Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is a type of health insurance for international graduates on the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa. It helps you access medical services, hospital care, and emergency treatment while you remain in Australia after your studies.

Before purchasing your 485 visa health insurance, it’s important to understand coverage, exclusions, and other key considerations.

Understanding Your Healthcare Needs

Even after graduation, maintaining good health is essential. Consider:

• Routine check-ups and prescriptions: If you have chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, or mental health needs, make sure these are covered.
• Hospital care: OVHC ensures you are protected for in-hospital treatment, including emergencies.
• Specialist treatments: Some services, such as dental care, optical, or physiotherapy, may not be included in standard OVHC plans. You may need to pay out-of-pocket for these.

Tip: Compare plans to ensure coverage aligns with your personal health needs.

Budget and Cost Considerations

The cost of 485 visa health insurance depends on:

• The length of your visa.
• The level of coverage (basic, medium, or comprehensive).
• Your chosen insurance provider.

Don’t just choose the cheapest plan. A low-cost policy may exclude essential services, potentially costing more in the long run.

• Review your medical history and likely health requirements.
• Check waiting periods for pre-existing conditions if applicable.
• Balance affordability with coverage to avoid unexpected medical expenses.

Duration of Coverage

Your 485 visa health insurance should cover:

• The entire duration of your 485 visa.
• Any extensions if you plan to apply for another visa or remain in Australia temporarily.

Tip: Always align your policy start and end dates with your visa validity.

Exclusions and Limitations

OVHC policies may include:

• Exclusions: Services not covered at all (e.g., dental, optical, elective surgery).
• Limitations: Services that are partly covered or have maximum limits per treatment or per year.

Carefully read the fine print so you know what is and isn’t covered, including caps on hospital treatment or specialist consultations.

Customer Support and Assistance

Good customer service is crucial, especially when you are adjusting to post-study life in Australia.

• Look for providers offering 24/7 support and multilingual assistance.
• Check customer reviews for responsiveness in emergencies.
• Confirm claims procedures are straightforward and efficient.

Renewal and Policy Extensions

Renewing 485 visa health insurance is generally easy:

• You can renew with the same provider or compare other plans for better coverage.
• Keep track of your policy expiry date and renew early.
• Some insurers may offer a grace period of up to 30 days after expiry, but it’s safer to renew on time.

By comparing plans, checking exclusions, and aligning your coverage with your 485 visa duration, you can ensure you are protected against medical costs while living in Australia after graduation.

Comparison Tip:

If you’re looking at other visa health insurance options:

• Working visa health insurance for visa subclasses 485, 482, 417, 462, 408, and more can be compared at www.485visainsurance.com.au
• Visitor visa health insurance for visa subclass 600 can be compared at www.600visainsurance.com.au