What is OVHC for a 600 Visitor Visa?
Clear, practical information for visitors comparing health insurance for Australia.
What is OVHC?
OVHC stands for Overseas Visitors Health Cover. It is private health insurance designed for overseas visitors in Australia who may not have access to Medicare, or who want additional protection against eligible hospital and medical expenses while they are here.
OVHC is not one standard government policy. Insurers offer different visitor products, and the benefits, eligibility rules, waiting periods, excesses, limits, exclusions and premiums can vary substantially.
Why can OVHC be important for a Subclass 600 visitor?
Home Affairs states that visitors are responsible for their healthcare costs while in Australia and recommends adequate health insurance to help manage unexpected medical expenses. A hospital admission or specialist treatment can become expensive very quickly when a visitor does not have Medicare or appropriate private cover.
A Subclass 600 visa does not automatically mean that every visitor has the same insurance requirement. The individual visa grant must be checked for condition 8501 and any other conditions.
OVHC and condition 8501
Condition 8501 requires a visa holder to maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia. Home Affairs identifies Visitor (Tourist) subclass 600 as a visa where this condition can be imposed on a discretionary basis.
Check your own visa grant
If condition 8501 appears on your grant, you must maintain adequate health insurance while in Australia. Do not assume that another visitor's insurance requirement is the same as yours.
What can OVHC generally help cover?
The exact benefits depend on the policy. Depending on the level of cover, an OVHC product may provide benefits toward some of the following eligible services.
Hospital treatment
Benefits toward eligible inpatient hospital accommodation, theatre and treatment costs, subject to the policy's agreements, exclusions and excess.
Doctors & specialists
Some broader visitor products provide benefits for eligible GP and specialist consultations. The benefit may not equal the doctor's full charge.
Pathology & imaging
Eligible pathology, radiology and diagnostic services may be covered under some products, subject to policy rules.
Emergency ambulance
Many visitor policies include some form of emergency ambulance benefit, but definitions and applicable state arrangements should be checked.
Prescription medicines
Some policies provide limited benefits toward eligible prescription medicines. Per-item and annual limits can apply.
Other benefits
Higher or broader levels of cover can include additional services. Dental, optical and physiotherapy are not automatically included in standard hospital/medical OVHC.
Hospital-only style cover vs broader visitor cover
More hospital-focused
Lower-cost visitor products may concentrate on eligible hospital treatment and selected emergency benefits. They may provide little or no benefit for routine out-of-hospital GP or specialist visits.
Hospital + medical
Broader products may add eligible out-of-hospital medical benefits such as doctors, specialists, pathology and radiology. They can cost more, but may reduce exposure to routine medical expenses.
When comparing products, check the actual benefit schedule rather than relying only on a product name such as “basic”, “hospital” or “comprehensive”.
Does OVHC pay the whole medical bill?
Not necessarily. A policy can pay a benefit without paying the provider's full charge. Doctors, specialists and hospitals can charge more than the amount recognised by the insurer, which can leave the member with an out-of-pocket gap. Excesses, co-payments, benefit limits and excluded services can also affect what the visitor pays.
Before planned treatment, ask the insurer what benefit is payable and ask the medical provider for an estimate of any amount you will need to pay yourself.
Waiting periods and pre-existing conditions
Visitor policies can impose waiting periods before certain benefits become payable. The Australian Government's Private Health website advises that many insurers impose a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, while some policies may permanently exclude particular pre-existing conditions.
A condition that develops while travelling to Australia can also potentially be treated as pre-existing because OVHC commonly starts when the visitor arrives. The exact definition and assessment process is determined by the policy.
OVHC and Medicare
Most visitors do not have ordinary Medicare eligibility. However, Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with 11 countries. Eligible visitors from those countries may receive publicly funded medically necessary care under the terms of the relevant agreement.
The agreements are not identical. For example, some provide broader Medicare access while others focus mainly on medically necessary public hospital treatment. Eligibility can also depend on residency, citizenship or other requirements.
Services Australia advises travellers to have their own travel health insurance. A visitor should check what their particular reciprocal agreement covers and consider private cover for costs and services outside that protection.
OVHC vs OSHC
OVHC vs travel insurance
OVHC and travel insurance serve different purposes and should not automatically be treated as substitutes. OVHC focuses on eligible healthcare expenses in Australia. Travel insurance may include non-medical travel risks such as cancellation, lost luggage or other travel events, depending on the policy. Some travellers choose both types of cover.
What should you compare before buying OVHC?
Who might need to look particularly carefully at cover?
Frequently asked questions
What does OVHC stand for?
OVHC stands for Overseas Visitors Health Cover.
Is OVHC compulsory for every Subclass 600 visa holder?
Not automatically. Condition 8501 can be imposed on some Visitor visa grants. Check the individual grant letter or VEVO.
What does condition 8501 mean?
It requires the visa holder to maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.
Does OVHC cover GP visits?
Some visitor products provide eligible GP benefits while more hospital-focused products may not. Check the specific benefit schedule.
Does OVHC cover hospital treatment?
Visitor health products commonly include eligible hospital benefits, but covered treatments, excesses, restrictions and exclusions differ between policies.
Are prescription medicines covered?
Some policies provide limited benefits toward eligible prescription medicines. Limits can apply and high-cost medicines may not be fully covered.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
They may be subject to waiting periods or exclusions. The Australian Government advises that many visitor policies impose a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions.
Do I still need private cover if I can access Medicare under an RHCA?
That depends on your circumstances, but reciprocal agreements can be limited. Services Australia advises travellers to have their own travel health insurance.
Is OVHC the same as OSHC?
No. OSHC is the health cover framework for international Student visa holders. OVHC is designed for eligible overseas visitors and other temporary visa holders.
Is OVHC the same as travel insurance?
No. OVHC primarily addresses eligible healthcare costs in Australia, while travel insurance may cover a wider range of travel-related risks.
Can OVHC have an excess?
Yes. Some products require an excess or other member contribution when certain treatment is received.
Should I compare only the monthly premium?
No. Compare benefits, waiting periods, exclusions, excesses, limits, Medicare eligibility and likely out-of-pocket costs as well as price.
Continue reading
General information only. Visa conditions, Medicare eligibility and insurance benefits vary. Check your visa grant letter or VEVO, current Australian Government information and the insurer's current product documents before purchasing or relying on cover.
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