Health Insurance 482 or 457 Visa


As a 482/457 visa holder, you are required to hold adequate health insurance cover or Medicare subscription (under Australia’s reciprocal health care agreement) for the duration of your stay in Australia. This requirement also applies to your family members who hold dependent 482/457 visas. This is a condition on your visa (Condition 8501) and you are obligated to ensure that you comply with this condition.


When you lodge your 482/457 visa application, you will need to provide DIAC with evidence of your health insurance coverage or Medicare subscription.

If you’re complying with this condition by obtaining adequate health insurance, then you need to ensure that your insurance policy covers you for the duration your stay in Australia as a 482/457 visa holder. Furthermore, all items listed in Attachment A must be covered under your policy.


If you breach this condition by not having adequate health insurance cover or Medicare subscription, then this can be a basis for DIAC to cancel your visa.


Irish passport holders


If you hold a passport from the Republic of Ireland, then you are automatically entitled to Medicare under the Australia’s reciprocal health care agreement. This will provide you with sufficient health coverage and you won’t need to obtain health insurance (or submit evidence of health insurance coverage with your application). Providing a copy of your passport is sufficient evidence of your Medicare entitlements.


Reciprocal health care agreement & Travel insurance


If you hold a passport from a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia (United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia, Malta and Italy), then you are entitled to enrol with Medicare. Once you have obtained Medicare subscription, the coverage under this will be sufficient to satisfy your obligations under Condition 8501.


The issue is that you can only enrol with Medicare once you have arrived in Australia. You need to attend a Department of Human Services office to enrol with Medicare. Because you need to have sufficient health insurance coverage for the duration of your stay in Australia as a 482/457 visa holder, you still need some type of insurance to cover the period between your arrival and when you enrol with Medicare. Typically, DIAC will accept evidence of travel insurance to cover this period. However, you need to ensure that your travel insurance provides with your sufficient coverage (i.e. all items in Attachment A are covered).


Note: For Italian and Maltese passport holders, you are only eligible for a reciprocal Medicare card for the first six months of your stay in Australia. Even if you are enrolled with Medicare, you will need to make adequate arrangements for health insurance once you cease to be eligible for a reciprocal Medicare card.


Insurance provided by an overseas provider


Remember, the obligation is on you to ensure that the insurance that you hold is sufficient.


If you already have insurance with an overseas insurance provider, you can contact them and ask whether your policy will cover you during your time in Australia and whether all items listed in Attachment A are covered.


In my experience, most overseas insurance providers either don’t know or can’t confirm for certain whether your insurance policy is sufficient.


Purchasing insurance with an Australian insurance provider


If you want to be safe, you can purchase insurance from an Australian insurance provider. Most large health insurance providers have specific plans for 482/457 visa holders (and accompanying dependents).


I do not have any association with the below listed companies, and I will not receive any commission if you decide to purchase insurance from them. The below list is just a starting point for those that need to purchase insurance.


A comparison site that lists all the 482/457 visa health funds can be viewed at: www.457visacompared.com.au 


This comparison site allows users to compare 482/457 visa health insurance policies for individuals, couples and families:


Singles 457 Visa Health Insurance Policies

Couples 457 Visa Health Insurance Policies

Family 457 Visa Health Insurance Policies

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Comments

7 Comments

Phil · June 26, 2013 at 10:07 pm

Hi,

I’m currently on a student visa which expires 30/7/2013, My OSHC is valid until then, I have submitted my 457 visa would I need to take out extra insurance in-case the visa is not granted before 30/7/2013?

Thanks

    Peng Cheng · June 27, 2013 at 11:25 pm

    Hi Phil,
    Your CO will likely ask you for evidence of health insurance for a 457 visa holder.
    PC

Maucir · March 18, 2013 at 1:46 pm

I am a 457 visa holder, applying for a 186 visa. When I get the 186 visa, therefore becoming a PR, am I still required to keep a 457 health insurance? Or can I just get a normal health insurance?

    Peng Cheng · March 18, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    Permanent residents are not required to hold any kind of health insurance.

DD · January 2, 2013 at 11:24 pm

Hello Peng

Could you please tell me what happens if you get injured before taking up your nomination under a 457? I have hurt my back and need time to recover. Is the employer obliged to wait until I’m able to travel again, or can they seek to have the visa revoked?

DD

Flaco Chascon · September 27, 2012 at 11:01 am

Can you provide a source reference for the following quote:
“If you hold a passport from the Republic of Ireland, then you are automatically entitled to Medicare under the Australia’s reciprocal health care agreement. This will provide you with sufficient health coverage and you won’t need to obtain health insurance (or submit evidence of health insurance coverage with your application).”
It is my understanding that everyone needs to submit evidence of health insurance – regardless of nationality. Can you please point us to any government, or other official source which states that Irish citizens do not need to provide evidence of health insurance for a 457 visa application?
Regards,
Flaco

    Peng Cheng · September 27, 2012 at 11:17 am

    Hi Flaco,
    See: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/457-health-insurance-faq-visa-holder.htm
    ‘Being enrolled with Medicare under reciprocal health care arrangements is sufficient to meet the health insurance requirement at visa grant and to comply with visa condition 8501’
    You can call the Department of Human Services general enquiry line on 132 290 and they should confirm that Irish passport holders are automatically covered.
    Thanks
    PC

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