Know before you go · Overseas Student Health Cover
Health cover isn't optional.It's a condition of your visa.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance the Australian Government requires for every Student visa (subclass 500) holder. It works alongside Medicare to help meet the cost of medical and hospital care while you study — here's why it's compulsory, what it covers and who sells it.
- Student visa condition requiring cover
- 8501Student visa condition requiring cover
- Government-approved groups — 6 brands
- 5 insurersGovernment-approved groups — 6 brands
- Cover must be continuous for the whole visa
- No gapsCover must be continuous for the whole visa
Is OSHC compulsory?
Yes.
Under Student visa Condition 8501, every subclass 500 holder — and any accompanying family — must keep continuous, adequate health insurance for their whole stay. OSHC must be bought before the visa is granted and kept active without a gap until the visa ends; letting it lapse can put the visa at risk.
A small number of students from Belgium, Norway and Sweden may be exempt under reciprocal arrangements.
Why it matters
Key benefits of OSHC
OSHC works alongside Medicare to help meet the cost of medical and hospital care while you study.
Meets the visa requirement
Satisfies Student visa Condition 8501 — a valid OSHC certificate is needed to lodge and maintain a Student visa application.
Care without the full private cost
Contributes toward GP visits, eligible hospital treatment and other medically necessary care, so you're not paying the full private rate.
Emergency and hospital cover
Benefits toward emergency department treatment, medically necessary ambulance transport and eligible hospital admissions.
Student-focused extras
Most insurers add 24/7 telehealth or advice lines, mobile apps, digital claims and student discount programs.
Family cover options
Extend cover to a partner and/or dependent children through dual or multi-family policies.
Freedom to switch providers
Change OSHC insurer at any time during study, as long as cover continues without a break.
What's covered
What medical expenses OSHC covers
Benefits are set against the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) — the fee schedule Medicare uses — though percentages, item limits and annual caps vary between insurers and policy tiers.
- Up to 100% MBS
GP consultations (incl. telehealth)
Commonly up to 100% of the MBS fee, especially at a bulk-billing or “no-gap” clinic recognised by the insurer.
- 85–100% MBS
Specialists, pathology & imaging
Specialist consultations, X-rays and blood tests, commonly 85–100% of the MBS fee depending on the insurer and whether billed in or out of hospital.
- Shared ward
Hospital treatment
Eligible in-hospital treatment, generally in a shared ward at a hospital recognised by the insurer; the benefit can be lower where there's no agreement.
- Emergency only
Emergency ambulance
Medically necessary emergency ambulance transport and on-the-spot treatment; non-emergency transport is usually excluded.
- PBS, after co-payment
Prescription medicines
Benefits toward PBS-listed medicines after a set co-payment per script; per-item and annual limits vary by insurer.
- Waiting periods apply
Mental health treatment
Eligible psychiatric hospital treatment and some out-of-hospital services linked to an MBS item, with waiting periods that vary by provider.
- From 1 Jan 2026
Pregnancy & birth-related care
Included without the standard waiting period on policies of two years or longer; shorter policies may still carry a waiting period.
What OSHC does not normally cover
- Dental treatment
- Optical — glasses or contact lenses
- Physiotherapy and most allied health
- Cosmetic or elective procedures
- Non-PBS medicines
- Treatment outside Australia
Want this cover? Add “extras” cover — offered by some, not all, OSHC insurers — or take out separate private extras insurance alongside your OSHC.
Who is covered
Types of OSHC cover
Single
The primary Student visa holder only.
Dual / Couple
The student plus one dependant — a partner or one dependent child.
Family / Multi-family
The student, a partner and more than one dependent child.
Approved insurers
Government-approved OSHC providers
OSHC can only be sold by insurers that have signed the Australian Government's Deed for the Provision of OSHC. There are 5 approved insurer groups — Medibank sells under two brands, Medibank and ahm — so you'll commonly see 6 names.
- Partner rate via Genix
Medibank
Medibank Private
One of Australia's largest health insurers, with a 24/7 student health and support line, a dedicated OSHC app and student rewards. Beyond Essentials OSHC, its Comprehensive plan adds higher annual limits, a higher prescription rebate, mental health support and an in-hospital family benefit — often better value for students travelling with family.
Comprehensive OSHC — selected education partners only
ahm
A Medibank brand
Medibank's more budget-oriented brand — commonly among the more affordable options for single-student cover, with digital-first policy management and claims.
- Partner rate via Genix
Bupa Australia
Bupa Group
A 24-hour Student Advice Line, retail and service centres for in-person support, and one of the few insurers offering optional dental/optical extras. Its Advantage OSHC rate is a discounted premium below the public rate.
Advantage OSHC rate — selected education partners only
Allianz Care Australia
Allianz Group, with Peoplecare
Known for a large direct-billing network of hospitals and medical providers and competitive family-cover pricing.
nib OSHC
nib Group
Several OSHC plan tiers, plus a mobile app and online tools for activating, extending or managing cover.
CBHS International Health
CBHS Health Fund — not-for-profit
The OSHC arm of a member-owned, not-for-profit fund, often competitively priced for couple and family cover.
Choosing between providers: every approved insurer must meet the same government-mandated minimum benefits. Differences come down to price, direct-billing and hospital networks, waiting periods, the claims experience and whether dental or optical extras are available. Compare current quotes — you're always free to choose a different provider than the one your university or agent recommends.
Genix Education and Migration
How we help with OSHC
Support through the whole OSHC process, not just the purchase — whether you're travelling alone or with a partner and children.
- 1
Choosing the right cover type
Whether Single, Couple or Family OSHC fits, based on who is coming to Australia with you.
- 2
Comparing providers
Weighing benefit limits, hospital networks, waiting periods and claims across approved insurers — not defaulting to one brand.
- 3
Arranging cover before the visa
Making sure OSHC is bought and correctly dated — including the right start date for early arrivals — before the visa is lodged.
- 4
Keeping cover continuous
Support to extend or switch policies during your course, so cover never lapses and your visa isn't put at risk.
Access to partner-only rates
Not limited to publicly advertised prices.
Genix is recognised as an education partner by select OSHC insurers. We work to secure the most affordable cover for each student and family — most commonly the discounted Bupa Advantage rate or the upgraded Medibank Comprehensive plan, whichever gives better value for your Single, Couple or Family cover. Both are available only through a limited number of education providers in Australia, and Genix is one of them.
Before you buy
Practical notes before buying OSHC
Speak with your Genix counsellor before purchasing independently, to check current partner rates and the best cover type for you.
- Buy OSHC before applying for the Student visa — proof of cover is needed with the application.
- Cover must run for the full course and visa, so check the exact start and end dates on your CoE.
- Arriving before the course starts? Set the OSHC start date to your arrival date, not the course start date.
- Keep cover continuous — even a short gap can put the visa at risk of cancellation.
- Switching insurers is allowed any time; moving directly between OSHC policies within a short window (commonly 2 months) generally avoids re-serving waiting periods.
Ready to Start YourAustralia Journey?
Talk to a Genix Education counsellor and get a personalised plan — course, university, visa and scholarships.
