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Health Insurance For 482 Visa

Name: Health Insurance For 482 Visa
Creator: Savvy
Published: 2023-03-24T16:08:05+10:30

Compare health insurance quotes here with Savvy to find a policy that complies with 482 visa requirements.

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Written by , updated on July 6th, 2023

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Living and working in Australia on a temporary skill shortage 482 visa can be a very exciting opportunity that can pave the way and lead to permanent residency. However, until that residency is granted, it’s necessary to hold health insurance suitable for a 482 visa while you live in Australia.

Savvy can help you find and compare appropriate insurance policies for a 482 visa applicant right here. Just answer a few simple questions about the insurance you’re after, and you could soon be speaking to a health insurance specialist to help you through the process of buying an insurance policy which complies with your visa requirements. Get your health insurance sorted out through Savvy today.

How do I get health insurance to apply for a 482 visa?

The Australian Government requires visa applicants to take out a baseline level of health insurance to cover their stay in Australia. This insurance will assist you with the costs of receiving medical treatment if you don’t qualify for cover either through Medicare or through a reciprocal health agreement between Australia and your country of birth.

Several health insurance providers in Australia offer this visa-compliant health insurance through a policy called Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC). This type of policy can cover a single person, couple or family, depending on your health insurance needs.

You can get your health insurance sorted out through Savvy today. Once you’ve filled out a simple online form with information about you, the nature of your visa and the level of cover you’re looking to take out, a health insurance specialist can call you back. You can discuss your needs with them and they’ll walk you through the process of getting your visa-compliant health insurance in place today.

You can buy your insurance policy in advance of your arrival in Australia. You’ll just need to nominate your policy start date (which is usually your arrival day in Australia). Once you pay for your first month’s worth of cover, you’ll receive a Confirmation of Coverage letter by email, which you can submit with your visa application to prove that you have the required health insurance.

What is included and excluded with health insurance suitable for a 482 visa holder?

The health insurance you buy must provide the following cover as a basic minimum:

Cover for the cost of being treated in a public hospital, which is known as hospital cover
Cover for emergency transport to hospital, which is known as ambulance cover
Cover for the cost of medications which are covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Cover for all treatments listed under the Medicare Benefits Schedule

Many OVHC health policies don’t include cover for treatments and services received out of a hospital setting, like visiting a physio or dentist. However, this type of cover, which is known as extras cover, can also be added to your hospital policy. This will increase the price of your premiums but can offer you coverage across a broader range of areas.

However, you should be aware that your health insurance for a 482 visa may not include the following:

Treatment arranged in advance of arrival in Australia
Treatment provided outside of Australia, including treatment en route to or from Australia
Medical procedures not considered medically necessary (including tattoo removal)
Elective cosmetic treatments such as tummy tucks and facelifts
Some alternative medicines and therapies, including Chinese medicine
Laser eye surgery
Hypnotherapy
Assisted reproductive treatments
Stem cell, bone marrow and organ transplants
Services or treatments which are covered by compensation, damages or other legal claims

How much will it cost to get health insurance for my 482 visa?

The cost of your health insurance will depend on the amount of cover you require and how many people need coverage. For example, if you have a partner and children, you’ll probably need a family policy, which will cost more than cover for a single person.

In addition to the number of people who require coverage, you’ll also have a choice about the level of cover you require. This ranges from basic cover, which is the cheapest policy, through standard or mid-cover policies, up to top cover, which will offer you the highest level of coverage at the greatest cost.

These are some examples of the cost of OVHC, with quotes based on cost per month for hospital (and in some cases) extras cover for a couple aged 32 years old, originating from India, who intend to live and work in NSW*:

Basic cover	Mid-priced cover	Top cover
BUPA Essential Lite Visitors Cover – $238.06	BUPA Essential 50 Visitors Cover – $304.91	BUPA Essential Visitors Cover with Top Extras 90 – $624.61
Frank Basic Workers Cover – $129 (does not include extras cover)	Frank Mid Workers Cover – $200 (no extras cover)	Frank Mid Workers Plus Bundle – $250
HCF Basic cover – $149 (does not include extras cover)	HCF Mid Cover – $208	HCF Top Plus Cover – $592

* Figures correct as of March 2023.

Types of health insurance

Hospital cover

This can help you pay for medical treatment if you need to be admitted to hospital. It can help cover the cost of your admission or accommodation and the fees charged by doctors, surgeons and anaesthetists. It can also cover other costs associated with a stay in a private hospital.

Extras cover

This helps cover the costs of health care treatments outside a hospital setting which aren’t covered by Medicare. This can include major and minor dental treatment, orthodontics, hearing aids, physiotherapy, glasses, contact lenses and podiatry (in most cases with annual limits).

Cover for singles

This is a standard health insurance policy designed for a single person, rather than being tailored to cater to the needs of a couple or family. It may include hospital cover plus extras, or either of these types of insurance on their own, depending on what you're after for your health cover.

Cover for families

A family health insurance policy is designed for a family unit including dependent children who may reach up to 31 years of age with some insurers. It offers private health insurance suitable for the whole family and may include shared limits for all members included in your policy.

Cover for seniors

A health insurance policy aimed at seniors is designed to appeal to people who are in the second half of their life. These are often specific Silver Plus policies that offer the same cover as other health insurance policies, with the exception that pregnancy and childbirth cover may not be included.

OVHC

Visitors who are in Australia on a temporary basis for travel, work or study may be able to take out Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC). Many visas issued in Australia come with a requirement to take out this type of insurance, which covers visitors who may not be covered by Medicare.

Ambulance cover

Ambulance cover is generally available either packaged into your private health insurance or on its own as a separate policy or subscription. By having this protection, you could be covered for all eligible ambulance travel in Australia (subject to your insurer's terms and conditions).

Basic hospital cover

The cheapest and most barebones form of private hospital insurance, this can include cover for rehab, in-hospital psychiatric services and palliative care. Having this policy will enable you to avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) and Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading.

Bronze hospital cover

Bronze hospital cover is a step up from basic insurance, including 18 further clinical categories such as ear, nose and throat, bone, joint and muscle, digestive system, joint reconstructions, gynaecology and chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer.

Silver hospital cover

Silver hospital cover is the second-most expensive type of policy and offers the second-most clinical categories. On top of what's offered by basic and bronze cover, it also includes heart and vascular system, lung and chest, blood, hearing device implantation and dental surgery.

Gold hospital cover

The highest level of private hospital insurance available in Australia, gold policies can offer cover for pregnancy and birth, weight loss surgery, assisted reproductive services and insulin pumps on top of all the categories provided by silver, bronze and basic hospital insurance.

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Frequently asked questions about health insurance for a 482 visa holder

If I get permanent residency in Australia, will I be eligible for Medicare cover?

Yes – all Australian permanent residents are eligible for Medicare cover, so when you get your permanent resident status confirmation, you’ll be entitled to apply for a Medicare card. However, Medicare only covers basic health treatment, so it isn’t a substitute for private health insurance. Some temporary Australian residents can also be eligible for Medicare under a special Ministerial Order, which includes:

Migrants in special circumstances (for example, temporary or witness protection)
Migrants who are in Australia for humanitarian or other protection reasons
Skilled employer-sponsored provisional visas (subclass 494)
Skilled work regional provisional visas (subclass 491)

Will I still have to pay the Medicare Levy if I have private health insurance as a 482 visa holder?

No – if you don’t qualify for Medicare benefits, you won't have to pay the Medicare Levy. Your employer may still possibly have to take the levy out of your pay packet, but you can claim this money back through the Australian Taxation Office with a Category 2 exemption.

Will I still have out-of-pocket expenses if I need medical treatment and I have private health insurance for my 482 visa?

You may still have out-of-pocket expenses to pay for your medical treatment on top of your private health insurance policy. For example, if you have extras cover, this may allow you to claim back between 50% and 85% of the cost of seeing a physiotherapist or dentist, but you'll have to pay the remaining portion of the bill yourself. You should take this into account when considering if extras cover is worth buying.

Do I need additional health insurance even though I have some health cover on my travel insurance?

Yes – the health cover provided with some travel insurance policies is often not sufficient for a visa holder, so you’ll need to take out OVHC, which is a visa-compliant form of health insurance.

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