OSHC: Compulsory Health Cover for International Students in Australia

What is OSHC and why is it compulsory?

OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) is a form of private health insurance designed specifically for international students studying in Australia. It is a mandatory requirement of the subclass 500 visa — holding no valid OSHC breaches a visa condition (condition 8516).

OSHC is different from Medicare (Australia’s public health system for citizens and permanent residents). International students are not entitled to use Medicare, except in special cases under a reciprocal health care agreement (some countries do not fall into that group). OSHC is the substitute health cover provided for you.

What does OSHC cover?

Basic OSHC generally covers:

Medical:

Visits to a general practitioner (GP) and specialists
In-hospital treatment
Emergency care

Pharmaceuticals:

Some prescription medicines, up to the OSHC benefit limit (not all medicines)

Mental health:

Mental health services within certain limits

OSHC generally does NOT cover (or covers only in a limited way):

Dental and optical (you need to buy extras if you want this)
Some expensive specialist treatments
Pre-existing conditions that you had before taking out the cover — these may be declined or subject to a waiting period

OSHC providers

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) approves a set number of OSHC providers. The larger providers include Medibank, Bupa, AHM (a Medibank brand), CBHS and NIB. Each provider has slightly different premiums and coverage within the minimum framework set by DHA.

Many education providers have an arrangement with a specific OSHC provider and buy the cover on your behalf as part of your tuition or institution fees — in that case, you do not need to arrange it yourself. Check with your provider first.

OSHC premiums

OSHC premiums vary by:

Provider
Type of coverage (Single, Couple, Family)
Length of coverage

Premiums are charged monthly or yearly. Check directly on the providers’ websites or through the government comparison page for current pricing.

How to buy OSHC

Before you lodge your visa: Buy OSHC before you lodge your subclass 500 application — you need the OSHC details (provider name, membership number, start date) when you complete the visa form.

Coverage must span your entire study period: OSHC must be valid from your arrival in Australia until your visa expires (or your completion date plus a short additional period). If you extend your course or your visa, your OSHC needs to be extended to match.

If you study at a government school in some states: Some states have special arrangements — for example, K–12 students in some government school systems may be included in a state-wide OSHC arrangement and do not need to buy it separately. Check with your provider.

How do you use OSHC?

When you need to see a doctor:

Find a GP who accepts your OSHC (most GPs do)
Show your OSHC card (physical card or app)
Pay (some services are bulk-billed = no out-of-pocket cost with OSHC; some have a co-payment)
Claim if needed (the process depends on your provider)

Note: “Bulk billing” with OSHC is not exactly the same as Medicare bulk billing — check with the doctor and your OSHC provider about what is covered before you book.

Condition 8516 and breaches

Condition 8516 of the subclass 500 visa requires you to maintain valid OSHC for your entire stay in Australia. Letting OSHC lapse without renewing it breaches a visa condition — and this can affect a later visa application.

Renew your OSHC before it expires, not after.