Visa 482 and Medicare: what health cover do you get?
This is one of the most important practical questions that many visa 482 holders overlook until they need it: do I get Medicare?
The answer depends on your nationality — not your visa type.
Who has Medicare while holding a visa 482
Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with a number of countries. People who hold the nationality of these countries can access Medicare even while on a temporary visa such as the 482.
The countries that currently have an RHCA with Australia include: New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Belgium, Malta, Slovenia and Norway.
If you hold the nationality of one of these countries and are on a visa 482, you can enrol for a Medicare card and use public health services to the extent the agreement provides — usually medical consultations and emergency hospital treatment, not all services as for an Australian citizen.
People from countries without an agreement on a visa 482
Vietnam does not have an RHCA with Australia. This means a person who holds Vietnamese nationality and is on a visa 482 is not entitled to Medicare.
This is a point that easily causes confusion: even though you pay income tax and work lawfully in Australia, you still do not have Medicare if your nationality is not on the RHCA list.
What you need to do if you do not have Medicare
If you do not have Medicare, private health insurance is essential — not only to save on costs but also to access the full range of health services.
Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) is the suitable type of insurance for people working in Australia on a temporary visa. OVHC covers private medical costs and sometimes a portion of hospital costs. There are many OVHC providers in Australia; the premiums and the scope of cover vary considerably.
Note: OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) is for international students — not an option for a visa 482 holder. Do not confuse the two.
Emergency care: In an emergency (emergency treatment at a public hospital), Australian hospitals are required to provide emergency services to anyone — regardless of visa or insurance. But the bill afterwards can be very large if you do not have insurance.
Accompanying family
A spouse and children on the visa 482 are subject to the same rule: if they do not hold an RHCA nationality, they too do not have Medicare and need their own OVHC — or to be included in a family OVHC package.
The cost of family OVHC is usually considerably higher than individual insurance, but this is an important real cost to factor in when planning finances before moving to Australia.
When you have Medicare after becoming a PR
After receiving a permanent residence visa (such as the visa 186), all permanent residents are eligible to enrol for Medicare — regardless of nationality. This is one of the important changes in entitlements after moving to PR.