Do I need health insurance for 485 visa?

Yes. Condition 8501 of your visa application states that you must maintain adequate health insurance for the whole of your stay in Australia.

What exclusions apply to OVHC policies?

OVHC policies generally exclude pre-existing conditions (often with a 12-month waiting period), elective cosmetic treatments, assisted reproductive services, and some high-cost procedures like organ transplants, with specific waiting periods also applying to pregnancy, psychiatric care, and rehabilitation.

What happens if you transition to citizenship?

For anyone who becomes a citizen , you'll have access to Medicare. Whilst this covers you for the basics – things like emergency services – it's really worth looking at more comprehensive cover should you be settling in to stay here long-term. Remember, things like dental and optical care not covered by Medicare, so it's worth looking into extras cover. You'll also be able to switch to domestic health insurance, which offers more choice and is available to Australian residents. With over 600 health insurance policies to choose from, there are a lot of options out there to suit your individual needs.

Can a non-resident get private health insurance in Australia?

No, you will generally have to take out Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) or verseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) which is a type of private health insurance designed for non-residents of Australia.