If you are applying for or hold a Student Visa (Subclass 500), you generally need to maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the required period of your stay in Australia, unless an exemption applies.
OSHC is health insurance specifically designed for eligible international students and helps provide benefits towards healthcare costs while studying in Australia. Depending on the insurer and policy selected, OSHC may provide benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, doctor and specialist services, emergency ambulance transport and certain prescription medicines.
At 8501 Health Insurance, you can compare Student Visa health insurance options from Australian OSHC providers, including Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, nib and ahm, and review important policy features before choosing cover for your studies in Australia.
OSHC policies can vary in price, benefits, waiting periods and other policy conditions. When comparing Student Visa health insurance, consider:
The cheapest OSHC policy may not necessarily be the most suitable option for every student. Your course duration, healthcare needs, family circumstances and budget can all influence which policy is appropriate for you.
Compare the available Student Visa (Subclass 500) OSHC options below.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance specifically designed for international students studying in Australia.
Student Visa (Subclass 500) holders generally need to have and maintain OSHC for their stay in Australia, unless they fall within one of the specified exemption categories. The requirement also applies to family members included in the Student Visa arrangements.
OSHC helps international students meet the costs of eligible medical and hospital treatment they may need while living and studying in Australia. It also includes benefits for ambulance services and limited prescription medicines.
Different OSHC providers can charge different premiums and offer different policy features. Therefore, students should compare more than price when choosing cover.
If you are applying for a Student Visa (Subclass 500), you and any family members included in your visa arrangements generally need to have and maintain adequate health insurance for your stay in Australia.
For Student Visa holders, this is normally provided through Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) from an approved Australian OSHC provider. Specific exemptions apply to certain students from Norway, Sweden and Belgium who have qualifying alternative arrangements.
When arranging OSHC, make sure:
If you arrange your own OSHC, Home Affairs requires the relevant health insurance information as part of your Student Visa application.
The correct OSHC commencement date is important.
If you are applying from outside Australia, your OSHC needs to commence from the date you and your accompanying family members arrive in Australia—not simply from the date your course begins. You should not enter Australia before your OSHC starts.
For example, if your course starts on 1 March but you intend to arrive in Australia on 15 February, your OSHC should be arranged to cover you from your arrival date rather than 1 March.
If you are applying for your Student Visa while already in Australia, Home Affairs states that you must have OSHC, and where your previous visa required health insurance, there should be no gap between your previous health cover and your OSHC.
Your OSHC needs to cover the required period of your stay as a Student Visa holder.
The duration of your OSHC can also affect the period for which your Student Visa is granted. Home Affairs states that, at minimum, OSHC must cover the length of your course, and OSHC also needs to cover any additional visa period you are seeking beyond the course end date.
This means you should not simply purchase insurance for your course dates without considering the additional period that may form part of your Student Visa.
Yes. Your university, college, school or other education provider may arrange OSHC on your behalf.
However, you are not required to purchase OSHC through your education provider. Students can arrange their own OSHC with an approved provider.
This gives you an opportunity to compare different OSHC providers before choosing your cover.
If your education provider arranges the policy, make sure you know:
If you arrange OSHC yourself, keep your policy details because they will be needed for your Student Visa application.
Yes. Student Visa holders are required to maintain adequate health insurance, and Home Affairs states that a Student Visa holder in Australia without the required health insurance can be in breach of Visa Condition 8501.
For most Student Visa holders, maintaining appropriate OSHC is how this health insurance requirement is satisfied.
You should therefore keep your OSHC current throughout the period for which it is required and avoid gaps in cover.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) helps international students with the cost of eligible healthcare services while studying in Australia. The exact benefits, limits and conditions vary between OSHC providers and policies.
OSHC generally provides benefits towards hospital and medical treatment, ambulance services and certain prescription medicines. However, students should carefully compare policy benefits, waiting periods, exclusions and potential out-of-pocket costs before choosing cover.
OSHC provides benefits towards eligible treatment when you are admitted to hospital.
Depending on the policy and circumstances, hospital benefits may include eligible accommodation, theatre fees and treatment associated with covered medical procedures.
The amount covered can depend on the hospital, treatment and policy conditions. Students should check applicable waiting periods, exclusions and any other potential out-of-pocket expenses before receiving treatment.
OSHC provides benefits towards eligible medical services provided by doctors and specialists.
Benefits are generally calculated with reference to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). If a doctor or specialist charges more than the amount payable under your OSHC policy, you may need to pay the difference yourself.
For this reason, having OSHC does not necessarily mean that every doctor or specialist consultation will be completely free.
OSHC includes benefits for eligible ambulance services where medically necessary for admission to hospital or emergency treatment, subject to the terms of the policy.
Ambulance services can be expensive in Australia, so students should understand the circumstances in which their OSHC provides ambulance benefits and whether any policy limitations apply.
OSHC provides limited benefits towards eligible prescription medicines.
There may be limits on the amount you can claim for each prescription and the total amount payable during a policy period. You may therefore still have out-of-pocket costs when purchasing prescription medicines.
Students who regularly require medication should compare prescription medicine benefits and limits between OSHC policies.
Waiting periods may apply before you can claim benefits for certain treatments, including some treatment relating to pre-existing medical conditions.
The applicable waiting periods and how pre-existing conditions are assessed can depend on the policy and relevant OSHC requirements.
Before choosing cover, check:
If you expect to require treatment soon after arriving in Australia, understanding waiting periods before purchasing your OSHC can be particularly important.
OSHC may provide benefits towards eligible pregnancy and birth-related hospital and medical services, subject to applicable policy conditions and waiting periods.
Students who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or including a partner on their policy should carefully check the relevant waiting period and maternity benefits before choosing OSHC.
Do not assume that purchasing OSHC immediately before pregnancy-related treatment will provide immediate benefits.
Standard OSHC does not generally include routine dental, optical or physiotherapy treatment as part of its minimum required benefits.
Students who want cover for services such as:
may need to purchase extras cover separately or choose an insurer that offers an appropriate additional product.
Extras cover is generally optional and is separate from the core OSHC required for Student Visa purposes.
OSHC does not cover every healthcare service or guarantee that all healthcare costs will be paid in full.
Depending on your policy, you may have to pay some or all of the cost of:
Some treatments may also be subject to specific policy conditions, waiting periods or restrictions.
Before purchasing OSHC, review the insurer's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and other policy documentation carefully so you understand what is covered and what expenses you may need to pay yourself.
When comparing Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), price is important, but it should not be the only factor in your decision. OSHC providers can differ in premiums, policy features, healthcare provider networks, waiting periods and the benefits available for eligible services.
When comparing Student Visa health insurance, consider:
Your OSHC should also cover the appropriate period required for your Student Visa circumstances.
Not necessarily. International students often look for the cheapest OSHC because health insurance can be a significant upfront expense, particularly when purchasing cover for a course lasting several years.
However, two OSHC policies with different prices may also have differences in benefits, policy features and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Before selecting the cheapest option, compare:
A lower premium can be suitable if the policy meets your requirements and healthcare needs, but price should be considered alongside the actual cover provided.
Unlike many OVHC policies that may be paid monthly, students often arrange OSHC for the period required in connection with their studies and Student Visa.
For this reason, compare the total premium for the same period of cover rather than comparing prices for different policy durations.
For example, if you require OSHC for three years, make sure each quote covers the same start and end dates before deciding which insurer is cheaper.
This provides a more accurate comparison between OSHC providers.
The cost of OSHC can vary significantly depending on who needs to be covered.
OSHC may be available as:
If family members are included in your Student Visa arrangements, make sure you select the appropriate OSHC membership type and include everyone who needs to be insured.
Couple and family premiums can differ substantially between providers, so comparing insurers can be particularly useful for students bringing family members to Australia.
Waiting periods determine how long you may need to hold your policy before benefits become available for certain treatments.
Depending on the circumstances and policy, waiting periods may be relevant to:
If you expect to require particular healthcare services after arriving in Australia, check the applicable waiting periods before choosing your OSHC.
Standard OSHC focuses primarily on eligible hospital and medical treatment required under the OSHC framework.
If you also want benefits for services such as:
you may want to consider purchasing extras cover.
Extras cover is generally optional and is not a substitute for OSHC. Compare the additional premium, waiting periods and annual benefit limits before deciding whether extras are worthwhile for you.
Several Australian health insurers provide Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for eligible international students.
On 8501 Health Insurance, your Student Visa comparison includes:
Bupa offers Overseas Student Health Cover for eligible international students. When comparing Bupa OSHC, consider hospital and medical benefits, ambulance cover, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods and the policy options available for singles, couples and families.
Medibank provides OSHC for eligible international students studying in Australia. Students can compare relevant hospital and medical benefits, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods, policy features and available membership types.
Allianz Care offers Overseas Student Health Cover for eligible Student Visa holders. When considering Allianz Care OSHC, compare premiums, hospital and medical benefits, ambulance cover, waiting periods and other relevant policy features.
nib provides Overseas Student Health Cover for eligible international students. Compare nib's relevant OSHC benefits, policy conditions, waiting periods and options for different membership types when choosing cover.
ahm offers Overseas Student Health Cover specifically for eligible international students studying in Australia. When comparing ahm OSHC, consider the premium, hospital and medical benefits, ambulance cover, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods and available policy features.
OSHC providers must meet applicable Australian requirements, but this does not mean every policy is identical.
Premiums, additional benefits, provider arrangements, claims processes and other policy features can differ between insurers.
Using the comparison table above, you can compare available Student Visa (Subclass 500) health insurance options and consider both price and policy features before selecting your OSHC.
Yes. Most Student Visa (Subclass 500) holders are required to maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the required period of their stay in Australia. Limited exemptions may apply to certain students who have qualifying alternative health arrangements.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance designed specifically for eligible international students studying in Australia.
Depending on the policy and applicable OSHC requirements, it provides benefits towards eligible hospital treatment, medical services, ambulance services and certain prescription medicines.
If you are travelling to Australia to commence your studies, your OSHC should be in place from the appropriate date and cover you when you arrive in Australia.
Do not simply use your course commencement date if you intend to arrive in Australia earlier. Your OSHC dates should be appropriate for your Student Visa circumstances and intended arrival.
Your OSHC needs to cover the period required for your Student Visa circumstances. When arranging cover, consider your course duration as well as any additional period for which health insurance is required.
Avoid allowing your OSHC to expire while you are still required to maintain appropriate health insurance in Australia.
Yes. You do not necessarily have to purchase OSHC through your university, college or other education provider.
You can arrange your own cover with an approved OSHC provider and compare available policies based on price, benefits and policy features.
OSHC is available from approved Australian providers. On 8501 Health Insurance, students can compare options from providers including Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, nib and ahm.
Premiums and policy features can vary between providers, so comparing available options can help you choose suitable cover.
The cheapest OSHC depends on factors such as the provider, required cover period and whether you need single, couple or family cover.
Rather than choosing solely on price, compare hospital and medical benefits, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods and other policy features. Make sure quotes are for the same period and membership type when comparing prices.
Yes. If eligible family members are accompanying you in Australia, appropriate OSHC options may be available for couples and families.
Make sure everyone who is required to have OSHC is included under appropriate cover for the relevant period.
Standard OSHC does not generally include routine dental or optical treatment as part of its core cover.
If you want benefits for dental, optical, physiotherapy or other general treatments, you may need to purchase separate extras cover or an additional product offered by your insurer.
OSHC may provide benefits towards eligible pregnancy and birth-related treatment, but waiting periods can apply.
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, check the relevant policy's waiting period, maternity benefits and other conditions before choosing your OSHC.
Yes, international students can generally change OSHC providers. However, before switching, check how the new insurer will treat waiting periods, previous membership and any benefits already used.
You should also ensure that changing providers does not create an unintended gap in your required health insurance cover.
If you leave Australia after completing your studies, your need for OSHC will generally end with your Student Visa circumstances.
If you remain in Australia on another temporary visa, such as a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485), you may need to transition from OSHC to an appropriate form of Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) or other suitable health insurance for your new visa circumstances.
