be able to apply for a parent category visa to visit you in Australia. This could allow them to stay in the country for up to two years as a temporary resident or live here as a permanent resident.

Eligibility

To be eligible they must:

  • Have a child who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen who has lived in Australia lawfully for at least two years prior
  • Have a sponsor who meets the above criteria
  • Meet the Balance of Family Test which requires that at least half of their children live permanently in Australia, or that more live in Australia than any other country
  • Meet health and character requirements

Visa types

There are different types of parent category visas:

  • Parent Visa (subclass 103). If your parents are applying from outside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia and they wish to become permanent Australian residents.
  • Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173). If they are applying from outside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to live in Australia for up to two years as temporary residents and they are prepared to pay higher application fees for faster visa processing.
  • Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143). If they are applying from either inside or outside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to become permanent Australian residents and they are prepared to pay higher application fees for faster visa processing.
  • Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804). If they are applying from inside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to become permanent Australian residents and they meet the age requirements.
  • Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 884). If they are applying from inside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to live in Australia for up to two years as temporary residents, they meet the age requirements and they are prepared to pay higher application fees for faster visa processing.
  • Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864). If they are applying from inside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to become permanent Australian residents, they meet the age requirements and they are prepared to pay higher application fees.

Compare cover options today

Frequently Asked Questions

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Editor

Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance. See full bio

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