Every international student in Australia needs Overseas Student Health Cover, known as OSHC, for the whole length of their visa. It is a visa condition, not an optional extra, and you must arrange it before your visa is granted. This guide explains what OSHC covers, how much it costs, which insurers sell it and how to choose, using government and comparison sources checked on 28 October 2026.
- The government site privatehealth.gov.au says holding OSHC is a condition of the Student visa, and lists six OSHC insurers
- It says OSHC pays up to 50 dollars per medicine item, capped at 500 dollars a year for singles
- A comparison site puts single cover at about 54 to 60 dollars a month
- The Student visa fee is listed from 2,500 dollars.
What Is OSHC and Who Needs It?
OSHC is health insurance for international students in Australia. The government site privatehealth.gov.au says that if you hold a temporary student visa, keeping adequate health insurance for your stay is a visa condition. OSHC helps pay for medical and hospital care, and also includes ambulance cover and limited pharmaceuticals. Dependants on your visa need cover too.
Exemptions may apply to some students from Sweden, Norway or Belgium under their own national schemes, and students from a few countries with reciprocal agreements can also use Medicare, but they still need OSHC. Indian students are not exempt, so you must buy OSHC for every day of your visa, including the extra weeks or months after your course ends.
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Prices vary by insurer and by how many people the policy covers. Savvy, a comparison site, lists single OSHC at about 54 to 60 dollars a month, or roughly 674 to 719 dollars a year. Couples pay about 419 to 576 dollars a month and families about 952 to 1,197 dollars a month.
| OSHC cover type 2026 | Monthly cost (approx.) | Yearly cost (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 54 to 60 dollars | 674 to 719 dollars |
| Couple | 419 to 576 dollars | 5,025 to 6,705 dollars |
| Family | 952 to 1,197 dollars | 9,937 to 14,121 dollars |
These are comparison-site estimates, not official prices, so get quotes for your exact visa dates. Your OSHC must cover the full visa period, which is usually longer than your course. A two-year master's student often needs about two and a half years of cover, paid upfront or in instalments depending on the insurer.
Which Insurers Offer OSHC?
The government site privatehealth.gov.au lists six OSHC insurers: ahm OSHC, Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, CBHS International Health, Medibank and nib. Some guides report that CBHS stopped selling new OSHC policies in late 2025, so check before you buy. You can choose any of these, even if your university recommends one.
| OSHC provider 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|
| Allianz Care Australia | Often offered through university partnerships |
| Bupa | Large network of partner clinics |
| Medibank and ahm | ahm is Medibank's lower-cost brand |
| nib | Sells OSHC direct and through institutions |
| CBHS International Health | Still listed by the government; reports say no new policies since late 2025 |
Universities often arrange OSHC with a partner insurer and add the cost to your offer, which is convenient, but you are free to compare and buy elsewhere. If you buy your own policy, give your insurer's details to your university and keep the policy number for your visa application.
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OSHC helps pay for doctor visits, hospital treatment and ambulance services. Medicines get limited benefits: privatehealth.gov.au says up to 50 dollars per item and 500 dollars a year for a single policy. OSHC does not pay for dental, optical or physiotherapy, which need separate extras cover. Waiting periods often apply to pre-existing conditions.
Mental health support is included in many OSHC policies through GP visits and some psychology sessions, and most insurers run a free helpline for students. Check what your policy offers.
Read the policy document before you buy, especially the waiting periods. Insurers commonly apply a 12-month wait for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy-related care, so plan ahead if this affects you. Use doctors and hospitals that have agreements with your insurer, because this can reduce or remove out-of-pocket costs.
How Do You Choose the Best OSHC Provider?
Compare price for your exact visa dates, the network of clinics and hospitals near your campus, direct billing so you pay less upfront, how claims work through the app, and any extras you may want. The core cover is similar across insurers, so service and convenience often matter more than small price differences.
Paying a little more can be worth it for a policy with direct billing at clinics near your campus, because you then pay only the gap instead of the full fee upfront. Read recent student reviews of claim times, and check whether the insurer's app lets you find a doctor and submit claims in a few minutes. Ask seniors at your university which insurer they use and why.
Check whether the insurer has an office or partner clinic near your campus, how fast claims are paid, and whether you can pay in instalments. If you change your course or visa dates, update your OSHC so it still covers the whole visa. Gaps in cover can breach your visa conditions.
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Letting your OSHC lapse can breach your visa condition, which can lead to visa cancellation, and you may pay full medical costs yourself. Keep your policy active for every day of your visa, set reminders before renewal dates, and update your cover quickly if your visa is extended or your course dates change.
Students who come with a spouse or children must hold couple or family cover, not single cover, and the price jumps sharply. Budget for this early if your family will join you. Some students also buy extras cover for dental and optical care, which is optional and sold separately by most OSHC insurers.
If you leave Australia early, you may be able to get a refund for unused months of cover, depending on the insurer's rules. Contact your insurer with proof of departure or a new visa. Keep all policy documents and receipts, because you may need them for claims, refunds or future visa applications.