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Young international travellers on visa health cover enjoying the beach in Australia

Overseas
Health Cover For Your Visa

Planning to study, work or travel in Australia? Get the right health cover for your visa so you can access affordable medical treatment while you're here.

What’s your visa?

Explore Health Cover

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For workers

OVHC

Moving to Australia to work, or already here and graduating soon? Our health cover for workers is designed to suit your visa, budget and health needs.

See cover for workers
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For visitors

OVHC

Holidaying in Australia or have family visiting? Our Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) can help you access more affordable healthcare.

See cover for visitors

Why Choose HCF?

As Australia’s Most Trusted Brand in Private Health Insurance for 2025*, you can rely on us to help you manage your health in Australia.

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Certificate of Insurance

Buy cover online and get your Certificate of Insurance via email (Workers and Student cover only), so you can complete your visa application.

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100% back on GP appointments

See a doctor (GP) in person from our network or get a 10-minute online consultation, and you could get 100% back on the appointment^.

Pay less for hospital treatments

Our national network of doctors and private hospitals can help you pay less for treatment if you, or your family, need medical treatment.

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Meets visa requirements

Our policies, excluding Visitors Cover, meet the Australian Government's requirements for adequate health insurance (visa condition 8501).

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Recommended brand for Overseas Visitors Health Cover

We're proud to have been recognised as one of the top recommended Overseas Visitors Health Cover brands with quality service and easy claims at the 2025 Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards.

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The Hcf Thank You App

The HCF Thank You app** makes it easy to browse personalised offers and discounts, earn rewards and track savings. Plus, you can turn HCF dollars into an HCF Digital Prepaid Mastercard or an eligible retailer e-gift card#.

Explore the HCF Thank You app

Frequently Asked Questions

We answer some of your most common questions about health insurance in Australia.

Each insurer company has different ways of calculating the cost of Overseas Visitors Health Cover.

The cost depends on factors like:

  • your visa type
  • the level and duration of cover
  • the number of people included in your cover.

Get a quote.

We cover working visas (including 482, 485, 403, 407, 408 and 590) and visitor visas (including 600, 601 and 651) and more.

We also cover bridging visas, student visas, and family and partner visas. We cover singles, couples and families. For more information, see visas we cover.

For more information, see visas we cover.

There are 2 levels of healthcare in Australia:

  • Public health system (Medicare): This provides Australian residents with free or reduced cost access to medical providers like doctors (GPs) and medical specialists, as well as public hospital services.  
  • Private health system: This is something you opt into. It can include services like private hospital treatment, ambulances, dental and physiotherapy. The treatments and procedures you can claim for will depend on which health insurance you choose.

Learn more about the Australian healthcare system.

The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs) with 11 countries: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and United Kingdom.

RHCAs allow eligible visitors from these countries to access some free or reduced cost healthcare services through Medicare. All international visitors should consider private health insurance to cover services generally not included under the RHCAs, like private hospital treatment and dental services.

For overseas students and many visitors, adequate health insurance is a visa requirement so check your requirements before applying for your visa.

For more information, see Reciprocal Health Care Agreements.

Each insurer company has different ways of calculating the cost of Overseas Visitors Health Cover.

The cost depends on factors like:

  • your visa type
  • the level and duration of cover
  • the number of people included in your cover.

Get a quote.

We cover working visas (including 482, 485, 403, 407, 408 and 590) and visitor visas (including 600, 601 and 651) and more.

We also cover bridging visas, student visas, and family and partner visas. We cover singles, couples and families. For more information, see visas we cover.

For more information, see visas we cover.

There are 2 levels of healthcare in Australia:

  • Public health system (Medicare): This provides Australian residents with free or reduced cost access to medical providers like doctors (GPs) and medical specialists, as well as public hospital services.  
  • Private health system: This is something you opt into. It can include services like private hospital treatment, ambulances, dental and physiotherapy. The treatments and procedures you can claim for will depend on which health insurance you choose.

Learn more about the Australian healthcare system.

The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs) with 11 countries: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and United Kingdom.

RHCAs allow eligible visitors from these countries to access some free or reduced cost healthcare services through Medicare. All international visitors should consider private health insurance to cover services generally not included under the RHCAs, like private hospital treatment and dental services.

For overseas students and many visitors, adequate health insurance is a visa requirement so check your requirements before applying for your visa.

For more information, see Reciprocal Health Care Agreements.

How much does overseas health cover cost? What visas do we cover? How does the Australian healthcare system work? What are Reciprocal Health Care Agreements?

We cover working visas (including 482, 485, 403, 407, 408 and 590) and visitor visas (including 600, 601 and 651) and more.

We also cover bridging visas, student visas, and family and partner visas. We cover singles, couples and families. For more information, see visas we cover.

For more information, see visas we cover.

There are 2 levels of healthcare in Australia:

  • Public health system (Medicare): This provides Australian residents with free or reduced cost access to medical providers like doctors (GPs) and medical specialists, as well as public hospital services.  
  • Private health system: This is something you opt into. It can include services like private hospital treatment, ambulances, dental and physiotherapy. The treatments and procedures you can claim for will depend on which health insurance you choose.

Learn more about the Australian healthcare system.

The Australian Government has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs) with 11 countries: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and United Kingdom.

RHCAs allow eligible visitors from these countries to access some free or reduced cost healthcare services through Medicare. All international visitors should consider private health insurance to cover services generally not included under the RHCAs, like private hospital treatment and dental services.

For overseas students and many visitors, adequate health insurance is a visa requirement so check your requirements before applying for your visa.

For more information, see Reciprocal Health Care Agreements.

Need help?

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

We’re here to help. Our friendly team speaks many different languages.

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Membership enquiries

If you have questions about your cover, you can call our team Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (AEST/AEDT).

13 68 42 (within Australia) 

+61 2 7230 5100 (outside Australia) 

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24/7 helpline

If you need help finding a doctor or hospital, or have questions about your health, call our 24/7 helpline.

13 68 42 – option 2 (within Australia)

+61 2 7230 5100 – option 2 (outside Australia)

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

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Visit us

Speak to our friendly health cover experts at your nearest HCF branch.

Find a location

Important Information

* Based on Roy Morgan Most Trusted Brand Awards 2025.

^ Available on all HCF Overseas Student Health Cover and HCF Overseas Visitors Health Covers, except Overseas Visitors Basic Cover. Eligible members under 16 years may need to have a parent or guardian present.

** To be eligible, you must have an active HCF health, life, Overseas Student or Overseas Visitors Health Insurance policy and your premiums must be up to date (excluding Ambulance Only Cover and RT Health Cover). Offers and partners are subject to change without advance notice. See the HCF Thank You app Terms and Conditions.

# Must have at least 20 HCF dollars in cleared funds. Only members who pay their premiums by credit card or direct debit can use their HCF dollars to reduce premiums.

HCF acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and water upon which we work and live. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rich history as traditional healers and scientists, who have taken care of the health of the land and its people for thousands of years. We give thanks to elders past and present, who we have much to learn from on our reconciliation journey. View our Reconciliation Action Plan