[can_to_aus]

Hi all - I have been looking into OSHC coverage, and it looks like coverage for a couple is 6x the price of single. I have been looking through the Allianz policy document, and could not find wording that states only a "primary visa holder" can apply for single coverage. I was able to find this wording in other OSHC providers' policies.

Would I be able to apply for single coverage as a partner with Allianz?

https://ihealth.agaassistance.com.au/assets/downloads/OSHC_Policy_Standard.pdf

 

[can_to_aus]

Thanks for the reply.

I just spoke to Allianz - they said if I am a partner on the visa, then the primary applicant must have a family policy in order for me to be insured. I pointed them out to the fact that it does not say anything regarding a "primary applicant" in the policy document, to which they replied I may purchase insurance on a single plan, and that will satisfy government requirements, but I wouldn't be covered for the benefits in the plan....

Perhaps I should call the Australian High Commission in Ottawa to confirm?

 

[can_to_aus]

I just checked the relevant policy and it says clearly:

Please note that evidence of cover for couples or families does not need to be combined and each applicant can take out cover separately. For example, couples can take out cover separately as two single premiums.

I think one of the arguments for family/couple insurance was the potential cost of pregnancy. Maybe single covers do not cover for this?

Hi CCMS - was that statement in relation to OSHC in any way, or healthcare cover in general?

 

[can_to_aus]

In relation to OSHC.

Thanks. So from the perspective of DIBP, two single policies are perfectly fine, however if Allianz (or similar) is refusing to cover a secondary applicant on a single plan, I guess we have no choice when it comes to the actual coverage.

 

[can_to_aus]

I had a long discussion with one of the OSHC providers about this issue and this is my understanding:

To be eligible for OSHC cover, you have to be the primary visa holder, which inevitably means most couples/families can't take out 2 single policies as only one person is the primary visa holder, the others are dependants.

There are cases where couples have two individual single policies. Whilst this has been accepted by DIPB/Home affairs - this will not be accepted by OSHC providers when it comes time to claim. The dependents claim will not be accepted as they need to be the primary visa holder for the single policy.

The difference in pricing is due to claims costs (this goes for all providers). Put simply, dual and family policies claim more, and therefore the technical pricing reflects this.

I had discussions with reps from each provider and this is in line with what I was told. We ended up converting to a dual policy and paying an additional $4k.