If you hold a Bridging Visa B (BVB – Subclass 020) while waiting for a decision on another Australian visa application, suitable health insurance can help you manage hospital and medical expenses during your stay in Australia.
Healthcare arrangements for Bridging Visa B holders can vary depending on individual circumstances. Your Medicare eligibility, the substantive visa you have applied for and the conditions attached to your visa can all affect your healthcare and private health insurance needs.
Unlike a Bridging Visa A, a Bridging Visa B can provide a specified period during which the holder is permitted to leave and return to Australia. If you intend to travel overseas while holding a BVB, it is important to understand that Australian private health insurance and overseas travel insurance serve different purposes.
For BVB holders who are not eligible for Medicare, or who want additional private healthcare protection while in Australia, suitable Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) may 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 health insurance options that may be suitable for eligible Bridging Visa B holders and review important policy features before choosing cover.
There is no single health insurance arrangement that will necessarily suit every Bridging Visa B holder. Your Medicare eligibility and healthcare requirements can depend on your individual immigration circumstances.
When comparing BVB health insurance, consider:
The cheapest Bridging Visa B health insurance policy may not necessarily be the most suitable option. Consider your Medicare status, healthcare needs, expected time on the BVB and policy benefits alongside the premium.
One important feature that distinguishes a BVB from some other bridging visas is the ability to travel outside Australia and return during the travel period specified for the visa.
However, Australian OVHC or temporary resident health insurance should not automatically be treated as overseas travel insurance.
If you intend to travel outside Australia, check:
Travel insurance may provide benefits for risks such as overseas medical emergencies, trip disruption or lost luggage, depending on the policy. These are different from the healthcare benefits provided by OVHC while living in Australia.
Compare the available Bridging Visa B health insurance options below.
A Bridging Visa B (BVB – Subclass 020) generally allows an eligible person to remain lawfully in Australia while their substantive visa application is being processed. A BVB can also provide permission to leave Australia and return during the travel period specified for the visa.
Because Bridging Visa B holders can have different immigration circumstances, there is no single healthcare arrangement that applies to everyone. Your Medicare eligibility, private health insurance needs and applicable visa conditions can depend on your individual circumstances and the substantive visa application you have lodged.
For eligible BVB holders who are not covered by Medicare, suitable private health insurance may help with eligible hospital and medical expenses while they are in Australia.
Health insurance requirements can vary between Bridging Visa B holders.
Your healthcare arrangements may depend on factors such as:
You should check your individual visa conditions and Medicare eligibility before deciding what health insurance arrangements are appropriate.
You should check your Bridging Visa B grant notification or VEVO record to determine whether Visa Condition 8501 or another relevant health insurance condition applies to your visa.
Where Condition 8501 applies, you must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance for the period required by the condition.
Do not assume that the conditions applying to another Bridging Visa holder are the same as those attached to your BVB.
Some Bridging Visa B holders may be eligible for Medicare, while others may not be.
Medicare eligibility can depend on individual circumstances, including the substantive visa application you have lodged and whether you satisfy Medicare's eligibility requirements.
Holding a Bridging Visa B by itself should therefore not be treated as automatic confirmation that you either qualify or do not qualify for Medicare.
Check your Medicare eligibility when arranging private health insurance.
If you are not eligible for Medicare, you may be responsible for healthcare expenses incurred while you are in Australia.
These can include:
Suitable private health insurance may provide benefits towards eligible expenses, subject to the terms, limits, waiting periods and exclusions of the policy selected.
If you are eligible for Medicare, you may still consider private health insurance depending on your healthcare needs and circumstances.
Private health insurance may provide additional benefits or options for eligible hospital treatment, ambulance services or extras such as dental, optical and physiotherapy.
Importantly, Medicare eligibility and visa health insurance conditions are separate issues. If a health insurance condition applies to your BVB, check the requirements before cancelling or changing your private health insurance.
The ability to travel is an important difference between a Bridging Visa B and Bridging Visa A. A BVB can allow you to leave and return to Australia during the travel period specified for your visa.
Your Australian health insurance, however, should not automatically be assumed to provide healthcare protection while you are overseas.
Before travelling, check with your insurer:
You should also separately consider whether appropriate travel insurance is required for your overseas trip.
No. OVHC and travel insurance serve different purposes.
OVHC is primarily designed to provide eligible health insurance benefits for overseas visitors and temporary residents while in Australia.
Travel insurance may provide benefits for specified risks such as overseas medical emergencies, cancelled travel, lost luggage and travel delays, depending on the policy selected.
Having OVHC should therefore not automatically be treated as having travel insurance for a trip outside Australia.
The period you remain on a Bridging Visa B can depend on the processing of your substantive visa application and your individual circumstances.
If you need or choose to maintain private health insurance during this period, review your policy if there is a significant change, such as:
Avoid cancelling health insurance if doing so could leave you without appropriate healthcare protection or cause you to breach a condition attached to your visa.
When your substantive visa is granted, the type of health insurance appropriate for you may change.
Review your cover based on:
Do not automatically continue or cancel your existing Bridging Visa health insurance without first checking what arrangements are appropriate under your new visa.
If your partner or dependent children are also living in Australia, their healthcare arrangements should be considered when comparing health insurance.
Depending on eligibility and the insurer, options may include:
Each family member's visa status and Medicare eligibility may differ, so these should be checked individually.
When comparing family cover, also consider existing medical conditions, prescription medicines, pregnancy planning and other ongoing healthcare needs.
When comparing health insurance for a Bridging Visa B (Subclass 020), your individual visa circumstances are particularly important. BVB holders can have different Medicare entitlements, visa conditions and periods of stay while waiting for a decision on their substantive visa application.
When comparing Bridging Visa B health insurance, consider:
For a BVB holder, you should also consider how your policy operates if you temporarily leave Australia and what happens to your cover when you return.
Not necessarily. A lower premium may reduce your regular insurance costs, but policies can differ significantly in benefits, waiting periods, excesses, exclusions and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Before selecting a policy primarily because it is cheaper, compare:
Also consider whether the policy will remain suitable if you spend longer than expected on your Bridging Visa B.
Do not assume that every OVHC or temporary resident health insurance product automatically accepts Bridging Visa B holders.
Insurers can have different visa eligibility requirements for individual products.
Before purchasing a policy, confirm that:
Some Bridging Visa B holders may be eligible for Medicare depending on their individual circumstances and substantive visa application.
If you are eligible for Medicare, consider your Medicare benefits when determining how much additional private health insurance you require.
If you are not eligible for Medicare, hospital and medical benefits under your private health insurance may be particularly important.
The ability to travel outside Australia during the specified travel period is an important feature of a Bridging Visa B.
Before travelling, check how your Australian health insurance operates while you are outside Australia.
In particular, consider whether:
Australian OVHC should not automatically be treated as overseas travel insurance. If you are travelling internationally, consider your separate travel insurance needs.
If your partner or dependent children also require private health insurance, compare suitable couple or family policies.
Family members may have different visa statuses or Medicare eligibility, so check their circumstances individually before choosing cover.
Also consider existing medical conditions, prescription medicines, pregnancy planning and other ongoing healthcare requirements.
Australian health insurers may offer health insurance products suitable for eligible Bridging Visa B holders, depending on their current product and visa eligibility requirements.
Use the comparison table above to compare the health insurance options available for your circumstances.
Bupa offers health insurance options for eligible overseas visitors and temporary residents.
If you hold a Bridging Visa B, confirm that your visa circumstances are accepted for the particular Bupa product before purchasing cover.
Compare hospital and medical benefits, emergency ambulance arrangements, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods, excesses and exclusions.
Medibank provides health insurance options for eligible overseas visitors and temporary residents in Australia.
BVB holders should confirm their eligibility for the particular Medibank product being considered and compare hospital benefits, medical benefits, ambulance arrangements, waiting periods, excesses and exclusions.
Allianz Care offers health insurance options for eligible overseas visitors and temporary visa holders.
Before choosing Allianz Care, confirm whether your Bridging Visa B circumstances are accepted for the particular product and compare the relevant hospital and medical benefits, ambulance cover, waiting periods, excesses and exclusions.
nib offers health insurance options for eligible overseas visitors and temporary residents.
Bridging Visa B holders should confirm product eligibility and compare hospital and medical benefits, emergency ambulance arrangements, waiting periods, excesses and policy exclusions.
Because Bridging Visa holders can have different immigration and Medicare circumstances, avoid selecting a policy solely because it has the lowest advertised premium.
Before purchasing cover, confirm your visa eligibility for the product and compare its benefits, waiting periods, exclusions, hospital excess and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
You should also review your health insurance if your substantive visa is granted, Medicare eligibility changes or you move to another visa status.
