Bupa Overseas Visitors Health Cover is award-winning.
We’re thrilled to be recognised by our customers in three key categories in the Finder Overseas Visitors Health Cover Customer Satisfaction Awards 2025.
*Yearly service limits apply.
We ask you to pay the first month in advance so we can send you your visa verification letter. This will confirm that you have adequate cover to meet your visa requirement.
OVC works differently from OHSC. For OSHC policies, you pay for your entire policy upfront. For OVC policies, you make regular payments – for example, fortnightly or monthly. This keeps your policy active so you meet your visa requirements.
If you become eligible for Medicare, you need to contact us as soon as possible to find the kind of cover that suits you most, otherwise you’ll continue to pay for your OVC policy.
You don’t have to take out private health insurance but, if you’re over 31 years old, you could avoid Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading if you get domestic hospital cover within 12 months of getting your full Medicare registration or your LHC exemption letter.
Full Medicare registration is the date you registered for interim or full Medicare benefits. Medicare available through a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) doesn't count for LHC though.
Yes! Once your visa is approved, we will update your start date to match the date your visa was approved and adjust any premiums you may have paid during this time. You can then change your cover start date at any time by calling us, using the chat button or online using myBupa.
Please note that the first month cannot be refunded.
If you're from a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA), this means you're eligible for Medicare (Australia's public health system), which will cover you for medically necessary treatment only. Any other treatment is your responsibility. The Australian government strongly recommends all visitors have private health insurance before they travel. The RHCA won’t cover services not covered by Medicare, like ambulance and private hospital costs.
Check with Services Australia to see all RHCA eligibility criteria.
^ Fund and policy rules apply. Yearly limits apply to Essential Lite Visitors cover, but these limits will be waived (only in relation to Blua consultations) until further notice. 100% of the cost will only be covered for Blua consults. Members will only be able to book general consultations via Blua. Consultations with specialists cannot be booked via Blua. Members who are under 18 years old may need to attend the consultation with a parent or guardian. Members’ preferred language may not be available 24/7.
* Based on total revenue for Overseas Visitors Cover, APRA Operations of Private Health Insurers Annual Report 2022-23
~ Waiting periods, fund and policy rules apply. Depending on your cover, yearly limits may apply.
+ With Bupa recognised providers only. Bupa covers emergency ambulance transport and on-the-spot treatment unless you have a state subscription, compensation benefits, eligible concession cards or the state pays for you.