If you are applying for or hold a Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408), suitable health insurance can help protect you against unexpected hospital and medical expenses while you are temporarily staying in Australia.
Depending on your individual visa circumstances and the conditions attached to your visa, you may need to maintain adequate health insurance while in Australia. Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is commonly used by eligible temporary visa holders and can provide benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, doctor and specialist services, emergency ambulance transport and certain prescription medicines, depending on the insurer and policy selected.
At 8501 Health Insurance, you can compare 408 Temporary Activity Visa health insurance options from Australian health insurers and review important policy features before choosing cover for yourself and, where applicable, accompanying family members.
408 visa health insurance policies can vary in price, benefits, waiting periods, excesses and exclusions. When comparing OVHC, consider:
Because subclass 408 holders can come to Australia for different types of temporary activities, your expected length of stay and individual healthcare needs should also be considered when choosing cover.
The cheapest 408 visa health insurance policy may not necessarily provide the most suitable level of protection. Compare the policy benefits and potential out-of-pocket costs as well as the premium.
Compare the available 408 Temporary Activity Visa health insurance options below.
The Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) allows eligible people to come to Australia temporarily to participate in specific activities or programs.
While staying in Australia, temporary visa holders may need to pay for hospital and medical treatment if they become sick or injured. Access to Medicare is not automatic for every subclass 408 visa holder, making appropriate private health insurance an important consideration.
Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is commonly used by eligible temporary visa holders. Depending on the insurer and policy selected, OVHC may provide benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, doctor and specialist services, emergency ambulance transport and certain prescription medicines.
When choosing health insurance for a 408 visa, consider your expected length of stay, healthcare needs, existing medical conditions, activities in Australia and whether any family members are accompanying you.
Health insurance requirements can depend on the circumstances of the subclass 408 visa holder and the conditions attached to the individual visa.
Where Visa Condition 8501 applies, the visa holder must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.
For many eligible subclass 408 visa holders, an appropriate OVHC policy can provide private health insurance during their temporary stay.
When choosing cover, consider:
You should check your individual visa conditions and ensure that appropriate health insurance is maintained for the period required.
Visa Condition 8501 can apply to a Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408). Where the condition is attached to the visa, the holder must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.
You should check your visa grant letter or VEVO record to confirm the conditions attached to your individual visa.
If Condition 8501 applies, appropriate health insurance should be maintained for the required period rather than being cancelled simply because the visa has been granted.
Holding a Temporary Activity Visa does not automatically provide every subclass 408 visa holder with access to Medicare.
Medicare eligibility depends on individual circumstances. Some temporary residents may qualify under one of Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs) or another basis for Medicare enrolment.
Even where Medicare is available, it may not cover every healthcare expense. Private health insurance may therefore remain useful or may still be required because of the conditions attached to your visa.
Before changing or cancelling private health insurance, check both your Medicare eligibility and your individual visa conditions.
If eligible family members accompany you to Australia as part of your subclass 408 visa arrangements, their healthcare needs should also be considered.
Depending on the insurer, OVHC options may be available as:
When comparing policies, make sure you are comparing the appropriate membership type and consider the healthcare needs of everyone included on the policy.
For example, an accompanying partner or child who regularly requires medical treatment or prescription medicines may influence which level of cover is more appropriate for your family.
Health insurance for Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) holders can provide benefits towards a range of healthcare services while you are temporarily staying in Australia. The exact benefits depend on the insurer and level of Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) selected.
When comparing 408 visa health insurance, consider what the policy covers, applicable waiting periods and exclusions, as well as any healthcare expenses you may still need to pay yourself.
Depending on the policy selected, 408 visa health insurance may provide benefits towards eligible treatment when you are admitted to hospital.
Hospital benefits may include eligible accommodation, theatre fees and treatment associated with covered medical procedures.
Waiting periods, exclusions, restrictions, hospital excesses and co-payments may apply. Check these features carefully when comparing policies because they can affect your out-of-pocket expenses if you require hospital treatment.
OVHC may provide benefits towards eligible services provided by doctors and medical specialists while you are in Australia.
Medical benefits are commonly calculated with reference to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). If your doctor or specialist charges more than the benefit payable under your policy, you may need to pay the difference yourself.
If you expect to require regular doctor or specialist consultations during your stay, compare the medical benefits offered by different policies.
Many OVHC policies provide benefits for eligible emergency ambulance services.
Ambulance treatment and transport can be expensive in Australia. When comparing 408 visa health insurance, check whether emergency ambulance is included, the circumstances in which benefits are payable and whether any policy limits apply.
Depending on the policy selected, benefits may be available towards certain eligible prescription medicines.
Insurers may apply a maximum benefit for each prescription as well as overall benefit limits. If you regularly take prescription medicines, compare these benefits and limits carefully before selecting cover.
Treatment relating to a pre-existing medical condition may be subject to a waiting period before benefits become payable.
The way pre-existing conditions are assessed and the applicable waiting periods can vary depending on the policy and relevant requirements.
Before purchasing cover, check:
If you have an existing medical condition that may require treatment during your temporary stay in Australia, this can be an important factor when comparing policies.
Depending on the OVHC policy selected, benefits may be available towards eligible pregnancy and birth-related hospital and medical services after applicable waiting periods have been served.
If you or your partner are planning a pregnancy while staying in Australia, carefully compare maternity benefits and waiting periods before choosing cover.
Do not assume that every 408 visa health insurance policy provides the same pregnancy-related benefits.
Standard OVHC generally focuses on hospital and medical treatment. Services such as dental, optical, physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment may not be included in the core policy.
If you want benefits for these services, you may need to purchase appropriate extras cover or choose a policy that includes additional benefits.
When comparing extras cover, consider the additional premium, waiting periods, annual limits and benefits available for individual services.
408 visa health insurance does not necessarily cover every healthcare expense or the full amount charged by a healthcare provider.
Depending on the policy selected, you may have to pay some or all of the cost of:
Always review the insurer's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and relevant policy documentation before purchasing cover. This will help you understand the benefits, waiting periods, exclusions and potential out-of-pocket expenses associated with the policy.
When comparing health insurance for a Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408), price is important, but it should not be the only factor in your decision. OVHC policies can differ in hospital and medical benefits, waiting periods, excesses, exclusions and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
When comparing 408 visa health insurance, consider:
Your expected length of stay and the type of temporary activity you will undertake in Australia may also influence your healthcare needs.
Not necessarily. A cheaper OVHC policy may be appropriate for some Temporary Activity Visa holders, but the lowest premium does not automatically mean the policy offers the best value for your circumstances.
Before choosing based primarily on price, compare:
Consider the overall combination of price, benefits and your healthcare needs.
Some OVHC policies require you to pay a hospital excess when you receive eligible hospital treatment.
A policy with a higher excess may have a lower premium, while another policy may cost more but require a smaller contribution when you are admitted to hospital.
Compare both the ongoing premium and the potential hospital excess rather than looking at the premium alone.
Subclass 408 visa holders can be in Australia for different temporary activities and for different periods.
Someone staying in Australia for a relatively short activity may have different health insurance priorities from someone remaining for a longer period.
Consider factors such as:
This can help you select a policy that better reflects your individual circumstances.
If you are travelling to Australia alone, single OVHC may be suitable. If your partner or dependent children are accompanying you, compare appropriate couple or family cover.
Premiums for family cover can vary significantly between insurers. Make sure you compare equivalent membership types and consider the healthcare needs of everyone included on the policy.
Several Australian health insurers offer Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) options that may be suitable for eligible Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) holders.
Use the comparison table above to compare the available 408 visa health insurance products, premiums and policy features.
Bupa offers Overseas Visitor Health Cover options for eligible temporary visa holders.
When considering Bupa for a subclass 408 visa, compare hospital and medical benefits, emergency ambulance cover, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods, excesses and other applicable policy conditions.
Medibank provides Overseas Visitor Health Cover options for eligible temporary residents in Australia.
408 visa holders considering Medibank should compare the relevant hospital and medical benefits, emergency ambulance cover, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods, excesses and exclusions.
Allianz Care offers Overseas Visitor Health Cover options for eligible temporary visa holders.
When comparing Allianz Care, consider hospital and medical benefits, emergency ambulance cover, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods, excesses and other relevant policy conditions.
nib offers health insurance options for eligible temporary residents staying in Australia.
When considering nib for a subclass 408 visa, compare the applicable hospital and medical benefits, ambulance cover, waiting periods, excesses, exclusions and other policy features.
AIA offers Overseas Visitor Health Cover for eligible temporary residents, and the Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) is one of the visa subclasses relevant to AIA's OVHC offering.
When comparing AIA, consider hospital and medical benefits, emergency ambulance cover, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods, excesses and applicable policy conditions.
Different health insurers can offer different premiums, benefits and policy features for Temporary Activity Visa holders.
Use the comparison table above to compare available 408 visa health insurance options based on both price and the policy features relevant to your circumstances.
Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) holders need to comply with the health insurance requirements and conditions applicable to their individual visa. Where Visa Condition 8501 applies, the visa holder must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.
Check your visa grant letter or VEVO record to confirm the conditions attached to your visa.
Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is commonly used by eligible temporary visa holders in Australia, including subclass 408 visa holders.
Depending on the policy selected, OVHC may provide benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, doctor and specialist services, emergency ambulance transport and certain prescription medicines.
Visa Condition 8501 can apply to a subclass 408 visa. If the condition is attached to your visa, you must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while you are in Australia.
Always check the conditions attached to your individual visa to determine your requirements.
Depending on the insurer and policy selected, 408 visa health insurance may provide benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, doctor and specialist services, emergency ambulance transport and certain prescription medicines.
Waiting periods, exclusions, excesses, co-payments and benefit limits may apply.
The cheapest 408 visa health insurance can vary between insurers, products and membership types.
Rather than choosing solely on price, compare hospital and medical benefits, ambulance cover, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods, excesses, exclusions and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Health insurance options for eligible Temporary Activity Visa holders may be available from providers including Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, nib and AIA.
Available products, premiums and benefits can differ between insurers, so compare the relevant options before choosing cover.
Depending on the insurer and your circumstances, single, couple and family OVHC options may be available.
If eligible family members accompany you to Australia, consider their healthcare needs when choosing cover and make sure appropriate health insurance arrangements are made for everyone who requires insurance.
Treatment relating to pre-existing medical conditions may be subject to waiting periods and other policy conditions.
If you have an existing medical condition, check how the insurer assesses pre-existing conditions, applicable waiting periods and any exclusions or restrictions before purchasing cover.
Depending on the policy selected, benefits may be available towards eligible pregnancy and birth-related hospital and medical services after applicable waiting periods have been served.
If maternity cover is important to you or your partner, compare pregnancy benefits and waiting periods carefully before choosing a policy.
Holding a Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) does not automatically provide Medicare eligibility. Some visa holders may qualify based on their individual circumstances, including eligibility under an Australian Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA).
Check your Medicare eligibility rather than assuming that your visa automatically provides access.
You may be able to change health insurance providers while holding a subclass 408 visa. Before switching, check how waiting periods and previous membership will be treated and make sure you do not create an unintended gap in appropriate health insurance.
You should maintain appropriate health insurance for the period required by the conditions attached to your visa. If Visa Condition 8501 applies, adequate health insurance must be maintained while that condition requires it.
