Moving to Australia is an exciting experience, whether you are arriving to study, work, visit family or begin a new career. Choosing appropriate health insurance is an important part of preparing for your stay, as many temporary visa holders are required to maintain adequate health insurance while living in Australia.
Medibank is one of Australia's leading private health insurers, offering health insurance products for both international students and eligible temporary residents. Depending on your visa type and the policy you choose, Medibank provides Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) to help eligible visa holders access healthcare services during their stay in Australia.
At 8501 Health Insurance, we help you understand Medibank's health insurance options, learn how they relate to Visa Condition 8501, and compare Medibank with other leading Australian health insurers. Whether you're applying for a Student Visa, Temporary Graduate Visa, Visitor Visa or another temporary visa, comparing policies before purchasing health insurance can help you choose cover that suits both your visa requirements and your healthcare needs.
Choose your visa below to compare suitable health insurance options for your stay in Australia.
Compare Student Visa (Subclass 500) Health Insurance
Compare 485 Visa Health Insurance
Compare Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) Health Insurance
Compare Sponsored Parent Visa (Subclass 870) Health Insurance
Medibank is one of Australia's largest and most recognised private health insurers, providing health insurance products to millions of Australians and international visitors. With decades of experience in the Australian healthcare industry, Medibank offers a broad range of health insurance solutions designed for domestic members, overseas students and eligible temporary visa holders.
For international visitors, Medibank provides Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), while international students can access Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). These products are designed to help eligible policyholders access healthcare services in Australia and, where applicable, assist in meeting Australian visa health insurance requirements.
Depending on the policy selected, Medibank health insurance may include benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, medical services, emergency ambulance transport and selected prescription medicines. Some policies also offer optional extras cover for services such as dental treatment, optical services and physiotherapy.
As health insurance needs vary depending on your visa subclass, length of stay and personal circumstances, comparing available Medibank policies alongside other Australian health insurers can help you make a more informed decision before purchasing cover.
Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is designed for eligible temporary residents living in Australia who require private health insurance during their stay. Many visa holders choose OVHC because they are not entitled to Medicare or because their visa requires them to maintain adequate health insurance, including where Visa Condition 8501 applies.
Medibank offers a range of Overseas Visitor Health Cover options to suit different visa holders and healthcare needs. Depending on the policy selected, eligible members may receive benefits towards hospital treatment, medical services, emergency ambulance transport and selected prescription medicines. Some Medibank policies also provide the option to add extras cover for services such as dental treatment, optical services and physiotherapy.
Before selecting any health insurance policy, it is important to compare the available options, understand the level of cover provided and review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure the policy meets both your healthcare needs and your visa requirements
Medibank Overseas Visitor Health Cover may be suitable for eligible temporary residents, including people living in Australia on visas such as:
The level of cover that is most appropriate will depend on your visa subclass, personal circumstances, expected length of stay and the healthcare services you may require while living in Australia.
The benefits available under Medibank Overseas Visitor Health Cover vary depending on the policy selected. Eligible benefits may include:
Waiting periods, exclusions, annual limits and policy conditions may apply. For this reason, it is important to carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and policy documentation before purchasing health insurance.
Medibank is a popular choice for many overseas visitors because it offers health insurance products specifically developed for eligible temporary residents. With a long history in Australia's private healthcare sector, Medibank provides policy options that cater to a wide range of visa holders with different healthcare needs and budgets.
Some reasons eligible visa holders consider Medibank OVHC include:
Comparing Medibank with other leading Australian health insurers allows you to better understand the available features, benefits and levels of cover, helping you choose health insurance that is appropriate for your visa and personal circumstances.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is private health insurance designed for international students studying in Australia. In most cases, holders of a Student Visa (Subclass 500) are required to maintain OSHC for the duration of their visa to meet Australian student visa requirements.
Medibank offers Overseas Student Health Cover for eligible international students enrolled with Australian education providers. Depending on the level of cover selected, Medibank OSHC may provide benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, medical services, emergency ambulance transport and selected prescription medicines, helping students access healthcare while living and studying in Australia.
Maintaining continuous OSHC throughout your studies is important until you transition to another visa that requires a different type of health insurance.
Medibank Overseas Student Health Cover is designed for eligible international students, including:
OSHC helps international students access Australia's healthcare system while studying and is generally required for the entire duration of the Student Visa. When arranging OSHC, students should ensure that the policy dates align with the commencement and expiry dates of their visa.
The benefits available under Medibank Overseas Student Health Cover depend on the policy selected. Eligible benefits may include:
Some Medibank policies also offer optional extras cover, which may include services such as dental treatment, optical services and physiotherapy. Waiting periods, annual limits, exclusions and policy conditions apply depending on the level of cover selected, so students should carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before purchasing a policy.
Many international students remain in Australia after completing their studies by applying for another temporary visa, such as the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) or another eligible work or visitor visa.
Once your Student Visa ends, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is generally no longer the appropriate type of health insurance. Instead, many graduates and temporary residents choose Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), which is designed for eligible temporary visa holders living in Australia.
If you intend to stay in Australia after graduation, it is advisable to arrange your new health insurance before your OSHC expires. Maintaining continuous health insurance can help avoid gaps in cover and, where applicable, assist in meeting Visa Condition 8501.
If you're uncertain about whether you should remain on OSHC or switch to OVHC, comparing your visa requirements and available health insurance options can help you choose the most suitable cover for your new visa.
Medibank offers health insurance products for a broad range of Australian visa holders. The type of cover that is suitable for you will depend on your visa subclass, your eligibility and your individual healthcare needs while living in Australia.
International students generally require Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), while many temporary residents and visitors choose Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC). Selecting the appropriate cover helps ensure you have access to healthcare services and, where applicable, comply with your visa health insurance requirements.
Below are some of the most common Australian visa holders who may choose Medibank health insurance.
International students studying in Australia are generally required to maintain Overseas Student Health Cover throughout the duration of their Student Visa. Medibank OSHC provides health insurance specifically designed for eligible international students, helping them access medical and hospital services while completing their studies.
After completing their studies, many graduates apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa to remain in Australia. At this stage, many people move from OSHC to Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), which is designed for eligible temporary residents.
Visitors travelling to Australia often choose private health insurance to help cover eligible medical expenses during their stay. Depending on your circumstances and visa conditions, Medibank OVHC may be an appropriate option for eligible Visitor Visa holders.
Sponsored Parent Visa holders generally need to maintain adequate health insurance while living in Australia. Medibank offers Overseas Visitor Health Cover options that may be suitable for eligible applicants throughout their stay.
Depending on your eligibility, Medibank health insurance may also be suitable for holders of several other Australian temporary visas, including:
The most appropriate level of health insurance depends on your visa subclass, the length of your stay and your individual healthcare needs. Comparing available policies before purchasing health insurance can help you choose cover that best suits your circumstances.
Many temporary visa holders are required to maintain adequate health insurance as a condition of their Australian visa. This requirement is commonly referred to as Visa Condition 8501, which requires eligible visa holders to maintain suitable health insurance for the duration of their stay in Australia.
Medibank offers Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) products designed for eligible temporary residents. Depending on your visa subclass and the policy you choose, these products may assist eligible visa holders in meeting Australian visa health insurance requirements.
However, the most suitable policy depends on your individual circumstances and visa conditions. Before purchasing health insurance, it is important to confirm that the selected policy is appropriate for your visa subclass and satisfies any health insurance requirements attached to your visa.
If you are unsure about your obligations, our Visa Condition 8501 Guide explains who the condition applies to, what adequate health insurance means and why maintaining continuous cover is important while living in Australia.
Medibank is one of Australia's leading private health insurers and provides health insurance solutions for international students, overseas visitors and many other temporary visa holders.
Depending on the policy selected, some benefits may include:
Waiting periods, exclusions, annual limits, benefit limits and policy conditions vary depending on the level of cover selected. Always read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and policy documentation before purchasing health insurance.
When choosing health insurance, price is only one factor to consider. Different policies provide different levels of hospital cover, medical benefits and additional features, so comparing the available options can help you make a more informed decision.
When comparing Medibank health insurance, consider factors such as:
Comparing these features with other leading Australian health insurers allows you to better understand your options and choose cover that is appropriate for your visa and personal circumstances.
Choosing health insurance for an Australian visa can be confusing, particularly when different visa subclasses have different health insurance requirements and insurers offer a range of policy options.
At 8501 Health Insurance, we provide independent information to help international students, overseas visitors and temporary visa holders understand their health insurance options and compare policies from leading Australian insurers, including Medibank.
Our website helps you:
By comparing health insurance information in one place, you can make a more informed decision based on your visa subclass, healthcare needs and budget rather than relying on a single provider.
Whether you're studying, working or visiting Australia, our health insurance guides can help you better understand your options and compare suitable cover for your visa.
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Medibank Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is private health insurance designed for eligible temporary residents living in Australia. Depending on the policy selected, it may provide benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, medical services, emergency ambulance transport and selected prescription medicines.
Many Medibank OVHC policies are designed for eligible temporary visa holders who are required to maintain adequate health insurance, including where Visa Condition 8501 applies. Before purchasing a policy, you should confirm that it is suitable for your visa subclass and individual circumstances.
Yes. Medibank offers Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for eligible international students studying in Australia on a Student Visa (Subclass 500). OSHC helps students access healthcare services while meeting student visa health insurance requirements.
If you move from a Student Visa to another temporary visa, such as a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485), you will generally need to change from OSHC to OVHC. It's advisable to arrange your new cover before your OSHC expires to help avoid any gap in health insurance.
Yes. Eligible Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) holders may choose Medibank Overseas Visitor Health Cover. The most appropriate policy will depend on your visa conditions, intended length of stay and healthcare needs.
Many Medibank health insurance policies include benefits towards emergency ambulance services. The level of cover varies depending on the policy selected, so you should review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand the benefits and any limitations.
Depending on the policy and your eligibility, Medibank offers cover options that may include eligible partners and dependent children. You should review the available policy options to determine which cover best suits your family's needs.
Comparing health insurance involves looking beyond price. Consider factors such as hospital cover, medical benefits, emergency ambulance services, waiting periods, exclusions, optional extras and whether the policy is appropriate for your visa subclass. Comparing Medibank alongside other leading Australian health insurers can help you choose cover that best meets your healthcare needs and visa requirements.
Whether you're studying, working or visiting Australia, we provide dedicated health insurance guides for many Australian visa subclasses. Explore our visa-specific comparison pages below to compare suitable health insurance options for your circumstances.
Compare Student Visa (Subclass 500) Health Insurance
Compare 485 Visa Health Insurance
Compare Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) Health Insurance
Compare Sponsored Parent Visa (Subclass 870) Health Insurance