What it covers, what it costs and how to arrange it before you travel.
What happens if you need to see a doctor while you’re studying in Australia? Health insurance belongs in your budget alongside your course fees and visa, but it also raises practical questions: where can you get treatment, what will you have to pay, and are prescriptions covered?
OSHC, the health insurance designed for international students, helps pay for healthcare during your stay. It won’t necessarily pay every bill in full: some benefits have limits, and you may have costs to pay yourself.
At Australian Way, we’ll help you arrange your cover as part of planning your studies and check that the dates match your stay.
What is OSHC, and do I need it?
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) helps international students pay for medical treatment and hospital care in Australia.
Most student visa holders must keep OSHC for their entire stay. Some exceptions apply under agreements with certain countries; whether you qualify depends on your circumstances.
Whether you’re coming for English classes, a vocational course or a university degree, include insurance in your budget early. We’ll factor it into your study quote so you know how much you’ll need before you leave.
What does OSHC cover?
Every OSHC policy must meet minimum cover requirements. The details can vary between insurers, so you’ll still need to check what your particular policy includes.
OSHC generally helps with the cost of:
- Appointments with a GP (general practitioner).
- Specialist appointments.
- Hospital treatment and operations included in the policy.
- Certain tests and X-rays.
- Emergency ambulance services.
- Some prescription medicines, with limits on how much you can claim.
How much you get back depends on your policy, the treatment and the fee charged. An appointment can be covered without the insurer paying the full cost, leaving you to pay the difference.
Will I have to pay anything when I see a doctor?
Possibly. If the doctor charges more than your insurer pays, the amount left for you to pay is called the gap.
Say an appointment costs 90 AUD and your insurer pays back 65 AUD. You’d pay the remaining 25 AUD. Those figures are just an example of how a gap works, rather than a price you should expect to pay.
Some medical centres can bill your insurer directly, which may save you paying the full fee upfront. Whether that’s available depends on the centre and your policy. Before you book, check which doctors are in your insurer’s network and ask if there will be a gap to pay.
What isn’t usually covered?
Basic OSHC doesn’t usually cover routine dental check-ups, glasses or physiotherapy. If you expect to use these services, look at extra cover and check how much it pays back and what limits apply.
Prescription cover has limits too. Having a prescription doesn’t mean your insurer will refund the full cost. Your policy will say which medicines it covers and how much you can claim. If you take regular medication, check this with the insurer before choosing a policy.
Planning a trip outside Australia during the holidays? OSHC doesn’t usually cover medical treatment overseas, so check whether you need separate travel insurance.
How much does OSHC cost?
As a rough guide, budget around 650 to 950 AUD for twelve months of cover for one person. Your quote may fall outside that range, depending on the insurer, policy and dates.
To work out the cost, we’ll look at:
- How long you need cover for.
- The insurer and policy you choose.
- Whether you need cover just for yourself or for other people too.
- Any extra cover you’d like.
If your visa situation allows a partner or children to be included, we’ll need a quote for the people travelling with you. Couple and family cover can cost much more than a single policy, so doubling an individual price is unlikely to give you a reliable budget.
We’ll get a price for the dates you actually need and include it with your course fees and other costs. The annual figure helps with planning, but your stay may call for a shorter or longer policy.
Which dates does your insurance need to cover?
Your policy may need to start before your course and finish after it.
Applying from outside Australia? Your cover needs to start on the day you arrive, even if classes begin later. At the other end, allow for any time you’ll stay after the course and the expected length of your visa.
For example, if you arrive on 3 March for classes starting on 17 March, you need cover from 3 March. The days before your course starts still need to be covered.
If you’re taking English followed by VET, we’ll arrange cover for both parts of your stay, so it continues as you move between courses.
What “waiting period” means
Some benefits won’t be available straight away. The time before you can claim them is called a waiting period. You’ll find these periods in the policy’s terms.
This is especially worth checking if you have a pre-existing condition or symptoms, need a specific treatment, or want pregnancy cover. The waiting periods and rules can differ from one policy to another.
If that’s relevant to you, let us know before you take out cover. We’ll help you ask the insurer what’s covered and when you’d be able to claim.
How to use your insurance in Australia
Save your policy number and the insurer’s assistance contact details somewhere easy to find. If there’s an app, install it before you need it so you can quickly look up your cover.
For non-urgent care, check which doctors work with your insurer and how you’ll be charged. Some bill the insurer directly; others ask you to pay and claim the money back afterwards. Keep the invoices and receipts you’ll need for your claim.
In an emergency, get medical help straight away. Call 000 in Australia. Once you’re able to, contact your insurer to let them know what’s happened and check your cover.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the travel insurance I already have?
Regular travel insurance doesn’t replace the OSHC required for a student visa. You can have both, but check that your cover meets the requirements for your application.
Can I choose my insurer?
Yes. You can choose from authorised OSHC providers, and we’ll recommend an option that suits you.
What if my travel dates change?
If you arrive sooner or stay longer, we’ll need to check your policy. We’ll ask the insurer how to change the cover dates and whether there’s any difference in price.
Can Australian Way arrange the insurance?
Yes. We’ll help you arrange health insurance alongside your course, check the dates and get a price before you commit.
Tell us what you’d like to study and how long you’re thinking of staying. We’ll work through the budget with you so you know what to arrange before you leave.
