OVHC is health cover that complies to a standard set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DoHA). It’s part of the requirements for a range of visas when coming to Australia. CBHS International Health offers affordable health cover to suit your budget and needs. These products are only available to overseas workers of specific visa subclasses.
Please refer to the relevant Product Sheet below the table or Policy Member Guide for more information and details.
Overseas Worker Base Hospital
$5997 per month This product is a basic level visa-compliant cover providing you in-hospital services and treatments, and emergency ambulance. Does not cover out-patient services
Get more infoOverseas Worker Mid Hospital and Medical
$9598 per month This product is an intermediate visa-compliant cover providing you with in-hospital services and treatments with some services paying minimum benefits. Plus, emergency ambulance, out-patient services, and out-of-hospital pharmacy benefits
Get more infoOverseas Worker Top Hospital and Medical
$18499 per month This product is a comprehensive visa-compliant cover providing you with more coverage for in-hospital services and treatments, emergency ambulance, out-patient services, and a higher level of out-of-hospital pharmacy benefits.
Get more infoOverseas working visa requirement
Since most overseas visitors or workers aren’t eligible for Medicare (the Australian publicly funded healthcare system for residents and citizens), maintaining adequate health insurance is a requirement for a range of working visas. Overseas workers with visa condition 8501 must purchase and provide proof of adequate OVHC when applying for their visa as per the rules set by the Department of Home Affairs.
Maintaining adequate OVHC is a mandatory condition
The Australian Government through the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) requires all holders of an overseas working visa to maintain adequate OVHC for the entire time they are in Australia until their visa expires.
Note: If you hold a policy for a single person and the person who received the treatment is the secondary visa holder (rather than the primary visa holder) you won’t be eligible to claim. Instead, you’ll need to update cover to a policy that covers Couples, Sole Parents or Family (whichever is appropriate for you). If you have an ineligible visa subclass for your chosen product at time of claiming, you won’t be eligible to claim.
Medical treatment can be expensive
Most overseas workers who come to Australia to work cannot access Medicare, which may lead to large out-of-pocket costs if they require medical treatment. Depending on the type of cover you choose, your OVHC can help pay towards your medical costs if you get sick or have an accident. In most cases, hospital treatment can be very expensive with substantial out-of-pocket costs.
Once you purchase Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC), in most cases, you’ll immediately receive a Certificate of Insurance for your visa. You will need to provide proof of purchase of your OVHC when applying for your Workers visa, extension or renewal application.
If you would like to discuss options, contact our team who will be happy to assist you. Call (+61) 2 8604 3537 (from overseas) or 1300 174 537 (within Australia) or email ovhc@cbhscorp.com.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
View all FAQsSince most overseas visitors or workers aren’t eligible for Medicare (the Australian publicly funded healthcare system for residents and citizens), maintaining adequate health insurance is a requirement for a range of working visas.
Overseas workers with visa condition 8501 must purchase and provide proof of adequate OVHC when applying for their visa as per the rules set by the Department of Home Affairs. The Australian Government through the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) requires all holders of an overseas working visa with visa condition 8501 to maintain adequate OVHC for the entire time they are in Australia until their visa expires.
Overseas workers who cannot access Medicare may have large out-of-pocket costs if they need medical treatment. Depending on the type of cover you choose, your OVHC can help pay towards your medical costs if you get sick or have an accident. In most cases, hospital treatment can be very expensive with substantial out-of-pocket costs.
Your policy starts when you arrive in Australia or the day that your visa is granted – whichever is later – and ends when your visa expires, provided you maintain your premium payments. You must always contact us immediately if your details, visa, or eligibility to hold this cover changes. It’s important that you contact us when you arrive in Australia or when your visa starts so that we can activate your OVHC policy. Please note that you’re not covered for treatment outside of Australia.
You must activate your policy as soon as you arrive. Visit our website to activate your policy or call CBHS International Health on 1300 174 537. You’ll need your membership number to activate your policy which can be found on your Certificate of Insurance. Remember, your policy must be active in order to claim medical expenses.
Your working holiday or holiday visa in Australia may come with a requirement to hold OVHC.
Our cover is compliant for the following visas:
- 482 (skills in demand)
- 485 (temporary graduate)
- 457 (temporary work – skilled)
- 403 (temporary work – international relations)
- 417 (working holiday)
- 462 (work and holiday)
- 408 (temporary activity)
- 407 (training visa)
- 590 (student guardian)
- 010 (bridging Visa A)
- 020 (bridging Visa B)
- 030 (bridging Visa C).
Who is the primary visa holder?
The primary visa holder is the person who applied for and has been granted an eligible worker visa. The primary visa holder will be the member insured and the Policy Holder.
Who is the secondary visa holder?
A secondary visa holder is the spouse, de facto partner, or dependent child of the primary visa holder. A secondary visa holder is not eligible for single cover.
Who is eligible for single cover?
Only primary visa holders without a spouse, de facto or dependent child are eligible for single cover. When do I need couple, family, or sole parent cover?
If you are the primary visa holder and you have secondary visa holders coming to Australia with you, then you will need a couple, family, or sole parent cover. Read the OVHC policy guide to find out more.
If you're not eligible to hold single cover or have an ineligible visa subclass for the product you’ve chosen, no benefits or claims will be paid. If you need more information, please contact us 1300 174 537 or email us at ovhc@cbhscorp.com.au. We’ll be happy to help.
Our OVHC products are specifically designed to provide adequate health insurance for international workers (including those on a working holiday) working in Australia. Adequate health insurance is known as visa condition 8501.
Our OVHC products are also designed for some overseas workers with temporary working visas, who must hold and maintain adequate health insurance. If you’re applying for a visa which doesn’t require adequate health insurance, our OVHC products not suit your health cover needs.
It's important to note that only certain visa subclasses are required to hold adequate health insurance.
To check these visas, visit: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/supporting/files/visas-subject-condition-8501.pdf