Health Insurance in Australia
Whether you're moving to Australia, already living there as an expat or having international teams, Alea helps you find the right health insurance plan from the world’s leading insurers.
~500k
Foreign nationals living in Australia
World-class
Private hospital network in Australia
50+
Insurers available
CFE 🇫🇷
CFE Top Up plans available in Australia
Insurance plan
What's Available
How It Works
Three steps, one advisor, free service.
1
Tell Us About You
2
We Compare Plans
3
You Choose We Handle the Rest
Healthcare System
Healthcare in Australia
Australia Healthcare at a Glance
Australia operates a world-class, dual-tier healthcare system. The public sector, driven by Medicare, offers heavily subsidized or free essential treatments for citizens and permanent residents, but suffers from elective surgery waitlists. Temporary expats do not automatically get access to Medicare (unless covered by a reciprocal agreement). Therefore, most expats rely on Australia's highly advanced private system for immediate treatment, choice of specialist, and premium hospital comfort.
Key Private Hospitals
St Vincent’s Private Hospitals (Sydney & Melbourne), North Shore Private Hospital (Sydney), and the extensive Ramsay Health Care network are the premier options for expats. These state-of-the-art facilities offer leading-edge medical technology, private rooms, and top-tier specialists accustomed to working with international patients.
Why private insurance matters
Without Medicare or adequate private cover, medical costs in Australia can be financially crippling. A standard private hospital stay or unexpected surgery can easily range from AUD $10,000 to AUD $50,000+. Furthermore, the Australian government uses tax penalties (like the Medicare Levy Surcharge) to actively encourage high earners to maintain private health cover.
Visa & insurance requirements
Unlike many countries, Australia strictly mandates health insurance for most temporary visas under the legal "Condition 8501". Failing to show proof of compliant Overseas Visitor/Worker Health Cover (OVHC/OWHC) will result in visa refusal.
Our Partners
Insurers for
Australia
FAQ
