Why Health Insurance Matters for Visitor Visa 600?

Australia does not provide free healthcare to most visitors. Medical treatment, hospital stays, and ambulance services can be extremely expensive without insurance.

For this reason, the Department of Home Affairs expects Visitor visa applicants to:

• Have adequate arrangements to cover healthcare costs, and
• Not rely on Australia’s public health system during their stay

While health insurance is not legally mandatory for every Visitor Visa 600 stream, case officers can request proof of adequate health insurance, especially for:

• Longer stays
• Older applicants
• Sponsored family visitors
• Parents or grandparents visiting children in Australia

Does Visa 600 Require Health Insurance in 2026?

Health Insurance Is Strongly Expected - and Often Requested

For Visitor Visa 600, health insurance is:

• Not always a formal visa condition, but
• Commonly assessed during visa processing, and
• Frequently requested as evidence, particularly for long-stay or sponsored streams

If you cannot demonstrate how you will cover healthcare costs, your visa application may face:

• Requests for further information
• Delays
• Refusal due to financial risk

This is why most experienced applicants arrange OVHC before lodging or immediately after applying.

What Type of Health Insurance Is Suitable for Visitor Visa 600?

OVHC is Designed for Temporary Visitors

For Visitor Visa holders, Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) is the most suitable option. Unlike standard travel insurance, OVHC:

• Covers hospital and medical treatment in Australia
• Aligns with Australian healthcare billing structures
• Provides access to public and private hospitals (subject to policy terms)

OVHC policies are designed for people who are not eligible for Medicare and are staying in Australia temporarily.

What Visitor Visa 600 Health Insurance Should Cover?

A suitable OVHC policy for Visa 600 should include:

Core Healthcare Coverage

• Hospital treatment (public and private, subject to agreement hospitals)
• Inpatient doctor services
• Emergency ambulance
• Medically necessary treatment in Australia

Why This Matters?

• Hospital admission in Australia can cost thousands of dollars per day. Without OVHC, visitors are personally responsible for the full bill.

Step-by-Step: Choosing Health Insurance for Visitor Visa 600

Step 1: Confirm Your Length of Stay

Health insurance should cover your entire intended stay in Australia. Short gaps or insufficient duration can raise questions during visa processing.

Step 2: Choose OVHC Over Travel Insurance

Travel insurance focuses on trip disruption and emergencies. OVHC focuses on healthcare costs inside Australia, which is what visa officers are concerned about.

Step 3: Select a Policy Level That Matches Your Risk

Basic OVHC plans cover essential hospital treatment, while higher tiers include broader hospital categories and higher benefits.

Step 4: Ensure the Policy Starts From Your Arrival Date

Health cover should ideally commence from the date you arrive in Australia.

Step 5: Keep Proof of Insurance Ready

Your policy certificate may be requested during visa processing or after arrival.

Common OVHC Options for Visitor Visa 600

For trust and clarity, Visitor visa applicants commonly explore OVHC policies from:

• nib OVHC
• Bupa OVHC
• AIA OVHC
• Medibank OVHC
• Allianz Care Australia OVHC

Each policy differs in hospital categories, limits, waiting periods, and exclusions, which directly affect your healthcare protection.

What Visitor Visa 600 Health Insurance Does NOT Cover?

• Understanding exclusions is just as important as understanding benefits.

OVHC generally does not cover:

• Treatment outside Australia
• Non-medical services (visa medical exams, certificates)
• Non-emergency ambulance transport
• Dental, optical, or physiotherapy (unless separately covered)
• Pre-existing conditions during waiting periods

These exclusions are consistent across OVHC fund rules.

Visitor Visa 600: Health Insurance for Older Applicants

Applicants aged 60 or above are more likely to be:

• Asked for proof of health insurance
• Assessed carefully for healthcare cost risk

For older visitors, choosing mid or higher-tier OVHC is often recommended to reduce out-of-pocket exposure.

Visitor Visa 600 Health Insurance Overview