Are you considering sponsoring your parents for a visit to Australia on an 870 visa? If so, you’ll need to buy health insurance to comply with your visa conditions. Savvy can help you compare your options and find health insurance coverage suitable for your needs.
By comparing with us, you can receive a range of quotes from a panel of some of Australia’s leading health insurers. Choose between basic and comprehensive coverage for hospital and extras cover, knowing that all quotes you receive will comply with subclass 870 visa health insurance conditions. Get your health insurance needs sorted out through Savvy today.
How do I get health insurance which complies with conditions for an 870 visa?
If you're planning to apply for a subclass 870 visa in Australia, one of the requirements of the Australian Government is to have adequate private health insurance. This health insurance should cover the duration of your parent’s stay in the country (up to three or five years per visa) and will assist with the costs of medical treatment that may not be covered by Medicare or a reciprocal health agreement with your country of birth.
To fulfil the requirement to have adequate health insurance, you can buy an Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) policy which complies with this requirement. This type of health insurance is offered by several providers in Australia and can be customised according to your parent’s coverage needs. Policies are available for a single person or a couple.
In order to meet the government’s 8501 visa requirement, which specifies what ‘adequate’ health insurance is, your plan must include the following coverage:
- Hospital cover, which provides coverage for expenses related to receiving treatment in a public hospital
- Ambulance cover, which covers the costs of emergency transportation to hospital
- Medications which fall under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- All treatments listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
Savvy can help you get your health insurance requirements sorted out quickly and easily. All you need to do is fill out a simple online form providing information about your parents and the level of cover they want. Once you've submitted the form, a health insurance specialist will get in touch to discuss your needs and guide you through the process of getting your visa-compliant health insurance in place.
It's possible to buy your insurance policy in advance of your arrival in Australia. You just need to nominate the policy start date, which will be your parent’s arrival day in the country. Once you've paid for the first month of coverage, you'll receive a confirmation of coverage letter via email. This letter can be submitted along with your parent’s visa application to prove that the required health insurance is in place.
How do I compare health insurance policies for an 870 visa?
When considering health insurance policies for the subclass 870 visa in Australia, it's important to ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the policy offer extras cover, which includes services provided outside of a hospital, such as optical and dental services?
- What are the inclusions and exclusions of the extras cover?
- Are there waiting periods before you can claim extras benefits?
- Does the policy provide coverage for ambulance transport by air and road?
- Is there an overall benefit limit for the policy?
- Does it cover the cost of visiting a general practitioner (GP)?
- Are there any excesses required if you're admitted to hospital? If so, how much will you be required to pay?
- Is there any provision for repatriation to your home country in the case of severe illness or death?
Considering these questions can help you make an informed decision when selecting a health insurance policy for your 870 visa in Australia.
