Health Insurance Support for International Students in Australia

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As an international student studying in Australia, ensuring adequate health coverage for medical and hospital expenses is essential. While Medicare is not available for international students, a special health policy called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) has been established for international applicants and their dependents.

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Understanding OSHC

OSHC is a health insurance policy that covers medical and hospital costs for international students in Australia. Applicants must purchase this health policy for their academic course to be eligible for medical expense coverage.

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For courses shorter than three months, students can acquire a tourist visa and a private international student insurance program to cover the required period.

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Choosing the Right OSHC Provider

OSHC is required for both the applicant and any dependents. A single policy can cover a single applicant. At the same time, a dependent couple or family will need a 'couple insurance' or a 'family health cover'. The policy must be taken from an approved health insurance provider.

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Our team will help you choose the right international student health cover that best meets your needs. We work with popular health insurance providers such as BUPA, Medibank, AHM, NIB, and Allianz Care Australia to offer you competitive pricing and flexibility in choosing your health coverage.

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OSHC does not cover general optical, dental or physiotherapy treatments. You may need an additional OSHC Extras package from an OSHC provider or an Australian private health insurer for these additional treatments.

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OSHC also covers COVID-19 related illnesses, including lung and chest conditions, kidney and bladder issues, and dialysis for chronic kidney failure.

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Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC)

International applicants planning to travel or work in Australia may need to apply for Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC). Several visa categories fall under this policy:

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Visitor Visas: Subclasses 300, 580, 590, 600, 601

Bridging Visas

Working Visas: Subclasses 482, 485, 400, 401, 476, 489, and others

Working Holiday Visas: Subclasses 417 & 462

If you are a recent international graduate applying for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). In that case, you must switch from OSHC to OVHC to meet health requirements. OVHC policies differ in costs, eligibility, and benefits. Most policies cover medically-required hospital admissions and a portion of doctor's fees.

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OVHC allows you to purchase a general treatment cover, which pays benefits for services provided by private healthcare providers such as dentists, optometrists, and physiotherapists. The insurance covers some of these costs while you cover the remaining expenses.

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Most OVHC policies cover limited pharmaceutical expenses, so choosing the right policy that meets your needs is crucial. Various health policies are available depending on the nature of your visa application.

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Please note that while OSHC policies are pre-purchased for your entire academic duration and stay, OVHC policy costs can be paid on a monthly basis.

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Please speak to our consultants at Guide2Success today to get the right health insurance policy for your needs.