Health Insurance for Visitor Visa 600 With 8501 Condition

If you’re coming to Australia on a temporary 600 visa, Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is health insurance that covers you while you’re here – and in some cases it’s compulsory.

What is OVHC?

Planning to live in Australia on a temporary visa like a 600 visitor visa or a 485 visa? Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is an important component to think about before you arrive. 

Although Australia offers universal healthcare through the Medicare system for permanent residents, overseas visitors are not always eligible to have medical care paid for by the Australian government.

OVHC provides health cover if you need treatment while you’re in Australia – and it’s mandatory for some visa holders.

OVHC is a type of health insurance that’s compulsory for many temporary visa holders in Australia, including those on a visa sub-class 600. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Overseas Visitor Health Cover?

OVHC is a type of private health cover for overseas visitors to Australia.

It’s designed to cover all or part of the costs of hospital and medical treatment for people travelling to Australia on a temporary visa. 

 This means you don’t have to worry about being hit with a big medical bill if you ever need medical treatment while you’re here.

OVHC is a type of health insurance that’s compulsory for many temporary visa holders in Australia, including those on a visa sub-class 600. Here’s what you need to know.

Is OVHC compulsory for visitors travelling to Australia on a 600 or a 485 visa?

 If you plan on living in Australia on a temporary visa, you’ll probably need to buy OVHC as a condition of your visa application.

Some visas that generally require OVHC include:

• 403 Temporary Work (international relations) Visa

• 407 Training Visa

• 408 Temporary Activity Visa

• 417 Working Holiday Visa

• 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa

• 462 Work and Holiday Visa

• 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visa

• 485 Temporary Graduate Visa

• 590 Student Guardian Visa

• 600 Visitor Visa

• 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa

What is condition 8501 on a visitor visa to Australia?

Condition 8501 means you need to have your health insurance in place from the moment you arrive in Australia. If you don’t organise this cover before you arrive, your visa might not be approved.

If your visa has condition 8501, you’ll need to buy OVHC prior to your arrival to ensure you have adequate health cover during your whole stay in Australia.

My country has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Do I still need OVHC?

If you’re from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia, you’re eligible for Medicare and you’re not required to have OVHC. Those countries include: 

• The United Kingdom

• The Republic of Ireland

• New Zealand

• Sweden

• The Netherlands

• Finland

• Belgium

• Norway

• Slovenia

• Malta

• Italy

However, even if you don’t need OVHC, the medical treatment you can access through Medicare may be limited. For example, it won’t cover things like:

• Treatment in a private hospital

• Treatment as a private patient in a public hospital

• Your choice of doctor

• Emergency ambulance fees

• Dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment

With this in mind, it’s a good idea to explore your private health cover options and ensure you’re covered for what you need while you’re in Australia. For example, what happens if you need an updated prescription?

OVHC is a type of health insurance that’s compulsory for many temporary visa holders in Australia, including those on a visa sub-class 600. Here’s what you need to know.

What does OVHC cover?

Depending on your insurer and your policy, overseas visitor health insurance can include cover for:

• Emergency hospital visits

• Emergency ambulance transport

• Doctor’s visits

• The cost of prescription medication

Exact coverage varies, so it’s worth comparing different options to figure out which one offers you the best value for money.

What’s not covered by OVHC?

Medical services and treatments typically not covered by basic OVHC policies include:

• Dental

• Optical

• Physiotherapy

• Elective or cosmetic surgeries

• IVF

• Non-emergency ambulance transport

That said, many insurers offer optional additional cover for services and treatments like these under an ‘extras’ policy. 

If you think you might need any of these treatments while you’re in Australia, extras cover means you can avoid paying the entire bill out of your own pocket. 

Our experts can help you compare policies to find the right cover for you. We even assist with your paperwork.

Disclaimer: This guide is opinion only and should not be taken as medical or financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.