If you're expecting a visit from your overseas parents, they will most likely need Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) while they're in Australia. The only exception is if your parents are from a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Those countries are listed below.
If your parents are from any other country, if they're coming from India for example, then it's a good idea to get them covered by an OVHC policy. Depending on the policy, OVHC can cover your parents for accidental injury, heart procedures, cancer treatments, joint reconstructions, pregnancy, gastric banding and much more.
Compare the best health insurance for visiting parents
There's no one best health insurance for visiting parents, as the available policies can vary depending on which visa they're on. Use the tabs and tables below to compare the appropriate policies from different Australian health funds.
*Pricing is based on a single male planning to live and work in the State of New South Wales on a working visa who is not applying for permanent residency, is not from a country that Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with and is not eligible for cover under Medicare. Prices reflect the April 1 premium rise and are accurate for December 2024 but are subject to change in the future.
What is Overseas Visitors Health Cover?
Overseas Visitors Health Cover is a type of health insurance that is specifically designed for overseas visitors to Australia. Most Australian funds offer a range of policies depending on whether you are travelling for business or for pleasure, and most will let you choose options ranging from inexpensive basic cover to more valuable comprehensive protection. Most OVHC policies will pay for:
Hospital accommodation and theatre fees
In-hospital doctor and specialist consultations
In-hospital medical fees
Intensive care fees
Removal of adenoids, appendix and tonsils
Emergency ambulance
Day surgery
Prostheses
Repatriation
Some ancillary services (usually for an additional fee)
However, most OVHC policies will not pay for:
Services related to assisted reproduction (e.g. IVF)
Treatment provided outside Australia
Treatment arranged in advance of the visitor’s arrival
Treatment for a pre-existing medical condition in the first 12 months of the policy
Treatment covered by compensation or damages
Elective cosmetic surgery
Are visiting parents eligible for Medicare in Australia?
The following countries have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia. If your parents live in one of the countries listed below, they will be eligible for certain benefits. If your parents’ country is not on this list then they do not get any Medicare benefits in Australia.
Country
Entitlements
Period of cover
Belgium
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Must have eligible European Health Insurance card
Covered for the duration of stay or until card expires
Finland
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Italy
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Must be an Italian citizen or resident
Covered for 6 months from arrival in Australia
Malta
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Must be a Maltese citizen or resident
Covered for 6 months from arrival in Australia
Netherlands
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Must have eligible European Health Insurance card
Covered for the duration of stay or until card expires
New Zealand
Public patient and public hospital and outpatient services
Subsidised medicine
Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Norway
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Republic of Ireland
Public patient and public hospital and outpatient services
Subsidised medicine
Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Slovenia
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Must have eligible European Health Insurance card
Covered for the duration of stay or until card expires
Sweden
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
United Kingdom
Free public hospital treatment
Subsidised medicine
Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatments
Your parents are covered for the duration of their stay
Even if your parents are from one of these countries, they may not be sufficiently protected by Medicare. For example, if they are visiting from Italy, Medicare will only cover them for six months and with certain benefits. You may still need an OVHC policy even if they are eligible for Medicare.
Visitor Saver: covers the basics in a shared room in a public hospital. Services include:
Ambulance
Inpatient medical bills
Theatre fees
Pharmaceutical drugs
Surgically implanted prostheses
Visitor Value: covers you for a shared room in a private or public hospital, plus some out-of-hospital medical expenses such as x-rays and GP visits. Services include:
We ask hundreds of Australians what they're paying for health insurance every month. Here's what their bill looked like in November 2024.
Extras only: $56
Basic: $105
Bronze: $141
Silver: $193
Gold: $223
Price based on 470+ responses for single hospital or extras insurance.
Visas for parents visiting Australia
Your parents might be able to apply for a parent category visa to visit you in Australia. This could allow them to stay in the country for up to two years as a temporary resident or live here as a permanent resident.
Eligibility
To be eligible they must:
Have a child who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen who has lived in Australia lawfully for at least two years prior
Have a sponsor who meets the above criteria
Meet the Balance of Family Test which requires that at least half of their children live permanently in Australia, or that more live in Australia than any other country
Meet health and character requirements
Visa types
There are different types of parent category visas:
Parent Visa (subclass 103). If your parents are applying from outside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia and they wish to become permanent Australian residents.
Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173). If they are applying from outside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to live in Australia for up to two years as temporary residents and they are prepared to pay higher application fees for faster visa processing.
Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143). If they are applying from either inside or outside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to become permanent Australian residents and they are prepared to pay higher application fees for faster visa processing.
Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804). If they are applying from inside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to become permanent Australian residents and they meet the age requirements.
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 884). If they are applying from inside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to live in Australia for up to two years as temporary residents, they meet the age requirements and they are prepared to pay higher application fees for faster visa processing.
Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864). If they are applying from inside Australia, they have a child who lives in Australia, they wish to become permanent Australian residents, they meet the age requirements and they are prepared to pay higher application fees.
A visitor visa for Australia generally doesn't require health insurance. However, we do recommended getting health insurance or travel insurance that covers medical emergencies during your stay, as healthcare in Australia can be expensive for non-residents.
Choosing the best health insurance for visitors to Australia depends on a few factors, like the length of stay, age, and specific healthcare needs. Consider Overseas Visitor Health Cover if your visa requires insurance. For short stays, travel insurance can cover medical emergencies, while visitor health insurance offers hospital and extras cover.
Choosing the best Overseas Visitor Health Cover depends on your needs. Look for plans with comprehensive hospital and emergency cover, and consider those that include extras like dental and optical if that's important to you. Ensure the plan matches your age and health requirements, and covers pre-existing conditions if necessary. It's always good to compare options and read reviews to find the best fit.
Generally visitors to Australia are not covered by Medicare, except if their country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. These agreements allow visitors from certain countries to access some Medicare services, but coverage can be limited. It's still recommended to have your own health insurance or travel insurance for comprehensive protection.
This will differ person to person. It could be beneficial to choose Comprehensive Overseas Visitor Health Cover for hospital and emergency services, ensuring it covers age-related conditions. Alternatively, travel insurance with extensive medical cover is a good alternative for emergencies. Visitor health insurance offers hospital and extras cover - just check for age limits and exclusions. Depending on the circumstances, it might be beneficial to prioritise coverage for pre-existing conditions and higher benefit limits.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance. See full bio
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