WHV Guide
Whether you need it depends entirely on your passport — here's the complete breakdown
Last verified: April 2026 · Sources: Services Australia, Department of Home Affairs
The 30-second version
If you're from the UK, Ireland, or 9 other countries, you can access Medicare in Australia through a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement — meaning free GP visits for medically necessary treatment and public hospital care. But Medicare does NOT cover ambulance, dental, or repatriation. If you're from a country without an RHCA (France, Germany, Canada, USA, Japan, and most others), you have no public healthcare access and must get insurance. Either way, most WHMs should carry travel insurance to cover the gaps.
This depends entirely on your passport. Check the list below.
Countries WITH Medicare access (RHCA)
These countries get free GP visits for medically necessary treatment, public hospital care, and subsidised prescriptions (PBS). Italy and Malta are limited to the first 6 months only.
Important for Ireland: Irish citizens get public hospital and PBS access but do NOT get GP visits or a Medicare card. Show your Irish passport at a public hospital to be treated under the RHCA.
Countries WITHOUT Medicare access
If your country is not on the list above, you have no access to Medicare in Australia. This includes France, Germany, Canada, USA, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Spain, and all other WHV-eligible countries.
Without cover: a GP visit costs $60–$100, an ambulance $400–$2,000+, an emergency department visit $500–$1,500+, and a hospital stay $2,000–$10,000+ per day.
Even if you're eligible for Medicare, there are significant gaps:
This is why travel insurance matters even with Medicare. One ambulance trip can cost more than a year of insurance premiums.
Broad policy for travellers. Covers medical emergencies, evacuation/repatriation, lost or stolen belongings, trip cancellation, personal liability, and adventure activities. Does NOT typically cover routine GP visits or day-to-day healthcare.
Best for: RHCA country WHMs who already have Medicare and need gap coverage
Private health insurance for temporary visa holders. Covers GP visits, hospital, ambulance, and some extras (dental, optical). Does NOT cover repatriation, belongings, or travel outside Australia. Cost: ~$80–$200 AUD/month.
Best for: Non-RHCA WHMs who want full local healthcare access
A single policy with high medical cover limits that effectively covers both health emergencies and travel needs. Simpler than carrying two separate policies. Most popular choice for WHMs.
Best for: Most WHMs — one policy, everything covered
You already have Medicare — you just need travel insurance to cover the gaps (ambulance, dental, evacuation, belongings, adventure activities).
Flexible monthly subscription designed for long-stay travellers. Covers medical emergencies (up to $250,000), ambulance, evacuation, lost luggage, and adventure activities. Start and stop anytime — no long-term commitment. ~$56–80 USD/month depending on age.
Note: SafetyWing does NOT cover work injuries. Your employer is legally required to carry workers' compensation insurance that covers you for anything that happens on the job.
Get a SafetyWing quote →UK travellers: Go Walkabout offers a Working Holiday policy designed specifically for UK residents — it covers farm work, manual labour, and even work injuries as a backup to your employer's workers' comp. Covers up to 2 years.
You have no Medicare access. You need comprehensive coverage — either OVHC plus travel insurance, or a single comprehensive policy that covers both.
Most WHMs without Medicare choose SafetyWing for its simplicity — one policy covering medical emergencies, hospital, ambulance, evacuation, lost luggage, and adventure activities. Monthly subscription means no big upfront cost. Covers you globally, not just in Australia.
SafetyWing does NOT cover routine GP visits ($60–$100 out of pocket) or work injuries (your employer's workers' comp covers that). If you want full local healthcare access including GP visits, consider OVHC from Bupa, nib, or Medibank (~$80–$200 AUD/month) — but you'd still need travel insurance on top for evacuation and belongings.
Get a SafetyWing quote →European (EEA) travellers: Chapka's Cap Working Holiday policy is purpose-built for European WHMs — it covers unlimited medical expenses, repatriation, lost belongings, AND work injuries in one policy with no deductible. Renewable for up to 24 months.
If you're from an eligible country, enrol as soon as you arrive:
Visit a Medicare Service Centre (found in most shopping centres — search "Medicare" on Google Maps)
Bring your passport and visa details (your visa grant number or ImmiAccount printout)
Tell them you want to enrol under the Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement
You'll receive a temporary Medicare number on the spot — your physical card is mailed in 2–3 weeks
Download the Express Plus Medicare app for digital card access
Your cover starts from the day you arrived in Australia — if you've already paid for a GP visit, you can claim it back once enrolled.
This is the part that confuses most WHMs. Here's the simple version:
Your employer is legally required to carry workers' compensation insurance that covers you for any injury or illness that happens on the job. This applies to every employer in Australia, regardless of your visa type. You do not need to arrange this yourself. If you're injured at work, your employer's workers' comp covers your medical treatment, lost wages, and rehabilitation.
Most travel insurance policies (including SafetyWing) exclude work injuries because they're covered by workers' comp. The exceptions are Go Walkabout (UK) and Chapka (EEA), which include work injury cover as a backup — useful on farms where admin can be patchy.
If you're heading to Brisbane, Gold Coast, or Cairns — good news. Queensland provides free ambulance cover to all residents, including WHMs. This is unique to Queensland and means ambulance costs aren't a concern if you're based there. In every other state, a single ambulance trip can cost $400–$2,000+.
Is health insurance required for a Working Holiday Visa?
No — unlike student visas, health insurance is not a visa requirement for subclass 417 or 462. However, arriving without any cover is financially reckless. One hospital visit can wipe out your savings.
Can I buy insurance after I arrive in Australia?
Yes. SafetyWing and most travel insurance providers let you sign up from anywhere, including after you've arrived. But it's better to sort it before you fly — you're covered from the moment you land.
I'm from Italy/Malta — what happens after 6 months?
Your RHCA coverage expires after 6 months and your Medicare card stops working. You'll need to switch to private cover. If you're European, Chapka Cap Working Holiday is the easiest transition — it covers health, travel, and work injuries in one policy.
Do I need OVHC and travel insurance?
Ideally yes, if you're from a non-RHCA country. OVHC covers your day-to-day healthcare in Australia (GP visits, hospital, ambulance). Travel insurance covers everything else (evacuation, belongings, adventure activities, travel outside Australia). SafetyWing is a good middle ground that covers most things in one policy — just note it doesn't cover routine GP visits.
What if my employer doesn't have workers' comp?
They're breaking the law. Every employer in Australia is legally required to carry it. If you're injured at work and your employer doesn't have workers' comp, contact WorkSafe in your state or call Fair Work on 13 13 94.
Does France get free healthcare in Australia?
No. France does not have a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement with Australia. French WHMs have no Medicare access and need private cover. Chapka Cap Working Holiday is the most popular choice for French WHMs.
| Your situation | Medicare? | What you need | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK WHM | ✅ Yes | Travel insurance for gaps | Go Walkabout or SafetyWing |
| Irish WHM | ⚠️ Limited (no GP) | Travel insurance (especially for GP cover) | SafetyWing |
| Other RHCA country | ✅ Yes | Travel insurance for gaps | SafetyWing |
| Italy/Malta (after 6mo) | ❌ Expired | Full health + travel cover | Chapka Cap Working Holiday |
| European (non-RHCA) | ❌ No | Comprehensive cover | Chapka Cap Working Holiday |
| USA, Canada, Japan etc. | ❌ No | Comprehensive cover or OVHC + travel | SafetyWing + optional OVHC |
Sort your insurance before you fly
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance — flexible monthly cover for WHMs. Start from ~$56 USD/month. Cancel anytime.
Get a SafetyWing quote →ArrivMate earns a commission when you sign up through our link — at no extra cost to you.
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Build your free plan →This guide is for general information only and should not be taken as insurance or medical advice. Insurance products and coverage change regularly — always confirm current terms with your insurer. We may earn a commission if you purchase insurance through our links — this doesn't affect our recommendations. Sources: Services Australia, Department of Home Affairs, SafetyWing, Fair Work Ombudsman. Last verified April 2026.