Things You Should Know About OVHC Coverage Limits

• byBudgetpolicy
• 2023-05-30

People visiting abroad, especially Australia without having access to its public Medicare system needs to buy Overseas Visitors Health Cover or OVHC. It is a type of health insurance that covers any hospital or medical expenses. Therefore, if you are in need to cover your medical and hospital treatments, OVHC will be there to help you.

The reason for buying OVHC is first, the Australian healthcare system is very expensive to cover and second, the Department of Home & Affairs has made it compulsory for all visitors to include it in their visa application.

OVHC Australia is most importantly for visitors traveling with a working visa 482 or 485. It is essential for these people to have any form of OVHC included in their visa and can use it at the time of any medical emergency.

What does OVHC Cover?

There are various types of OVHC plans with unique in terms of benefits, eligibility, and price. However, there are policies that pay for some general medical expenses such as frequent visits to doctor and being hospitalized.  

You have the option of purchasing basic medical treatment coverage including coverage for hospital and medical expenses. General Treatment Cover covers health care professionals in private practice, such as dentists, optometrists, and physiotherapists. These expenses are usually partially covered by insurance; therefore, you still need to pay a small amount of the total expense.

Lifetime Health Cover or the private health insurance rebate does not cover health coverage for foreign tourists. Costs involved with buying health insurance for international tourists are required to pay the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Healthcare insurance is essential for everyone, no matter how old you are or what medical condition you are in. Many OVHC policies cover your general medical treatments as discussed above, however, let us walk you through some of the other potential coverage:

·         Dentists

·         Optometrists

·         Physiotherapists

·         Ambulance

·         Emergency surgery

·         Doctor’s fees

·         Pharmaceuticals

What may not be covered under OVHC?

When buying your OVHC policy, you need to be careful as many insurance providers provide less or no benefits at all for certain medical treatments. As well as, waiting periods are different for different treatments.

Next, pre-existing conditions are not covered in all kinds of policies; therefore, if you are looking for on, you need to consult with your insurance provider. He will guide you about policies that covers pre-existing conditions, from where you can buy the one that fits best for you.

Where can I purchase OVHC?

There are many overseas health insurers including general insurers from Australia who offers OVHC coverage for travelers to Australia. Now here is the catch, you need to carefully go through your visa application and requirements enlisted in it for your OVHC policy.

You have to buy the kind of policy and the amount enlisted in your visa to avoid any difficulties later. An excellent place, where you can find all kinds of OVHC policies under one roof is Budget Policy website. Therefore, it is best suggested to look for the requirements first and then move forward for buying an OVHC.

Which Visas need OVHC?

There are a few visas, which are only accepted if you have included an adequate OVHC policy with your visa application. Enlisted are the visas required for OVHC:

·         Temporary Work (international relations)

·         Training

·         Temporary Activity

·         Working Holiday

·         New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa

·         Work and Holiday

·         Temporary Skill Shortage

·         Temporary graduate

·         Student Guardian Visa

·         Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa

What is the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement?

The Reciprocal Health Care Agreement between Australia and a few of countries across the world provides unlimited benefits to citizens from both the sides. No matter if you are in Australia or in any of the following countries, the agreement allows visitors to access medical emergency care.

Enlisted are countries in agreement with Australia:

·         New Zealand

·         United Kingdom

·         Republic of Ireland

·         Sweden

·         The Netherlands

·         Belgium

·         Norway

·         Slovenia

·         Malta

·         Italy

·         Finland

The final Thought

If you are next in line to visit Australia, check with your visa application consultant to ensure you have got your OVHC policy included in it. For further information and assistance, you may contact Budget Policy – a leading international health insurance provider in Australia.