Bridging Visas and Health Insurance

What are bridging visas? 

If you’ve come to Australia to work, study or live and your visa expires, a bridging visa lets you legally stay in the country while your new visa is being processed. Bridging visas are considered temporary visas, and there are various types, which are granted depending on your circumstances. 

What are the different kinds of bridging visas? 

On that note, what are the various types of bridging visas? We’ve popped a quick guide below. (You might be wondering why this alphabetical list jumps straight from C to E – it’s because the bridging visa D no longer exists!)

Bridging visa A (BVA)

If you currently hold a substantive visa, this visa lets you stay in Australia while your new visa application is being processed. 

Bridging visa B (BVB)

The BVB is a short-term visa given to BVA holders who wish to leave and return to Australia while waiting for their new visa to be processed.

Bridging visa C (BVC)

The BVC is similar to the BVA, however, it’s granted to those who don’t hold a visa when making their substantive visa application. It’s also given to anyone who’s unlawfully in Australia and hasn’t yet made a visa application.

Bridging visa E (BVE)

There are two subclasses under BVE (050 and 051), but both are for those who are unlawfully in Australia and still resolving their immigration status. 

Do I need health insurance if I have a bridging visa? 

This really depends on the type of visa you’re on and your circumstances. Generally, those who are on a bridging visa A, B or C and have lodged an application for permanent residence are able to access Medicare, Australia’s public health system. Anyone with a bridging visa E can access general healthcare and pharmaceutical assistance through Medicare, as long as they have work rights.  

There are also special rules for people from certain countries. Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement with 11 different countries, including the UK, New Zealand, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. If you’re visiting from one of these countries, you may be able to access Medicare, too. 

If you don’t fall into any of these categories, you’ll likely need to take out bridging visa health insurance.  

Can I get Overseas Visitors Health Cover? 

You sure can! In fact, many (but not all) Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) policies provide enough insurance coverage to satisfy the government’s requirements. 

OVHC generally covers some doctor’s fees and hospital admissions that are medically necessary. 

However, you can also add General Treatment cover to your policy, which helps cover the cost of other medical expenses, like dentistry, optometry, physiotherapy and more.¹Private Health – What does OVHC cover?

Because some OVHC policies may not meet the government’s requirements, you’re best to check with the individual insurance provider and read through your policy’s product disclosure statement to make sure. 

What else should I consider about health insurance for bridging visas? 

Before you take out OVHC, there are a few things to think about, such as: 

How does bridging visa health insurance work if I need to travel outside of Australia temporarily? 

There’s only one bridging visa that lets you travel outside of Australia: the bridging visa B (BVB). If you’re on a BVA, you’ll need to apply for a BVB before you leave the country. And if you hold any other type of bridging visa, unfortunately, you won’t be eligible for a BVB. 

However, there’s a good chance your OVHC policy will only cover you within Australia. If you have to travel outside Australia, reach out to your insurance provider to discuss your coverage options and the possibility of temporarily suspending your policy. 

Can I get coverage for my partner or my dependents? 

Condition 8501 doesn’t just extend to you; it applies to your family, too. This means you’ll need to take out adequate health insurance for your partner and any dependents if they’re listed on your visa. 

Many insurance providers offer varying levels of OVHC for singles, couples and families. When you’re looking at policies, see which providers offer different coverage options and assess which one best suits your needs. 

Are there any exclusions or limitations in bridging visa health insurance policies that I should be aware of? 

Exclusions and limitations can vary between insurance providers and individual policies, but there are a few things to be aware of: 

• Some plans might not cover all kinds of treatments, or they may provide minimal coverage – check the policies to make sure
• There may also be waiting periods attached to some types of care. This means you could wait several months to take advantage of your policy
• Health insurance generally doesn’t provide financial protection for pre-existing conditions
• Many OVHC policies don’t offer much coverage for pharmaceuticals

Where can I find Overseas Visitors Health Cover? 

Take a look at Overseas Visitors Health Cover to find out more about how it could financially protect you if something happens to you in Australia.