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Applying for a new visa in Australia often comes with a transition period - and that’s where Bridging Visas come in. While bridging visas protect your lawful stay, they also create one of the most confusing moments for health insurance.
Many people assume their existing cover automatically continues, only to later discover they were uninsured or on the wrong type of health cover.
This guide explains the different types of Bridging Visas, what health cover is appropriate for each, and how to avoid gaps that can impact both your visa outcome and healthcare access.
A Bridging Visa allows you to remain lawfully in Australia while:
During this time, your visa status changes, and so does your health insurance eligibility.
Health cover is important because:
Understanding which health cover applies to each bridging visa is critical.
Health Cover Depends on the Visa You Applied For
A Bridging Visa A is usually granted when you apply for a new substantive visa while holding another valid visa.
The key factor is what visa you are moving toward, not the bridging visa itself.
Health Cover Must Continue Uninterrupted
A Bridging Visa B allows travel while your substantive visa is being processed. Your health cover should:
If your OSHC or OVHC expires while you are overseas, you may return uninsured - which can create complications.
Health Cover Becomes More Critical on BVC
A Bridging Visa C is issued when you apply for a visa without holding a substantive visa.
This visa often has:
In most cases, OVHC is the most appropriate health cover during a BVC, unless OSHC is specifically required due to a student visa pathway.
Temporary Visa, Temporary Cover Needs
A Bridging Visa D is usually short-term (often only a few days) while you lodge a valid application.
Because it is brief:
Even short gaps can cause waiting periods to reset.
Healthcare Access Is Very Limited
A Bridging Visa E is typically granted when:
Medicare access is usually not available, and OSHC is not applicable.
In most cases:
Bridging Visa Types and Appropriate Health Cover
OSHC is specifically designed for Student visa holders. If:
Then OSHC may no longer be suitable, even if you are on a bridging visa.
At that point, OVHC is usually more appropriate.
OVHC is designed for:
Because most bridging visa holders are not eligible for Medicare, OVHC provides:
This makes OVHC the most common choice during visa transitions.
For trust and clarity, people on bridging visas often review policies from:
OVHC Providers
OSHC Providers (if still on student pathway)
Letting Health Cover Lapse
Create compliance issues if insurance evidence is requested
Extending or transitioning cover early is always safer.
Q1. Do I need health insurance on a bridging visa?
In most cases, yes. While not always listed as a visa condition, adequate health insurance is strongly expected and often requested.
Q2. Can I keep OSHC while on a bridging visa?
Only if you are still on a student visa pathway. If you’ve applied for a non-student visa, OVHC is usually more appropriate.
Q3. Does Medicare apply on a bridging visa?
It depends on the visa you applied for. Some permanent visa applicants may be Medicare-eligible, but many bridging visa holders are not.
Q4. Will my waiting periods reset if I change cover?
They can, if there is a gap or downgrade. Maintaining continuous cover is key.
Q5. Which cover is safest during visa transitions?
OVHC is commonly used because it aligns with temporary residency and lack of Medicare access.
Bridging visas protect your legal stay, but they don’t automatically protect your health costs.
The right health cover during a bridging visa depends on:
Understanding this early helps you avoid costly mistakes during one of the most sensitive stages of your Australian visa journey.
You can explore OVHC and OSHC options from trusted insurers such as nib, Bupa, AIA, Medibank, Allianz, and ahm on GetMyPolicy.online, helping you choose cover that aligns with your visa transition in 2026.
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