If you travel to Australia as eligible international airline crew under a Crew Travel Authority (Subclass 942), you may want to consider appropriate health insurance for medical expenses that could arise during your time in Australia.
A Crew Travel Authority is different from many other Australian temporary visas. It is an electronic immigration record under the Special Purpose visa framework for eligible international airline crew members, airline positioning crew and certain aircraft safety inspectors.
International airline crew members and eligible aircraft safety inspectors can generally remain in Australia for up to 30 days, while airline positioning crew members can generally remain for up to 5 days under the applicable Special Purpose visa arrangements.
Because these stays are generally short and connected with employment as international aircrew, your health insurance needs may differ from those of people living in Australia on longer-term temporary visas.
At 8501 Health Insurance, you can review Bupa overseas visitor health insurance options and consider whether an available Bupa product is suitable for your individual circumstances.
Bupa offers health insurance options for overseas visitors to Australia and provides a visa-search facility to help visitors identify cover relevant to their circumstances.
If you travel under a Crew Travel Authority (Subclass 942), check your eligibility for the particular Bupa product before purchasing cover.
When considering Bupa health insurance, compare:
Because Crew Travel Authority holders generally make relatively short work-related stays in Australia, also consider whether you already have health or medical insurance provided through your airline or employer before purchasing additional cover.
A Crew Travel Authority is specifically intended for eligible people travelling to Australia in connection with international aviation.
This can include:
The person must meet the applicable eligibility requirements, including travelling on an eligible commercial, charter passenger, freight or cargo flight.
A Crew Travel Authority cannot be used simply as a general visitor visa for travelling to Australia.
Eligible international airline crew members and aircraft safety inspectors can generally stay in Australia for up to 30 days under the Special Purpose visa arrangements.
Eligible airline positioning crew members can generally stay for up to 5 days.
If you need to remain in Australia longer than permitted under these arrangements, Home Affairs states that you need to obtain another appropriate visa rather than extend the Crew Travel Authority stay.
This point is particularly important for the 942 page.
Bupa offers a range of overseas visitor health insurance products, but not every Bupa visitor product accepts every visa subclass. For example, Bupa's Short Stay Visitors Cover publicly lists specific eligible subclasses and states that people whose subclass is not on that list are not eligible for that particular product.
Therefore, before purchasing Bupa health insurance, confirm that the particular product shown below is available for your Crew Travel Authority/Special Purpose visa circumstances.
View the available Bupa health insurance option below.
The Crew Travel Authority (Subclass 942) is designed for eligible international airline crew travelling to Australia as part of their work.
Unlike many temporary visa holders who may live in Australia for months or years, Crew Travel Authority holders generally spend relatively short periods in Australia. This means their healthcare and insurance needs can be different.
Before purchasing additional private health insurance, consider whether you already have medical or travel-related protection through your airline, employer or another insurance arrangement.
If you require additional health insurance while in Australia, an eligible Bupa overseas visitor health insurance product may help towards certain healthcare expenses, depending on the cover selected.
Healthcare arrangements for Crew Travel Authority holders should be considered according to their individual circumstances.
Before arranging additional health insurance, consider:
You should not assume that holding a Crew Travel Authority automatically means that you need the same type of OVHC used by people on longer-term temporary visas.
The Crew Travel Authority operates differently from many conventional temporary visas because it is connected with Special Purpose visa arrangements for eligible airline crew.
For this reason, I would not state on this page that Condition 8501 automatically applies to Subclass 942 holders.
Instead, crew members should check their individual immigration and employer requirements and determine what healthcare arrangements apply to their circumstances.
This is also why we should avoid marketing Bupa cover on this page simply as “8501-compliant 942 insurance” unless the particular immigration and insurance requirements have been established.
A Crew Travel Authority does not by itself establish Medicare eligibility.
Medicare eligibility depends on individual circumstances. Some overseas visitors may have limited access to Medicare because they come from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.
Crew members should therefore check their individual Medicare eligibility rather than assuming that healthcare in Australia will automatically be covered.
If you are not eligible for Medicare and require healthcare while in Australia, you may be responsible for the cost of treatment.
Potential expenses can include:
Depending on your circumstances, some of these expenses may already be covered by your airline, employer, travel insurance or another insurance arrangement.
If they are not, suitable private health insurance may provide additional protection, subject to the terms and eligibility requirements of the policy.
This is particularly important for international airline crew.
Before purchasing additional Bupa health insurance, check whether your airline or employer already provides healthcare or medical insurance for crew members travelling internationally.
Review whether your existing arrangements cover:
If adequate protection is already provided, additional private health insurance may not be necessary for the same risks.
However, if your existing insurance has gaps, exclusions or limits, you can consider whether an eligible Bupa product provides benefits relevant to those gaps.
Bupa offers health insurance products for eligible overseas visitors in Australia.
If you are travelling under a Crew Travel Authority, confirm that the particular Bupa product displayed in the table above accepts your circumstances before purchasing.
Depending on the Bupa product selected, benefits may be available towards eligible healthcare expenses such as hospital and medical treatment.
When considering Bupa cover, review:
Because a 942 holder may only spend a short period in Australia on each visit, also consider whether the policy structure and cost make sense for the way you travel.
Some international airline crew may travel to Australia regularly rather than making only one visit.
If you frequently operate flights to Australia, consider how your healthcare arrangements work across repeated visits.
Questions to consider include:
The appropriate arrangement will depend on your employment, travel pattern and healthcare needs.
A Crew Travel Authority is intended for specific short-term travel connected with eligible international airline operations.
If your immigration circumstances change and you need to remain in Australia under another visa, review your health insurance at the same time.
A Bupa policy suitable for one immigration circumstance may not necessarily be appropriate after you move to another visa subclass.
Check your new visa conditions, Medicare eligibility and Bupa product eligibility before continuing, changing or cancelling your existing health insurance.
For eligible Crew Travel Authority (Subclass 942) holders, the benefits available through Bupa depend on the particular overseas visitor health insurance product selected.
Because Crew Travel Authority holders can have different healthcare arrangements through their airline or employer, consider Bupa cover alongside any existing insurance you already have.
Before purchasing, confirm that the particular Bupa product is available for your circumstances and review its benefits, waiting periods, excesses, exclusions and limits.
Depending on the Bupa policy selected, benefits may be available towards eligible hospital treatment in Australia.
This may include benefits towards eligible hospital accommodation and medical treatment associated with a covered hospital admission.
When reviewing Bupa hospital cover, check:
For international airline crew, it is also worth checking whether your employer or airline already provides hospital protection while you are working or staying in Australia.
Depending on the Bupa overseas visitor product selected, benefits may be available towards eligible services provided by GPs, doctors and medical specialists.
The amount charged by a doctor or specialist may be greater than the benefit payable under your health insurance. Where this occurs, you may have an out-of-pocket expense.
When comparing the Bupa options shown above, check the level of medical benefits available under each policy.
Emergency ambulance is an important consideration for international crew spending time in Australia.
Depending on the Bupa policy selected, benefits may be available towards eligible emergency ambulance services.
Check the particular policy for:
Also check whether ambulance expenses are already covered by your airline or employer insurance before purchasing additional protection.
Depending on the Bupa policy selected, benefits may be available towards certain eligible prescription medicines.
Policy limits and member contributions may apply.
If you regularly require medication, check:
Prescription medicine benefits can be particularly relevant if you spend time in Australia regularly as part of your employment.
Treatment relating to a pre-existing medical condition may be subject to waiting periods, exclusions or other policy conditions.
Before purchasing Bupa cover, check:
If you already have an employer or airline medical insurance policy, compare how both policies treat your existing medical conditions.
Waiting periods can apply before benefits become payable for certain treatments.
This deserves particular attention for a 942 Crew Travel Authority holder because individual stays in Australia may be relatively short.
If a waiting period applies to a service, purchasing a policy shortly before arriving in Australia does not necessarily mean that you will immediately be entitled to benefits for that treatment.
Check applicable waiting periods before purchasing Bupa cover.
Hospital and medical visitor cover should not automatically be assumed to include routine services such as:
Depending on the Bupa product and options available, additional cover may be required if you want benefits towards these services.
Check waiting periods, annual limits and individual service benefits before adding additional cover.
Bupa health insurance does not necessarily cover every healthcare expense or the full amount charged for treatment.
Depending on the particular policy, you may have to pay some or all of the cost of:
For a 942 Crew Travel Authority holder, this comparison is particularly important.
Your airline or employer may already provide medical insurance for international crew. However, the scope of employer-provided insurance can differ.
For example, check whether your existing arrangements cover both:
Work-related healthcare expenses and non-work-related illness or injury while you are in Australia.
Also check hospital treatment, doctor visits, ambulance services, medicines and any medical evacuation or repatriation benefits.
If your existing insurance already provides adequate protection, you should consider whether purchasing additional Bupa cover would provide benefits relevant to your circumstances.
Do not assume that Australian overseas visitor health insurance provides medical protection when you are outside Australia.
This is particularly relevant for international airline crew who regularly travel between different countries.
Check the geographical limits of your Bupa policy and separately consider any international medical, employer or travel insurance you have for treatment required outside Australia.
Always review the applicable Bupa policy documentation before purchasing so you understand exactly what is covered, what is excluded and what you may need to pay yourself.
If you are travelling to Australia under a Crew Travel Authority (Subclass 942) and are considering Bupa health insurance, your circumstances are different from those of someone living in Australia on a longer-term temporary visa.
Consider the length and frequency of your stays in Australia, any healthcare protection already provided by your airline or employer, and the benefits available under the particular Bupa policy.
When reviewing Bupa health insurance, consider:
Before purchasing Bupa health insurance, confirm that the particular Bupa product accepts your Crew Travel Authority/Special Purpose visa circumstances.
This is important because eligibility requirements can differ between Bupa's overseas visitor products.
Do not select a policy solely because it is described as Overseas Visitor Health Cover. Check that the specific product is appropriate for your circumstances.
Crew Travel Authority holders generally make relatively short visits to Australia.
Therefore, consider whether the Bupa policy is appropriate for the way you travel and how long you generally remain in Australia.
If you regularly operate flights to Australia, also consider how the policy works across repeated visits and whether there are any requirements relating to maintaining continuous membership.
Before purchasing additional health insurance, review the medical protection already provided by your airline or employer.
Check whether it covers:
If you already have comprehensive protection, consider whether additional Bupa health insurance provides benefits that are useful for your circumstances.
Do not consider the premium alone.
A policy with a lower premium may have a higher hospital excess or different benefits. Consider both the regular cost of maintaining the policy and what you may need to pay if you require treatment.
Check:
Waiting periods are particularly important for Crew Travel Authority holders because individual stays in Australia can be short.
If a waiting period applies to particular treatment, you may not be able to claim benefits for that treatment immediately after commencing your policy.
Review applicable waiting periods before purchasing cover, particularly for treatment relating to pre-existing conditions or other services subject to waiting periods.
Bupa is an established Australian health insurer offering health insurance options for eligible overseas visitors.
For an eligible international crew member, a suitable Bupa policy may provide benefits towards certain healthcare expenses incurred while in Australia, subject to the policy selected.
Potential benefits can include eligible:
The exact benefits depend on the particular Bupa policy.
If you become sick or injured while staying in Australia, the appropriate healthcare service will depend on the seriousness of your condition.
For non-emergency medical issues, you may need to see a GP or another healthcare provider. Serious conditions may require hospital treatment.
When using healthcare services, check whether the provider has any arrangements with Bupa and whether you are likely to have an out-of-pocket expense.
If you purchase Bupa health insurance, keep your membership and policy information accessible while you are in Australia.
You should understand:
This can make it easier to understand your insurance arrangements if you unexpectedly require healthcare during your stay.
A Crew Travel Authority is intended for specific travel connected with eligible international airline operations.
If your circumstances change and you obtain another Australian visa that allows you to remain for a longer period, review your health insurance arrangements.
Your new visa may have different:
Do not automatically assume that the Bupa policy used during your Crew Travel Authority visits will remain appropriate for another Australian visa.
Healthcare and insurance arrangements for Crew Travel Authority (Subclass 942) holders depend on their individual circumstances.
International airline crew may already have medical or travel-related insurance through their airline or employer. Before purchasing additional private health insurance, check what your existing arrangements cover while you are in Australia.
If additional cover is required, consider whether an eligible Bupa overseas visitor health insurance product is appropriate for your circumstances.
Bupa offers health insurance products for eligible overseas visitors to Australia.
However, eligibility can vary between individual Bupa products. If you travel under a Crew Travel Authority, confirm that the particular Bupa policy you are considering accepts your visa and immigration circumstances before purchasing.
You should not assume that Bupa OVHC is mandatory simply because you have a Crew Travel Authority.
Your healthcare arrangements can depend on your immigration circumstances, existing airline or employer insurance and other applicable requirements.
Bupa cover should therefore be considered according to your individual circumstances rather than treated as an automatic requirement for every 942 holder.
Holding a Crew Travel Authority does not by itself provide automatic access to Medicare.
Some overseas visitors may have limited Medicare eligibility through a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) or another eligibility pathway.
Check your individual Medicare eligibility before deciding what additional health insurance you require.
The benefits depend on the particular Bupa policy selected.
Depending on the product, benefits may be available towards eligible:
Waiting periods, excesses, exclusions, restrictions and benefit limits may apply.
Depending on the Bupa policy selected, benefits may be available towards eligible hospital accommodation and medical treatment.
Before purchasing, check the hospital treatments included, hospital excess, waiting periods, exclusions, restrictions and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Depending on the overseas visitor health insurance product selected, Bupa may provide benefits towards eligible GP and other medical services.
A doctor may charge more than the amount payable under your policy, which can leave you with an out-of-pocket expense.
Depending on the particular Bupa policy, benefits may be available towards eligible emergency ambulance services.
Check the policy's ambulance benefits, exclusions and relevant state or territory arrangements before purchasing cover.
Some Bupa overseas visitor health insurance products may provide benefits towards eligible prescription medicines.
Limits and member contributions can apply. If you regularly require medication, check the pharmaceutical benefits of the particular policy.
Treatment relating to a pre-existing medical condition may be subject to waiting periods or other policy conditions.
Check how the particular Bupa policy treats pre-existing conditions, including applicable waiting periods, exclusions, restrictions and benefit limits.
Waiting periods may apply to certain treatments and services.
This is particularly important for international airline crew because individual visits to Australia may be short. Check applicable waiting periods before purchasing cover rather than assuming all benefits are available immediately.
Not necessarily.
If your airline or employer already provides adequate healthcare protection while you are in Australia, additional private health insurance may duplicate some of your existing benefits.
Before purchasing Bupa cover, check whether your existing insurance includes:
You can then consider whether Bupa provides additional benefits relevant to your circumstances.
Do not assume that ordinary private health insurance replaces your airline's or employer's arrangements for work-related injuries.
If you are injured while performing your employment duties, different employer, insurance or workers compensation arrangements may apply.
Check both your employer's insurance and the terms of your Bupa policy.
This depends on the particular Bupa product and your membership arrangements.
International crew who regularly travel to Australia should check how the policy operates across repeated visits, including premiums, eligibility, waiting periods and periods spent outside Australia.
You should not assume that Australian overseas visitor health insurance provides medical cover when you are outside Australia.
International airline crew frequently travel between countries, so check the geographical scope of your Bupa policy separately from any international travel, employer or medical insurance.
If your immigration circumstances change and you obtain another Australian visa, review your health insurance.
The new visa may have different health insurance requirements, Medicare implications and Bupa product eligibility. A policy appropriate for your Crew Travel Authority circumstances may not necessarily be suitable for your new visa.
