Health insurance

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Every student visa holder must hold OSHC. Compare the government-approved insurers and get a live quote.

Get your OSHC quote

Opens the Studyaway quote page on Flywire.

How it works

Step 1Get a quoteEnter who is covered and your policy dates.
Step 2Choose your insurerCompare the government-approved insurers, then pay.
Step 3Get your certificateThe insurer emails your OSHC policy certificate.

About OSHC

The health insurance your student visa requires

OSHC helps pay for medical and hospital care while you study in Australia.

Who needs itEveryone on the student visa. Main applicant, partner and any children.

WhenBefore the visa is lodged.

Policy typesSingle, Couple, Single-Parent or Family. If circumstances change, so should your policy.

Changing insurerChange insurer at any time during your studies, with no break in cover.

Some students from Norway, Belgium and Sweden are covered by their own country's insurance and do not need to buy OSHC.

Types of cover

Three kinds of health cover

Which one you need depends on your visa.

Student visa holders

OSHC, basic

Called Basic, Standard or Essentials

Every OSHC insurer must include:

Doctor (GP) visits, 85% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee
Specialist doctors, 85% of the MBS fee
Hospital treatment in a public or private hospital
Surgery
Blood tests and x-rays, at least 85% of the MBS fee
Emergency ambulance, 100% of the transport cost
Some prescription medicines, up to a yearly limit

Gap fees may apply. Dental, optical and physiotherapy are not part of basic OSHC.

Student visa holders who want extras

OSHC, additional

Basic OSHC plus extras

Costs more, and adds services such as:

Dental
Physiotherapy
Optical
Private psychology
Counselling
Repatriation

Each insurer offers a different set of extras. Compare what each one includes.

Graduate and work visa holders

OVHC

Overseas Visitors Health Cover

For people on a temporary visa who cannot use Medicare.

OSHC ends with the student visa. A person whose student visa has expired can no longer hold OSHC.
Applicants for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) or the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) must hold OVHC that meets the visa requirements.
Home Affairs asks 485 applicants for evidence of adequate health insurance for every applicant when they apply.

Ask Studyaway about OVHC before your student visa ends.

Ask about OVHC →

Good to know

Before you see a doctor

Gap fee: The amount you pay after the insurer pays its share of the cost. Check what your insurer pays.
Waiting period: The time before you can claim on a policy. From 1 January 2026, OSHC insurers are removing pregnancy waiting periods on policies of 2 years or more. Each insurer sets its own timing.
Emergencies: Call 000 or go to an emergency department. Waiting periods do not apply to emergency treatment.
Other treatment: Check with your insurer before you agree to treatment. If the policy does not cover it, you pay the cost.
Complaints: Contact your insurer first. If the issue is not fixed, contact the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman.

Get your OSHC quote

all the insurers, side by side

Studyaway arranges OSHC alongside your enrolment, so the policy dates match your CoE and visa.

Get your OSHC quote

Emailinfo@studyaway.com.au WhatsApp+61 414 947 297

The quote page is run by Flywire for Studyaway and opens in a new tab.

Sources: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, OSHC fact sheet (August 2026) · privatehealth.gov.au, Overseas Student Health Cover and Overseas Visitors Health Cover · Department of Home Affairs, Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) (updated 12 October 2026). Checked 20 October 2026. General information only: each insurer's policy documents set what a policy covers.