Guide to overseas visitors health cover (ovhc) health

If you’re visiting Australia from overseas, you might not have access to Medicare – Australia’s universal healthcare system. This means if you need medical treatment while you’re here, you could be out of pocket by hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) can help you avoid hefty medical bills if you ever need treatment in Australia. In some cases, OVHC is mandatory.

This guide breaks down how OVHC works, what’s covered, when you need it and how to find the best cover for your situation.

What is OVHC?

Overseas Visitor Health Cover, or OVHC, is a type of private health insurance designed for students visiting Australia. Depending on the level of cover you choose, OVHC can cover you for different types of services including:

• Hospital visits

• GP visits

• Out-of-hospital services like dental, physiotherapy and optical

• Prescriptions

• Emergency ambulance rides

Generally speaking, the most basic level of OVHC covers hospital visits. Other services like GP visits and dental treatment are included in higher levels of cover. 

Is health insurance mandatory for visitors to Australia?

 Sometimes. If you’re planning to visit Australia on a student visa you’ll need OVHC to get your visa approved. Some other visitor visas also require OVHC.

One exception to this is if you’re from a country that has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia (more on that below).

But even if you’re not required to get it, OVHC could make a lot of sense if you want to avoid out-of-pocket medical expenses and get access to the benefits of being covered privately.

Potential extra benefits include:

• Coverage for other types of treatment besides hospital care

• Shorter wait times for treatment

• A broader choice of providers

Who needs to obtain overseas visitor health coverage?

When you apply for certain types of visas to enter and live in Australia, you will be required to purchase health insurance coverage as a condition of your visa application being granted.

Those who are required to take out insurance include:

Overseas students

Overseas students typically come to Australia on a student visa in order to study at an Australian economic institution.

457 Visa Holders

This Visa is for temporary workers who live in Australia for up to four years after being sponsored by an employer to hold a skilled position.

485 Visa Holders

This Visa permits international students to work temporarily in Australia after completing their education and graduating from an Australian educational institution.

There is both a graduate work stream and post-study work stream.

Obtaining insurance is required for a Visa application to be approved and must be maintained for the duration of the time you remain in Australia on your visa.

Does OVHC cover GP visits?

It can, depending on your level of cover. Basic OVHC usually only covers in-hospital treatment, whereas higher tiers of cover can include doctor’s visits. 

Many health funds also offer optional additional cover for extras such as dental, physiotherapy, optical and chiropractic services.

Can you get dental cover with OVHC?

Yes. Some health funds offer OVHC for dental treatment including general dental services like cleaning and scaling, as well as major dental work like root canals, crowns and bridges. 

Health funds typically include dental cover as part of their top-tier policies. You can also opt for dental cover in a standalone ‘extras’ policy in addition to basic OVHC.

How does OVHC work for pregnancy?

Most health funds include basic pregnancy-related services as part of their OVHC policies. This usually means cover for public hospital stays, but not doctor’s fees, blood tests, ultrasounds or anaesthesia.

Some health funds offer more comprehensive pregnancy cover with higher-tier OVHC policies.

It’s worth noting that there’s a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy with OVHC. This means you need to have held the OVHC for at least 12 months before the birth of the baby.

Are there waiting periods for OVHC?

 It depends on the health fund and the treatment. Generally, OVHC includes a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy-related services and treatment for pre-existing conditions. Some health funds also have waiting periods for other types of treatments and services.

No two OVHC policies are exactly the same, so it’s a good idea to find out what waiting periods would apply in your situation by comparing cover from multiple funds.

What happens if my visa changes?

 Depending on the situation, it could be a good idea to switch your health cover.

One example is if you’re switching from a temporary visa that requires OVHC to a permanent resident (PR) visa. 

Even though as a PR you’ll be covered by Medicare, switching from OVHC to domestic health insurance can give you all the advantages of private health cover plus tax benefits. Premiums for domestic health cover also tend to be cheaper than OVHC.

Keep in mind if you’re switching from a visa that doesn’t require OVHC to one that does, you’ll need health cover before you can get your new visa. 

An example of this would be switching from a Working Holiday 417 visa to a Temporary Skill Shortage 482 visa. You can learn more in our guide to private health insurance for 482 visa holders.

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

 If you’re from one of the following countries, you’re eligible for Medicare in Australia and don’t technically need OVHC:

• The United Kingdom

• The Republic of Ireland

• New Zealand

• Sweden

• The Netherlands

• Finland

• Belgium

• Norway

• Slovenia

• Malta

• Italy

That said, it could still be a good idea to get OVHC because it covers you for services and treatments Medicare won’t, such as:

• Treatment in a private hospital

• Treatment as a private patient in a public hospital

• Your choice of doctor

• Emergency ambulance fees (some policies)

• Dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment (some policies)

Which health funds offer OVHC in Australia?

 There are several health funds in Australia that offer OVHC. These include:

• Medibank Private

• Bupa

• nib

• HCF

• ahm

• CBHS

Cover varies from fund to fund, with various levels of OVHC available from most funds.

How do I find the best OVHC for my situation?

There’s no one-size-fits-all OVHC policy, so it’s worth crunching the numbers to find cover that gives you the best value for what you need. 

You might decide you only need basic OVHC to get your visa, or you might want the peace of mind you’re covered for things like doctor’s visits and dental treatment as well.

There’s a lot of options to choose from, but using a comparison service like Compare Club* can help you find the best cover quickly and easily. Click to get started.

Chris Stanley is the sales & operations manager of health insurance at Compare Club. With extensive experience and expertise, Chris is a trusted leader known for his deep understanding of health insurance markets, policies, and coverage options. As the sales & operations manager of health insurance, Chris leads a team of dedicated professionals committed to helping individuals and families make informed decisions about their health insurance needs.

Meet our health insurance expert, Chris Stanley

Chris's top health insurance tips

• 1

  Australia’s public health system is world-class, but wait times for public hospitals can be long, inconvenient - and leave you living in constant pain while you wait.

• 2

  An appropriate private health insurance policy can speed up your surgery, relieving your pain sooner.

• 3

  Family health cover means your children are covered under the same policy as you.

• 4

  Many health insurance policies come with a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy-related cover, so it’s a good idea to get a family policy organized well before starting your family. This means your child will be covered from birth until at least their early twenties (depending on which health fund you select).