health insurance tourist visa australia

Overseas Visitors Health Cover

For visa subclass 600, 601, 651, 417, 462 and more.

Make your journey in Australia even more incredible by protecting your health with Medibank.

Our Overseas Visitor health insurance means you or a visiting family member can enjoy your stay, knowing you're covered for any essential and emergency treatment you may need.

Common visas:

600 , 601 , 651

Why choose Medibank's Overseas Visitors cover?

If you're organising cover for you or a visiting family member, it’s reassuring to know that Medibank is a trusted health insurer that has been looking after Australians for almost 50 years.

Trusted health partner

Medibank is an Australian leading health insurer with over 4.1 million members and almost 50 years expereince in private health insurance. 

Accident cover boost

Medibank members with hospital cover get the benefits of Gold level cover no matter what level of hospital cover you have, thanks to our Accident Injury Benefit. 1

Protect against the unexpected

No matter which Medibank Overseas Visitors Cover you choose, your cover includes unlimited emergency ambulance Australia-wide.  2

24/7 Medibank Nurse & Mental Health Service

Need advice? You can call  1800 644 325  and speak to a Medibank Nurse or Mental Health professional to discuss any health questions or concerns and get professional advice on what to do next.

Overseas Worker offer - Want 8 weeks free?*

Join and start eligible Medibank Overseas Workers Health cover by 30 September 2024 and you could get 8 weeks free after your first consecutive 42 days.* Use promo code: WORKER8

Choose the right health cover to suit your needs and budget.

For however long your stay, Medibank includes unlimited emergency ambulance cover2, plus benefits if you have an accident1 in all our Visitor products. 

Overseas Visitors Starter Hospital and Medical

A mid level cover option for younger visitors to Australia who don’t require health cover for visa purposes (condition 8501), but want the peace of mind of having cover for more than the essentials (incl. Heart and vascular system services) during their time in Australia.

This cover may only be purchased by policy holders who are aged 49 or under.

Pays benefits towards accommodation and medical costs for included medical procedures in hospital. This includes charges for treatment you receive from doctors, specialists, surgeons and anaesthetists.

• Includes 26 common clinical categories of hospital treatment (incl. Heart and vascular system)
• Accidental Injury Benefit+
• Choice of $250 or $750 excess

Pays benefits towards included medical services in and out of hospital.

• Pays 100% of the MBS fee
• Inpatient medical services across 26 clinical categories
• General Practitioner (GP) consultations
• Other common out-of-hospital medical services (blood tests & x-rays)
• Most Allied Health services billed with an MBS item number~

Overseas Visitors Everyday Hospital and Medical

A cover option suitable for those visiting Australia who are fit and healthy, don't require health cover for visa purposes (condition 8501) and only want cover for the essentials and accidents 'just in case' the unexpected occurs.

• Includes 24 common clinical categories of hospital treatment
• Choice of $250 or $500 excess

Pays benefits towards medical services in and out of hospital.

• Inpatient medical services across 24 clinical categories

Things you should know

^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.

+Any Excluded service will be treated as an Included service where you require hospital treatment as a result of injuries sustained in an Accident after joining this cover and within 12 months of the date the Accident occurred. The Accident must have occured in Australia while the cover was not suspended. Treatment must be sought within 7 days of the Accident. Excludes claims covered by third parties such as WorkCover.

 ~Services not provided by a doctor but are billed with an MBS item number. For example, eye checks and services related to chronic disease management plans. Excludes mental health services.

Here are two popular visas that Medibank’s Overseas Visitors Health Cover are generally suitable for:

600 - visitor visa.

The Visitor visa (subclass 600) allows you to stay in Australia as a visitor or a visitor for business purposes for 3, 6 or 12 months. This might be an appropriate visa if you’re taking a holiday, visiting family or friends or on a tour with a registered travel agent from China.

651 - eVisitor visa

The eVisitor (subclass 651) lets you visit Australia for up to 3 months at a time within a 12-month period. You can stay as a visitor or a visitor for business purposes.

Please note that if your visa is subject to Condition 8501 Overseas Visitors Health Cover may not be suitable. This information above is sourced from the Department of Home Affairs' website and is accurate as of October 2023.

Learn more about Australia's healthcare system

If you need medical attention while you’re in Australia and you don’t have health cover it can be very expensive, whether you’re treated in the public or the private healthcare system. Find out more about the differences between the private and public healthcare system.

Need some help?

We’re here to help you choose the health cover that matches your needs while you’re in Australia.  Contact Medibank how it suits you; messaging, WeChat, in-store or by phone.

Overseas students (OSHC)

Message one of our friendly staff about your cover options.

Visitor, working and working holiday (OVHC)

Speak to one of our friendly staff for sales and policy enquiries.

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扫描二维码或搜索Medibank_AU，获取新会员优惠、促销资讯以及健康信息和中文服务。

1 For Accidents that occur in Australia after your cover starts. Must seek medical treatment within 7 days, and receive hospital treatment within 12 months, of the Accident occurring. Excludes claims covered by third parties and our Private Room Promise. Out of pockets may apply.

2 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.

* Offer commences 16 July 2024. Offer now extended until 30 September 2024. Offer available via phone, web, messaging and in store. For new members on new memberships who have not previously held ahm OSHC, Medibank OSHC or Medibank Overseas Workers Health cover in the past 6 months. Must join and start eligible Medibank Overseas Workers Health covers between 16 July 2024 and 30 September 2024. Must use promo code ' WORKER8’ when joining. Member must sign up to direct debit. Excludes Overseas Visitors Health Cover, all corporate covers, all residential hospital and extras covers, Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC), Ambulance Cover, ahm covers, and other selected covers. Waiting periods may apply to hospital cover. Not available if the policy holder has already taken up this offer, or taken up any other discount offer from Medibank within 12 months from the policy start date. Not available to Medibank employees. Not available with any other offer except the Overseas Extras only offer. Offer cannot be redeemed for cash. Member take up of the offer is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Medibank reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions without notice from time to time.

8 weeks free terms:

Member must maintain direct debit and keep policy premium payments up to date and hold eligible cover for 42 consecutive days from the policy start date to get next 8 weeks free. If you change to an ineligible cover during this period, or you terminate or suspend your cover, 8 weeks free will not be issued.

Request a call back

Leave your details and a Medibank expert will be in touch to take you through your options. In providing your telephone number, you consent to Medibank contacting you about health insurance.

We'll have someone call you soon to help with any questions you have.

COVID-19 Health Assist - Expression of interest

Complete this form to express your interest in one of our programs. If you're eligible, a member of our team will call you within 2-3 business days.

What program are you interested in?

Sorry, only members with current Hospital cover are eligible to participate in these programs

Eligible Medibank members with Extras cover are able to access a range of telehealth services included on their cover - you can find out more here . Alternatively, if you would like to talk to one of our team about your cover, we're here on 132 331 .

Your membership details

Please provide your details so we can know how to contact you.

Your contact details

By clicking Submit, I understand that Medibank or its subsidiaries may contact me to discuss my eligibility for the Covid-19 Heath Assist program(s), and will disclose my personal information within the Medibank Group of companies and to third party service providers. Please see Medibank’s privacy policy for further information about how Medibank will handle my personal information, and how to contact Medibank: https://www.medibank.com.au/privacy/

Thank you for expressing your interest in one of our COVID-19 Health Assist programs.

If you are eligible, one of our health professionals will call you in 2-3 business days to discuss your situation and help to enrol you in the relevant program.

There is no cost to participate, however some referred services may incur an out of pocket cost.

How Health Insurance Works

Health insurers, compare policies.

• Overview of Health System
• Private Health Insurance Basics
• Government Surcharges & Incentives

Overseas Visitors Health Cover

• Overseas Student Health Cover
• Working visa applicants
• Private Health Insurance Changes

If you are visiting from overseas, you generally are not covered under Australia's public Medicare system for medical or hospital expenses.  This means that if you need medical attention while you are visiting Australia you could find yourself responsible for significant costs.

You should consider taking Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) to insure against potential expenses. In some cases, it may be a condition of your visa to hold a form of OVHC.

Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) is a form of health insurance which is designed for visitors to Australia who do not have access to Australia's public Medicare system for medical or hospital expenses. OVHC insures against potential expenses you may incur if you require medical or hospital treatment. 

In some cases, it may be a condition of your visa to hold a form of OVHC - for example, if you are  working visa 482 or 485 applicant  or an overseas student .

What does OVHC Cover?

Every OVHC policy will differ in costs, eligibility and benefits. However, most policies should cover you for medically-required hospital admissions and a portion of doctor's fees.

In addition to cover for hospital and medical expenses, you can also purchase General Treatment cover. General Treatment cover pays benefits towards the services of health care providers in private practice such as dentists, optometrists and physiotherapists. Insurance can cover part of these costs, though you would still need to cover part of the fees yourself.

Lifetime Health Cover and the private health insurance rebate do not apply to overseas visitors' health cover. Goods and Services Tax (GST) is applied to the cost of overseas visitors' health cover purchases.

What may not be covered?

Take care when you are purchasing cover as some plans will have lower benefits or no benefits for certain types of treatment, and waiting periods can vary - some policies may  permanently exclude  cover for pre-existing illnesses, meaning that such illnesses can never be covered. See the  Tips on health insurance for visitors  for further information about what you should look for when purchasing cover.

Most overseas visitors' health cover products have limited cover for pharmaceuticals. Overseas visitors may face significant out-of-pocket costs if they need treatment with pharmaceuticals, particularly cancer treatment.

Travellers entering Australia may bring in medicines and medical devices for immediate use and to import small quantities for personal use. For more information see the Therapeutic Goods Administration website - Entering Australia and Personal Importation Scheme .

Where can I purchase OVHC?

You can purchase cover for visitors to Australia from some health insurers and some general insurers based in Australia. You can also opt to be covered by insurance policies issued in other countries. Remember, if you are on a visa with specific health insurance conditions, you need to purchase the type and level of health insurance specified by your visa.

The internet is a good way to locate insurance cover for visitors. We suggest you search for "Overseas Visitors Insurance" or "Overseas Visitors Health Cover" in a search engine and compare policies from at least three providers.

You may also want to consider purchasing travel insurance, especially if you are in Australia for a short stay. Travel insurance may cover you for items that are not covered on visitors' cover such as loss of travel goods and repatriation in a medical emergency. Travel insurance should be purchased in your country of origin, before you depart for overseas.

Medicare: Australia's public health system

Unlike Australian citizens who can use the public health system  Medicare  to cover their medical and hospital expenses, overseas visitors who hold temporary visas are not generally eligible to use Medicare.

This means that if you need medical attention while you are visiting Australia you could find yourself substantially out of pocket. Even in a public hospital you could be charged more than $1,000 a day in hospital fees alone. Without health cover you can find yourself responsible for the full cost of treatment.

If you are unsure of your Medicare eligibility status, you should check with your local Medicare office or contact the Medicare (Services Australia) .

If your visa status or Medicare eligibility changes at any time, inform your insurer as soon as possible to find out whether your level of cover is still suitable.

Reciprocal Medicare

If you are an overseas visitors from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, the Republic of Ireland, Norway and New Zealand, you generally have access to Medicare under your country's  reciprocal health care agreement  with Australia. This means you can receive emergency treatment in the public health system free of charge, which you would not otherwise be entitled to.

However, reciprocal Medicare benefits do not cover you for treatment as a private patient in hospital, and depending on your country, other limits may apply (for example, in some cases the benefits expire after you have been in Australia for a certain period of time). Check the conditions of your country's reciprocal Medicare agreement to confirm what benefits and limits apply to you. 

You should consider taking OVHC if you want to be covered for items that are not covered under the agreements.

How the Medicare Levy Surcharge might affect the type of health insurance you need

If you are:

• earning over the Medicare Levy Surcharge income threshold;
• considered resident in Australia for tax purposes; and
• have successfully enrolled in Medicare (for any level of benefits - reciprocal, interim, or full);

then you may be affected by the Medicare Levy Surcharge. For further information about the Surcharge and the type of health insurance policy that exempts you from the Surcharge, please refer to the  Medicare Levy Surcharge .

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