485 Visa Health Insurance: What You Actually Need in 2026 (OVHC Explained)

If you’ve just finished studying and you’re moving to a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), here’s the thing nobody tells you clearly: your OSHC doesn’t carry over. Student cover is only valid for student visas. The 485 comes with visa condition 8501 — you must hold adequate health insurance for your entire stay — and the product that satisfies it is called OVHC: Overseas Visitor Health Cover.

I run Arrivly, where we compare this stuff by hand. Here’s the honest breakdown.

OSHC vs OVHC — the switch you’re required to make

OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) — only for subclass 500 student visas
OVHC (Overseas Visitor Health Cover) — for working and graduate visas: 485, 482, 457, 407, 417 and bridging periods

When you apply for the 485, you need evidence of appropriate health insurance with your application. An OSHC certificate doesn’t count once you’re no longer a student.

What it costs in 2026 (single, per year)

Prices below are what we found in July 2026 — always confirm on the provider’s own site before buying, because these move:

Provider	Approx. cost (single)	Excess	Notes
HBF	~$719/yr	$0	Cheapest with no excess
nib	~$775/yr	$100 per admission	Only provider paying 100% of in-hospital medical; Canstar 2026 award winner
Medibank	~$85–110/mo	varies	Large network, 24/7 support line
Bupa	~$90–120/mo	varies	Biggest direct-billing network, physical branches
Allianz Care	~$80–105/mo	varies	Often cheapest for couples/families

Two details that matter more than the headline price:

1. The “government rate” trap. Most working visa policies only pay in-hospital doctors up to the standard government fee. Specialists routinely charge more — and you pay the gap. nib is currently the only one covering 100% of in-hospital medical, which is why it costs a bit more than the cheapest option.

2. Excess. A $0 excess policy (like HBF’s) means no upfront payment if you’re admitted. A $100–500 excess policy is cheaper per month but stings when you actually use it.

The clearance certificate step (do this before your OSHC ends)

When you switch from OSHC to OVHC, ask your current insurer for a clearance certificate. Your new OVHC provider will ask for it — and it can let you carry over waiting periods you’ve already served instead of starting them again.

Standard waiting periods if you’re starting fresh:

Pre-existing conditions: 12 months
Pregnancy and birth: 12 months
General hospital and psychiatric: 2 months

Switching without a gap and with a clearance certificate is the difference between being covered on day one and waiting a year for anything pre-existing.

On a bridging visa right now?

If you’ve applied for the 485 and you’re on a bridging visa while it processes, don’t let your insurance lapse. Continuous cover is both a visa-condition and a practical necessity — most insurers sell OVHC that covers bridging periods, and a gap in cover can mean restarting every waiting period.

What I’d actually do

Tightest budget, healthy, just need compliance: HBF’s $0-excess basic cover
Willing to pay ~$5/mo more to kill gap-fee risk: nib — the 100% in-hospital medical is genuinely rare
Bringing a partner or kids: get family quotes from Allianz and Bupa specifically — the cheapest single provider is rarely the cheapest for families

Compare all providers side by side on our health insurance comparison page — and if you’re still on a student visa, that page covers OSHC too.

Disclosure: Arrivly earns a commission from some providers if you sign up through our links. It never changes the ranking — when a provider we don’t earn from is better, we say so.

Data checked July 2026 against provider websites and Canstar’s April 2026 assessment. Prices change — verify before you buy.