Quick answer: Yes, get insurance. Medicare only covers you if your country has a reciprocal agreement with Australia (Italy and the UK do; Spain, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Taiwan and Hong Kong do not), and even then it covers only essential care. A single ambulance ride or emergency-department visit can cost more than a full year of cover. Buy a long-stay travel policy or Australian OVHC before you fly, and make sure it covers work, ambulance and repatriation.
Why you need cover on a working holiday
Australia’s public health system is excellent, but it is not free for visitors. Without cover you pay full price for:
- Ambulance (billed separately in most states, often several hundred to over a thousand dollars).
- Emergency department and hospital stays.
- GP visits, prescriptions, physio, dental.
- Getting flown home after a serious injury.
Backpackers do risky things: surf, drive long distances, work on farms and building sites. A broken wrist on a farm without cover can end your trip.
The Department of Home Affairs strongly recommends health insurance for working holiday makers, and some grant letters list it as a condition. Read your own letter and check immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Medicare: does your country have a reciprocal agreement?
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with a short list of countries. As of September 2026 that list includes Italy, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Malta and Slovenia. Details vary by country — Italian and Maltese visitors, for example, are typically covered for only six months from arrival.
| Passport | Reciprocal Medicare? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Yes (time-limited) | Enrol at a Medicare office after arrival; essential care only |
| UK, Ireland | Yes | Enrol after arrival; essential care only |
| Spain | No (check) | You need private cover |
| Chile, Argentina, Peru | No (check) | You need private cover |
| Taiwan, Hong Kong, China | No (check) | You need private cover |
Even with reciprocal Medicare you should still buy insurance: it does not cover ambulance, dental, most physio, repatriation, lost luggage or liability. Check the current list and conditions on the Services Australia website before relying on it.
Travel insurance vs OVHC
Long-stay travel insurance (Heymondo, World Nomads, SafetyWing and similar) is what most backpackers buy. It covers medical emergencies, ambulance, repatriation, and usually cancellations, luggage and personal liability. Policies are sold for a set number of days and can often be extended from inside Australia.
OVHC — Overseas Visitors Health Cover (Allianz Care and other Australian insurers) is Australian health insurance built for visa holders. It focuses on hospital and medical costs, works directly with Australian providers, and can be paid monthly. It does not usually cover luggage or trip cancellation.
Rough rule: if you want one policy for the whole adventure and the flights, take long-stay travel insurance. If you plan to stay one to three years and mostly care about medical bills, OVHC is worth comparing.
What to look for in a policy
Read the product disclosure statement. Check that the policy:
- Covers working. Many cheap policies exclude injuries at work, or exclude manual work, farm work and construction. If you plan to do your 88 days on a farm, this is the single most important line.
- Covers the full length of your stay, ideally with the option to extend from Australia.
- Includes ambulance and emergency repatriation.
- Has a claim limit high enough — unlimited or several hundred thousand dollars for medical.
- Covers the activities you will do: surfing, snorkelling, hiking, scooters, and driving.
- States the excess (the amount you pay per claim) clearly.
- Allows you to buy before departure and, if you are already abroad, allows you to buy once travelling.
Watch for: pre-existing conditions, alcohol-related exclusions, motorbike cover requiring a licence, and “return home” clauses that cancel the policy if you visit your home country mid-trip.
How to compare
- Write down your dates, your planned work (hospitality vs farm vs construction) and your activities.
- Get a quote from two or three providers for the same dates.
- Compare the medical limit, work cover, ambulance, excess and extension rules — not just the price.
- Check reviews for how claims are actually paid.
- Buy before you fly, save the policy PDF to your documents folder, and put the emergency phone number in your phone.
Deals we used
- Heymondo
- World Nomads
- SafetyWing
- Allianz Care OVHC
What to do next
- Check whether your country has a reciprocal Medicare agreement (Services Australia website).
- Decide between long-stay travel insurance and OVHC based on how long you plan to stay.
- Confirm the policy covers work, ambulance and your activities.
- Buy before departure and keep the policy number with your visa documents.
- Add “enrol in Medicare (if eligible)” to your first-week checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance compulsory on a working holiday visa?
It is not a listed condition on every grant, but Home Affairs strongly recommends it and some grant letters include a health insurance condition. Check your own grant letter. Either way, a hospital stay without cover can cost thousands of dollars.
Does Medicare cover me as a backpacker?
Only if your country has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia. Italy, the UK, Ireland and a few others do; Spain, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Taiwan and Hong Kong do not. Even with an agreement, cover is limited to essential care.
What is the difference between travel insurance and OVHC?
Travel insurance covers medical emergencies plus things like cancellations, lost luggage and liability, usually for a fixed trip length. OVHC (Overseas Visitors Health Cover) is Australian health insurance for visa holders and focuses on medical and hospital costs while you live here.
Should I buy insurance before I leave home?
Yes. Most travel policies must start before your departure, and buying from home often keeps you covered for the flight and for the first days after you land.
