Exactly what your student visa health cover includes, what it doesn't, and how to use it.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory health insurance for all international students — it is a visa condition and must be active for the entire duration of your visa. The five OSHC providers in Australia are Medibank, Bupa, AHM, Allianz Care Australia, and NIB. Understanding what OSHC covers — and what it does not — will prevent expensive surprises and help you access care without unnecessary out-of-pocket costs.
Your university arranged OSHC on your behalf when you paid your tuition, or you arranged it yourself. The provider is typically Medibank, Bupa, AHM, Allianz Care Australia, or NIB. Check your university offer letter, your email from the provider, or search your student portal. Download your provider's app — you'll need it to find covered GPs, hospitals, and to lodge claims.
OSHC covers: GP consultations, specialist visits (with a referral), public hospital treatment including emergency, selected pharmaceuticals listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and ambulance (varies by provider — some require a separate add-on). For hospitalisation, OSHC covers the standard ward rate at a public hospital. Emergency dental extractions are covered; routine dental is not.
Standard OSHC does not cover: routine dental (cleanings, fillings, braces), optical (glasses, contact lenses), physiotherapy, chiropractic, podiatry, elective cosmetic surgery, gym memberships, or treatment outside Australia. Some of these can be added through an OSHC upgrade or top-up policy — ask your provider if you need dental or optical cover.
Most OSHC providers have agreements with a network of GPs who charge the OSHC schedule fee, meaning you pay nothing at the appointment. Search for an 'OSHC-preferred provider' or 'no-gap GP' in your provider's app. If you see a GP outside this network, you may need to pay upfront and claim reimbursement — which usually takes 3–7 business days via the app.
OSHC is typically purchased to match your visa duration when you first enrol. If your visa is extended, your course is extended, or your enrolment changes, you must extend your OSHC to match. Log into your provider's website or app to check your cover end date. Letting it lapse — even for a single day — is a visa condition breach.
Students often assume OSHC is comprehensive health cover. It is not. A routine dental check-up costs $150–$300 out of pocket. Glasses cost $100–$500. A physiotherapy session costs $80–$120. Budget for these separately or purchase an OSHC upgrade that includes dental and optical cover.
OSHC covers you at the public hospital rate. If you are treated at a private hospital or choose a private room, the difference between the OSHC benefit and the hospital charge falls to you. Always ask whether a hospital is a public hospital, and confirm your OSHC covers the specific service before non-emergency treatment.