If you hold a Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988) and travel to Australia as a crew member of an eligible ship, appropriate health insurance can help protect you against unexpected hospital and medical expenses while you are in Australia.
The Maritime Crew Visa allows eligible foreign crew members to enter and depart Australia by sea while working on a qualifying ship undertaking an international voyage. Eligible crew can remain in Australia while they are signed on as crew members of a Maritime Crew Visa eligible ship.
Importantly, the Department of Home Affairs states that Maritime Crew Visa holders are personally liable for their healthcare costs while in Australia and advises that medical insurance can help limit this financial liability.
At 8501 Health Insurance, you can review Bupa overseas visitor health insurance options and consider whether an available Bupa policy is suitable for your Subclass 988 visa circumstances and healthcare needs.
Bupa offers health insurance options for eligible overseas visitors and temporary residents in Australia.
If you hold a Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa, confirm that the particular Bupa product shown below accepts your visa circumstances before purchasing cover.
When considering Bupa health insurance, compare:
The Maritime Crew Visa is designed for eligible foreign crew members working on qualifying ships undertaking international voyages to Australia.
Eligible ships can include certain:
Not every vessel qualifies for the Maritime Crew Visa. Home Affairs specifically excludes various vessels, including small marine craft, private yachts and superyachts, most fishing vessels and certain other vessels.
A Subclass 988 visa can remain valid for three years, unless it ceases earlier under specified circumstances.
While the visa remains valid, eligible crew members can enter Australia by sea multiple times as members of a qualifying Maritime Crew Visa ship.
The period you can remain in Australia on an individual visit is connected with your status as a crew member of an eligible ship.
For example, if you sign off your ship in Australia, you generally need to leave Australia, hold another appropriate visa or sign on to another eligible ship within five days, unless another period is specified by Home Affairs.
A Maritime Crew Visa by itself does not allow you to enter Australia by air.
If you need to fly into Australia to join a ship, you need another valid visa that permits you to enter Australia by air. Home Affairs notes that a Maritime Crew Visa holder may hold another Australian visa at the same time.
This distinction is important when considering your healthcare and insurance arrangements because you may hold more than one visa for different aspects of your travel.
Home Affairs specifically states that Maritime Crew Visa holders are personally responsible for their healthcare costs while in Australia.
Healthcare expenses could potentially include:
Before purchasing additional health insurance, also check whether your shipping company, vessel operator or employer already provides medical insurance for treatment required while working internationally.
Not every overseas visitor health insurance product necessarily accepts every visa subclass.
Before purchasing Bupa health insurance, confirm that the particular product shown below is suitable for your Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa circumstances.
You should also consider any medical insurance already provided through your employer or vessel operator so that you understand whether additional Bupa cover provides benefits relevant to your needs.
View the available Bupa health insurance option below.
The Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988) allows eligible foreign crew members to enter Australia by sea while working on qualifying ships undertaking international voyages.
Healthcare is particularly important for maritime crew because the Australian Government states that Maritime Crew Visa holders are personally liable for their healthcare costs while in Australia. Medical insurance can therefore help reduce the financial impact of unexpected illness or injury.
Because maritime crew may already have medical protection through their employer, shipping company or vessel operator, check your existing arrangements before purchasing additional private health insurance.
If additional cover is required, an eligible Bupa overseas visitor health insurance product may provide benefits towards certain healthcare expenses, depending on the policy selected.
Home Affairs advises Maritime Crew Visa holders that they are personally responsible for healthcare costs while in Australia and that medical insurance can help limit their financial liability.
This makes health insurance an important consideration even where a crew member already has some healthcare protection through their employment.
Before purchasing additional Bupa cover, consider:
We should not state that Visa Condition 8501 automatically applies to every Subclass 988 holder.
The stronger and more relevant point for this page is that Home Affairs specifically advises Maritime Crew Visa holders that they are personally liable for their healthcare costs while in Australia.
Therefore, this page should focus on the practical need to consider appropriate medical insurance rather than presenting Bupa insurance as automatically required under Condition 8501.
If you hold another Australian visa at the same time, check whether that visa has separate health insurance conditions.
Holding a Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa does not by itself provide automatic Medicare eligibility.
Medicare eligibility depends on individual circumstances. Some overseas visitors may have limited Medicare eligibility under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) between Australia and their home country, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.
You should check your individual Medicare eligibility rather than assuming that healthcare expenses will be covered while you are in Australia.
If you do not have Medicare eligibility, you may be responsible for the cost of healthcare you receive in Australia.
Potential expenses can include:
Some or all of these expenses may already be covered by insurance arranged through your employer, shipping company or vessel operator.
If gaps remain, you can consider whether an eligible Bupa health insurance product provides additional benefits relevant to your circumstances.
International maritime crew may already have medical insurance provided through their employment.
Before purchasing additional Bupa health insurance, check exactly what your existing insurance covers while your vessel is in Australian waters and while you are ashore in Australia.
Consider whether your existing arrangements provide benefits for:
This distinction can be important. An employer policy designed primarily for workplace injuries may not necessarily provide the same benefits for an illness or medical condition unrelated to your employment.
If your existing insurance already provides adequate protection, consider whether additional Bupa cover would provide benefits relevant to your circumstances.
Bupa offers health insurance products for eligible overseas visitors in Australia.
If you hold a Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa, confirm that the particular Bupa product displayed in the table above accepts your visa circumstances before purchasing.
Depending on the Bupa policy selected, benefits may be available towards eligible healthcare expenses such as:
Waiting periods, excesses, exclusions, restrictions and benefit limits may apply.
Even if you spend relatively short periods ashore in Australia, unexpected healthcare expenses can arise.
For example, you could become ill while your vessel is in an Australian port or require medical treatment while temporarily ashore.
When considering Bupa cover, review:
Compare these benefits with the medical insurance already provided by your employer or shipping company.
A Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa can facilitate repeated travel to Australia while the visa remains valid and the applicable requirements are met.
For crew members who regularly work on ships travelling to Australian ports, consider how your healthcare arrangements operate across multiple voyages.
Check:
This is particularly important because your time in Australia may consist of multiple shorter stays rather than one continuous period of residence.
Your immigration circumstances can change if you cease being a crew member of the eligible vessel while you are in Australia.
If you sign off your ship, check your immigration arrangements and the period in which you are permitted to remain in Australia.
You should also consider whether your employer-provided medical insurance continues once you are no longer actively serving aboard the vessel.
If you remain in Australia under another visa, review your health insurance because your:
A health insurance arrangement suitable while actively working as maritime crew may not necessarily remain suitable after your circumstances change.
A Maritime Crew Visa holder may also hold another Australian visa for circumstances where the MCV itself does not provide the required travel or stay permission.
If you hold another visa, consider the healthcare requirements associated with that visa as well as your Subclass 988 circumstances.
In particular, check:
This is particularly relevant if you fly into Australia to join a vessel, because the Maritime Crew Visa itself is intended for entry to Australia by sea.
For eligible Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988) holders, the benefits available through Bupa depend on the particular overseas visitor health insurance product selected.
Because maritime crew may already have medical insurance through their employer, shipping company or vessel operator, compare the benefits of any Bupa policy with your existing arrangements before purchasing additional cover.
Depending on the Bupa policy selected, benefits may be available towards eligible hospital treatment received while you are 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:
If your employer or shipping company provides medical insurance, check whether hospital treatment received while you are ashore in Australia is already covered.
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 healthcare provider may be higher than the benefit payable under your policy. If this occurs, you may need to pay the difference yourself.
Maritime crew should also check whether their employer-provided insurance covers non-work-related doctor visits, rather than only medical treatment associated with employment.
Emergency ambulance is an important healthcare expense to consider while you are in Australia.
Depending on the Bupa policy selected, benefits may be available towards eligible emergency ambulance services.
Check:
You should also check whether emergency ambulance expenses are already included under your shipping company's medical insurance.
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:
Do not assume that the full cost of every prescription medicine will be covered.
Treatment relating to a pre-existing medical condition may be subject to waiting periods or other policy conditions.
Before purchasing Bupa cover, check:
This can be particularly important if you have an existing medical condition that may require treatment during repeated voyages to Australia.
Waiting periods may apply before benefits become available for certain treatments.
This deserves particular attention for maritime crew because you may spend only limited periods in Australia during individual voyages.
Before purchasing cover, check whether waiting periods apply to services you are likely to require and when you will become eligible to claim the relevant benefits.
Do not automatically assume that standard hospital and medical cover includes routine services such as:
Depending on the Bupa products available, additional cover may be required if you want benefits towards these services.
Check applicable waiting periods, annual limits and benefits before selecting additional cover.
Bupa health insurance does not necessarily cover every healthcare expense incurred while you are in Australia.
Depending on the particular policy, you may have to pay some or all of the cost of:
Before purchasing a policy, review the applicable Bupa policy documentation so you understand what is covered and what expenses you may need to pay yourself.
For a Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa holder, this is an especially important comparison.
Your shipping company, vessel operator or employer may already provide medical insurance for crew members working internationally.
Before purchasing additional Bupa cover, compare your existing insurance with the Bupa policy.
In particular, check whether your employer insurance covers:
If your employer-provided insurance already gives you adequate protection, additional Bupa insurance may duplicate some benefits.
If there are gaps in your existing insurance, consider whether the particular Bupa policy provides benefits relevant to those gaps.
Do not assume that ordinary private health insurance replaces your employer's arrangements for a work-related injury or illness.
If you become injured or ill while performing your employment duties, employer, maritime, workers compensation or other insurance arrangements may apply depending on the circumstances.
Check your employment arrangements separately from your Bupa private health insurance.
You should not assume that Australian overseas visitor health insurance provides medical cover outside Australia.
This is particularly important for maritime crew because you may spend much of your time travelling internationally and only limited periods in Australian waters or ports.
Check the geographical scope of your Bupa policy separately from any:
Your Bupa health insurance and your international employment-related insurance may serve different purposes.
A Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa can facilitate repeated entry to Australia by sea while the visa remains valid and the relevant requirements continue to be met.
If you regularly work on vessels travelling to Australian ports, review how your Bupa membership operates during periods when you are inside and outside Australia.
Consider:
This can help you determine whether maintaining Bupa cover across repeated voyages is appropriate for your circumstances.
When considering Bupa health insurance for a Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988), look beyond the premium and consider how the policy fits your work, travel pattern and existing healthcare arrangements.
Maritime crew can have different needs from other temporary visa holders because they may make repeated voyages to Australia, spend relatively short periods ashore and already have medical insurance through their shipping company or employer.
When reviewing Bupa health insurance, consider:
Before purchasing Bupa health insurance, confirm that the particular Bupa product accepts your Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa circumstances.
Do not assume that every overseas visitor health insurance product is automatically suitable for every temporary visa holder.
Check the eligibility requirements of the specific product displayed in the table above before purchasing cover.
Your employer, shipping company or vessel operator may already provide medical insurance while you are working internationally.
Before purchasing additional Bupa cover, understand exactly what your existing insurance provides.
In particular, check whether it covers:
This can help you identify whether there are healthcare expenses for which additional private health insurance may be useful.
Unlike someone continuously living in Australia, a maritime crew member may make multiple shorter visits to Australian ports.
Consider how frequently your vessel travels to Australia and how much time you generally spend in Australia during each voyage.
You should also check how the Bupa policy operates during periods when you are outside Australia and whether maintaining continuous cover is appropriate for your circumstances.
The cheapest Bupa option is not necessarily the most suitable.
A policy with a lower premium may have a different hospital excess, benefit structure or exclusions.
When considering the overall cost, compare:
This provides a better indication of the potential cost of the policy if you actually require healthcare in Australia.
Waiting periods can affect when you become entitled to certain benefits.
This can be particularly relevant for maritime crew who may spend only short periods in Australia during individual voyages.
Before purchasing or changing cover, check the applicable waiting periods and whether they affect treatment you may reasonably require.
If you have an existing medical condition, check how it is treated under the Bupa policy.
Treatment relating to a pre-existing condition may be subject to waiting periods or other policy conditions.
Also compare this with any protection already available through your employer or maritime medical insurance.
Maritime Crew Visa holders are responsible for healthcare expenses incurred while in Australia, making healthcare protection an important consideration.
For an eligible Subclass 988 holder, an appropriate Bupa policy may help towards certain eligible healthcare expenses, depending on the cover selected.
These may include eligible:
The exact benefits depend on the particular Bupa policy.
A crew member may need healthcare while temporarily ashore at an Australian port.
For example, you may become ill, require a GP consultation or need urgent medical treatment during your stay.
If you have Bupa health insurance, check:
You should also determine whether the expense is covered by your employer or shipping company's insurance.
If you purchase Bupa health insurance, keep your policy and membership information accessible while travelling to Australian ports.
Understand:
This can make it easier to use your insurance if you unexpectedly require healthcare.
Your healthcare arrangements should be reviewed if your employment, visa or travel circumstances change.
For example, review your insurance if:
A Bupa policy considered appropriate while you are working under Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa arrangements may not necessarily remain appropriate if you later live in Australia under another visa.
If another visa is granted, check its health insurance requirements and your Medicare eligibility before changing or cancelling your existing cover.
The Department of Home Affairs states that Maritime Crew Visa holders are personally liable for their healthcare costs while in Australia and that medical insurance can help limit this financial liability.
You may already have medical insurance through your employer, shipping company or vessel operator. Check your existing protection before deciding whether additional Bupa health insurance is appropriate.
Bupa offers Overseas Visitors Health Cover for eligible overseas visitors in Australia.
If you hold a Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa, confirm that the particular Bupa product you are considering accepts your visa circumstances before purchasing cover.
You should not assume that Bupa health insurance is mandatory simply because you hold a Subclass 988 visa.
The important point is that Maritime Crew Visa holders can be personally responsible for their healthcare costs in Australia. You should consider your existing employer or shipping company insurance and whether additional private health insurance is appropriate.
Holding a Maritime Crew Visa does not by itself provide automatic Medicare eligibility.
Some overseas visitors may qualify for limited Medicare access under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement or another eligibility pathway, depending on their individual circumstances.
Check your Medicare eligibility separately when considering your health insurance needs.
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 in Australia.
Check the particular policy for hospital benefits, waiting periods, hospital excesses, exclusions, restrictions and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Depending on the Bupa overseas visitor product selected, benefits may be available towards eligible GP and other medical services.
The amount charged by a healthcare provider can be higher than the benefit payable under your policy, which may 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 terms, applicable exclusions and relevant state or territory ambulance arrangements before purchasing cover.
Some Bupa overseas visitor health insurance products may provide benefits towards certain eligible prescription medicines.
Member contributions and benefit limits may apply. If you regularly require medication, check the pharmaceutical benefits of the particular Bupa policy.
Treatment relating to a pre-existing medical condition may be subject to waiting periods and other policy conditions.
Check how the particular Bupa policy assesses pre-existing conditions and review applicable waiting periods, exclusions, restrictions and benefit limits.
Waiting periods may apply before you can claim benefits for certain treatments.
This can be particularly important for maritime crew because you may make several relatively short visits to Australia rather than living here continuously.
Check the applicable waiting periods before purchasing or changing cover.
Not necessarily.
Before purchasing additional Bupa cover, check whether your employer, vessel operator or shipping company already provides adequate protection for healthcare expenses in Australia.
Consider whether your existing insurance covers:
You can then determine whether additional Bupa cover provides benefits relevant to gaps in your existing insurance.
Do not assume that ordinary private health insurance replaces your employer's arrangements for work-related injuries or illnesses.
Depending on the circumstances, employment, maritime, workers compensation or other insurance arrangements may apply.
Check your employer's insurance separately from your Bupa private health insurance.
This depends on the particular Bupa product and membership arrangements.
If you regularly work on vessels travelling to Australian ports, check how your policy operates across repeated visits, including premiums, waiting periods, eligibility and periods spent outside Australia.
You should not assume that Australian Overseas Visitors Health Cover provides medical protection outside Australia.
Maritime crew regularly travel internationally, so check the geographical scope of your Bupa policy separately from your employer, maritime, international health or travel insurance.
No. A Maritime Crew Visa does not by itself allow you to enter Australia by air.
If you need to fly into Australia to join a ship, you need another visa that permits entry by air. You may hold another Australian visa at the same time as your Maritime Crew Visa.
If you sign off your vessel in Australia, your immigration and employment circumstances may change.
You should check how long you are permitted to remain in Australia and whether your employer-provided medical insurance continues after you sign off.
If you remain in Australia under another visa, review your Bupa cover to determine whether it remains appropriate for your new circumstances.
If you obtain another Australian visa, review your health insurance because your healthcare requirements may change.
Consider:
A policy appropriate for your Subclass 988 Maritime Crew Visa circumstances may not necessarily be suitable for another visa.
