Health insurance for Australia
In Australia, healthcare is not free for you. The public system, Medicare, is funded by Australian taxpayers, and as a foreigner on a temporary visa, you do not have access. One night in the emergency room can cost you thousands of dollars.
That is why health insurance is not an extra: in most cases it is a legal requirement for your visa, and it is always what separates a scare from a debt.
If you are Spanish or Latin American, this affects you
Australia has reciprocal healthcare agreements with eleven countriesUnited Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Slovenia, Malta and Italy. That list is closed by law.
Spain is not there. Neither are Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, nor any other Latin American country. Many people assume that just by being European they will have some coverage, and that is not the case: without insurance you pay one hundred percent out of pocket.
Choose your insurance according to your visa
Not all insurance policies are valid for all visas. These are the three that we handle, with the correct coverage for each case and special conditions for booking through us.
Special prices when booking with us
As an accredited agency, we have agreements with the insurers approved by the Australian Government. By purchasing through the links on this page you access conditions you won't find by hiring on your own.
And you pay nothing for our service: we help you choose the right policy based on your visa, your dates, and your situation, and we take care of the paperwork. It is included in our support.
OSHC and OVHC: which one applies to you
These are the two acronyms you will see everywhere. The difference is simple and determines what you can hire.
Overseas Student Health Cover
OSHC
Exclusive to the student visa (subclass 500). It is a product regulated by the Australian Government and is only offered by approved insurers.
It is mandatory. Your visa carries condition 8501, which requires you to maintain coverage for your entire stay. Failing to comply may lead to visa cancellation.
Overseas Visitor Health Cover
OVHC
For the rest of the temporary visas: Work and Holiday, tourist, graduate (485), skilled work (482) and others.
Check your award letter. Condition 8501 does not automatically apply to all visas, but it may be imposed depending on your case. Check your grant notice or VEVO.
A normal travel insurance policy, the kind you get for two weeks at the beach, It doesn't work to meet condition 8501. Neither the insurer is approved nor is the coverage what Home Affairs requires.
What is covered and what is not
It varies depending on the policy and the level you choose, but this is the general outline:
Usually included
- Primary care and specialist medical consultations
- Hospital admission and emergency room
- Ambulance in case of emergency
- Diagnostic tests and analysis
- Prescription drugs, up to an annual limit
- Repatriation in severe cases
Normally excluded
- Dentist, optical, and physiotherapy (included in extra policies)
- Pre-existing conditions during the waiting period
- Aesthetic treatments
- Extreme sports, unless specifically covered
- Injuries under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Watch out for the waiting periods. They are usually twelve months for pre-existing conditions and mental health, and twelve months for pregnancy. If you come with something diagnosed, let us know before contracting and we will look for the policy that best fits you.
Five things you should know before hiring
The policy starts the day you land
Not the day your classes start. If you arrive two weeks early to get settled, those weeks need to be covered.
And it ends when the visa expires
Not when the course ends. Your student visa usually lasts a couple of months longer, and those months must also be covered.
If you come with a partner or children, they go on your policy
Any family member accompanying you with a dependent visa needs to be included. There are couples and family policies.
If you change your visa, the insurance does not transfer on its own
When transitioning from a student to a graduate (485), your OSHC is no longer valid. You must purchase OVHC before your previous one expires. Not a single day without coverage.
If your visa is denied, your money will be refunded
Virtually all insurance companies refund the full premium upon presentation of the denial letter. It is not money at risk.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance mandatory to study in Australia?
Yes. The student visa (subclass 500) carries condition 8501, which requires maintaining OSHC for the entire stay. Without proving it, the visa will not be granted, and failing to comply with it afterward can lead to its cancellation.
Do Spanish people have health coverage in Australia?
No. Spain is not among the eleven countries with a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, and no Latin American country is either. Without private insurance, you pay the full cost of any medical care.
Do I need a standard travel insurance policy?
To meet condition 8501, no. You need OSHC or OVHC from an Australian Government-approved insurer. Conventional travel insurance does not meet Home Affairs requirements.
When does my insurance start?
The day you arrive in Australia, not when classes start. And it must cover you until your visa expires, which is usually a couple of months after the course finishes.
Do I need insurance with a Working Holiday?
Condition 8501 does not apply automatically to subclasses 417 and 462, but it can be imposed depending on your case: check your grant letter or VEVO. Regardless of the obligation, without insurance you assume the full cost of any treatment, and a year in Australia is a long time exposed.
Don't know which one applies to you? Tell us your visa, your dates, and if you are traveling with someone, and we will tell you exactly what you need. Insurance management is part of our assistance.