Top-rated Overseas Student & Working Visa Health Cover 2022

International students and workers have arrived in Australia again. That our border has reopened. However, visa holders must have private health insurance to qualify. Canstar experts have reduced the number and created a list of leading international student health insurance (OSHC) and work visa health insurance policies.

Overseas Student Health Insurance – 6 providers, 6 products
Work Visa Health Insurance – 11 Providers, 47 Products

Overseas Student Health Insurance: Oh, Medibank Private

Working Visa Health Insurance: Nib (IMAN)

Until recently, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the majority of international students and workers traveling here to postpone plans due to government regulations designed to reduce the effects of the virus in Australia. Was there. But now that the ban on travel for vaccinated visa holders has been lifted, international students have once again filled the halls of Australian learning institutions and working visa holders have returned to help with economic recovery efforts.

However, according to the Australian Government, one of the conditions for international students and some work visas is that they have sufficient private health insurance because foreign students and workers do not have access to Medicare-funded medical services. is. This cover is collectively referred to as the Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) and includes:

• With Overseas Student Health Insurance (OSHC)
• Working visa health cover.

However, not all Australian private health insurance providers offer such insurance, and there are some differences between those offering.

Overseas Student Health Insurance (OSHC) and Working Visa Health Insurance is a specific type of health insurance that may be required to qualify for a visa to study or work in Australia. According to the Australian Government, all international students and some work visa holders must remove this cover, and other work visa holders may choose to do so.

These policies pay part or all of the cost if you need to see a doctor, go to the hospital, transport by ambulance, or buy medicines for a particular pharmacy, for example.

Health care providers in Australia fall into one of two broad categories.

• Public health system: Australia has a government-run public health care system and a publicly funded universal health care system called Medicare that helps pay for health care. Australian or permanent residents, some special types of visa holders, and New Zealand citizens have access to Medicare-funded services such as subsidized GP visits and treatment at public hospitals while in Australia.
• Private medical system: There are also private hospitals and healthcare providers, accessible through prepaid services or private health insurance contracts. This type of insurance covers some or all of certain medical expenses, such as staying in a private hospital.

Generally speaking, visitors to Australia are required to pay for the medical costs provided by one of these systems.

Visitors with special conditions called “8501: Health Insurance” on their visas must have certain types of private health insurance before entering the country. Examples are Visa Subclass 482 (temporary lack of skills) and Visa Subclass 485 (temporary graduates), and Visa Subclass 500 (students). The type of policy may vary depending on the type of visa.

Exceptions include visitors whose home country is part of a mutual medical agreement with Australia, or who hold a specific type of visa. These visitors may have access to free or subsidized services for the public health system, but may still have to pay for care for the private health system, so consider OVHC. I recommend it.

The Australian Government has stated that it will not be possible to enroll in Medicare until it arrives in Australia. This means that even if you think you are eligible for access to Medicare, you may need to obtain an OVHC if you are on a visa requirement.

In addition, the Australian Government’s Ministry of Home Affairs recommends that visitors to Australia consider health insurance options and consider obtaining OVHC, even if they are not visa requirements.

Each year, Canstar’s expert research team uses sophisticated methodologies to review Australia’s Overseas Student Health Insurance (OSHC) and Work Visa Health Insurance policies. Rating manager Joshua Sale said the team is considering the costs and features of a database policy that provides health insurance to foreign residents studying or working in Australia. After comparing all eligible policies and providers, the research team issues the following issues:

• Star rating: Up to 5 stars per policy (5 stars represent the highest rating policy). You can check the OSHC star rating in the comparison table. This helps you create a candidate list of policies when you get a quote.
• Awards: In addition, the Commission will awards providers that are found to provide outstanding value across the range of consumer profiles considered in the Star Rating.

The 2022 award-winning provider is …

Cover image source: Alex Erofeenkov / Shutterstock.com

Canstar’s research team provides expertise to enhance star ratings and awards designed to enable consumers to make more informed financial decisions. As Australia’s largest financial comparison site, Canstar surveys and evaluates more than 780 brands of products across more than 30 financial categories. Our expert researchers analyze each product we rate by comparing price and features, and the top products are recognized with a 5-star rating. Our star rating is now available to consumers for free via Canstar’s comparison chart. Providers with high product performance on our star rating may receive the Outstanding Value Award.