For help finding the right visa, use the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's Visa Finder.
Many Australian visas require you to get health insurance. Each visa is different, but generally, they will want to see proof that you’ve purchased adequate health cover with the minimum medical, hospital and ambulance cover.
Medibank offers several overseas health cover plans for people visiting Australia, whether alone or with partners or families. These can help meet the health insurance requirements of the relevant visas, and allow you to relax, knowing that you and your loved ones are members of by Australia’s leading health insurance provider.
We’ve answered some frequently asked questions for student, worker and visitor visas below. If you have more questions, contact Medibank.
Student Visas
What visa do I need to study in Australia?
There is now only the Student visa - subclass 500 - no matter if you’re coming to study at university, TAFE, or high school. If you hold a closed student visa - subclasses 570-576 - the following information is for you too.
If you are planning to study in Australia for less than three months, you may be eligible for a visitor visa.
What kind of health insurance do I need for my student visa?
To be granted a Student visa for Australia you must purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
There are some countries with special agreements with Australia, and people from those countries may be exempt from needing OSHC. Find out if you are from one of those countries here.
What does OSHC cover me for?
At the least, an OSHC plan must provide adequate medical and hospital cover, plus emergency ambulance transport and limited pharmaceutical cover. This will help with the costs for some doctors and hospital visits, should you need them. Here’s a detailed list of what to look for in an OSHC plan.
What doesn’t OSHC cover me for?
Here’s a detailed list of treatments not covered in a basic OSHC plan.
OSHC generally doesn’t cover you for services such as dental, optical or physiotherapy. But if you’d like to be covered for these services, you can take out ancillary or extras cover. You can talk to Medibank's overseas health cover team about the best extras cover for you.
What does Medibank offer?
Medibank offers two different OSHC plans to visiting students and their partners and families. Both plans are 100% compliant with your visa health insurance requirements, and both can be upgraded with optional extras.
Working Visas
What visa do I need to work in Australia?
If you’re coming to Australia to work temporarily you will most likely need to apply for a working-type visa, the most common types are the Temporary Skill Shortage visa 482, Temporary Graduate visa 485, or Working Holiday visa 417.
What kind of health insurance do I need for my work visa?
To be granted a 482 visa or 485 visa for Australia you must purchase a suitable level of health cover. Medibank offers Working Visa Health Cover, which is 100 per cent compliant for these visas.
Purchasing health insurance isn’t mandatory for 417 visas, but it is recommended you get cover anyway.
There are some countries that have special agreements with Australia, and people from those countries may be eligible to receive subsidised healthcare once they arrive. Find out if you are from one of those countries here.
What does working visa health cover provide?
At the least, a working visa health cover plan must provide coverage for in-patient medical services and hospital cover, plus ambulance cover. This will help with the costs of some doctors and hospital visits, should you need them.
What doesn’t working visa health cover provide?
Most working visa health covers don’t cover you for services such as dental, optical or physiotherapy. If you want any of these services covered, you can purchase a higher level plan, or take ancillary or extras cover. You can talk to Medibank's overseas health cover team about the best extras cover for you.
What does Medibank offer?
Medibank offers four different plans for people working temporarily in Australia. Each one offers unlimited emergency ambulance cover+, and all meet the minimum requirements for your visa. Choose from basic cover with the bare necessities, up to comprehensive cover with included extras. Plus, if you buy online you’ll get your visa health insurance certificate immediately.
Visitor Visas
What visa do I need to visit Australia for a holiday or business?
If you’re coming to Australia for a visit or for business, you will most likely need to apply for a Visitors visa 600 , an eVisitor visa 651 or an Electronic Travel Authority 601 . Here’s a full list of visitor and business visitor visas.
What kind of health insurance do I need for my visitor visa?
Generally, you don’t need to hold health insurance to be granted a visitor or business visitor visa for Australia. However Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) means you can enjoy your trip, knowing your health insurance will help pay for the essential treatment you’re most likely to need in Australia.
What does Medibank offer?
Medibank offers Overseas Visitor Health Insurance for people visiting Australia who are not eligible for student or working visa health cover, with unlimited emergency ambulance cover+.
What doesn’t Overseas Visitor Health Insurance provide?
Overseas Visitor Health Insurance is a basic level of cover and doesn’t cover you for general medical treatments such as dental, optical or physiotherapy.
Overseas Visitor Health Insurance may not be suitable if you are subject to visa condition 8501 - you may need a comprehensive level of health cover, call us on 132 331 to discuss with our Overseas Health Cover team.
+ For ambulance attendance and transportation to a hospital where immediate professional attention is required and your medical condition is such that you couldn't be transported any other way.
