🩺OSHC · Overseas Student Health Cover

Health cover,sorted beforeyou arrive

OSHC is a mandatory requirement for a Student visa and must be paid upfront for the full duration of your visa. Your OSHC certificate, confirming that you are insured, must be included with your Student visa application.

We compare available providers and help you choose the cover that best suits your needs and budget, then arrange the policy and certificate for you.

Calm Australian beach - feeling safe and covered
📍Bondi · NSW
MANDATORY

05

Providers compared

📋What we cover

Everything
handled

You focus on your studies. We compare providers, lock cover dates to your visa, get the certificate, and walk you through claims when you arrive.

  • OSHC provider comparison (Medibank, Bupa, Allianz, AHM, NIB)
  • Single, couple, and family cover options
  • Cover period calculation based on your visa dates
  • Assistance with policy purchase and certificate
  • Explanation of what is and isn't covered
  • Upgrade advice for students with specific health needs
  • OSHC certificate ready for visa lodgement
  • Bulk-billed doctors guide once you arrive
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🏥Compare providers

Compare OSHC
providers

Australia has five approved OSHC providers. Here's how they stack up in 2026 - based on real student experience, not brochures.

Our top pick

Bupa

Edvise rating

Strongest network + best student support

The provider we recommend most often to Edvise students. Widest direct-billing hospital network, deepest campus medical partnerships, 24/7 nurse advice and one of the fastest claims experiences on the market.

  • Widest hospital direct-billing partnerships
  • Most Australian universities offer Bupa on campus
  • Fast certificate turnaround for visa lodgement
  • Easy renewals + visa extension top-ups
Get Bupa via EdviseView Bupa OSHC
Coverage spec04 · pillars
01Hospital
Largest direct-billing network
02Campus clinics
Direct-pay at most university centres
03Ambulance
Unlimited emergency, Australia-wide
04Support
24/7 nurse line + telehealth GP
Best fit for most Edvise students
Also approvedOther providers we work with
02 / 05

Medibank

24/7 student line

Australia's largest insurer. Dedicated Student Health & Support Line with nurses, counselling, legal advice and interpreters.

  • Largest overall insurer in Australia
  • 24/7 dedicated student hotline
  • Members' Choice hospital network
Visit site
03 / 05

AHM

Best budget option

Backed by Medibank - same hospital cover at a lower price. Bonus Student Rewards discounts (Apple, Samsung, Hoyts, Uber) and app-first service.

  • Cheaper premiums than Medibank
  • Same hospital network as Medibank
  • Student Rewards discounts included
Visit site
04 / 05

Allianz Care

Global flexibility

Ideal if you travel home often. Multilingual claims support, global emergency assistance and no waiting period for GP or psychiatric care.

  • Multilingual claims support
  • No GP or psychiatric waiting period
  • Worldwide emergency assistance
Visit site
05 / 05

nib

Digital-first

App-driven with fast digital claims and telehealth GP. Suits students happy with online service who rarely need a physical clinic.

  • Certificate delivery in ~5 minutes
  • Digital app + virtual GP included
  • Recognises previous waiting periods
Visit site
Standard cover

What every OSHC policy must include

Regardless of provider, every approved OSHC must cover the same minimum set of services (set by the Department of Home Affairs). Where providers differ is on network size, service quality, extras and price.

Hospital
100% MBS for in-hospital treatment
Medical
GP visits + specialists
Pharmacy
Subsidised prescriptions
Ambulance
Emergency transport
Not sure which fits?

Let us match you to the right cover

Tell us your budget, course length and where you'll study - we compare live prices from every provider and lock in your certificate before you fly.

Get matched now
🚦How it works

Four steps from
enquiry to claim

Tap any step to see what actually happens at that stage.

Step 01 / 04

Understand your cover requirements

We explain exactly what OSHC must cover, how long your policy needs to run, and what the mandatory inclusions are.

Step 02 / 04

Compare and choose a provider

We walk you through the main OSHC providers - Medibank, Bupa, Allianz, AHM and NIB - and match one to your situation.

Step 03 / 04

Purchase your policy

We help you buy the right policy and pull your OSHC certificate ready for your Student Visa application.

Step 04 / 04

Use it from day one in Australia

Once you arrive, we help you find bulk-billed doctors, register with a clinic, and understand how to claim.

💬Got questions?

We've answered
the same six

These are the OSHC questions almost every student asks first.

What is OSHC and is it mandatory?

Yes - Overseas Student Health Cover is required for the entire duration of your Student Visa 500. It's checked at lodgement.

Read visa requirements→

How much does OSHC cost?

Single cover usually sits around AUD $600-700 per year. Couple and family cover scales up. We compare for you.

Compare providers→

What does OSHC actually cover?

Hospital, GP visits, specialist consults, ambulance and some prescriptions. Dental, optical and physio usually need extras.

Get details→

Which provider should I choose?

Depends on your university, budget and travel habits. Some universities partner with specific providers - we'll flag that.

Talk to us→

Can my partner or kids be on my OSHC?

Yes - couple and family OSHC policies cover eligible dependants. Cover dates need to align with each person's visa.

Family cover guide→

What if I need treatment OSHC doesn't cover?

You can add extras cover or a top-up private policy. We advise students with pre-existing conditions on the right structure.

Plan ahead→
✨Why Edvise

Why students
choose us for OSHC?

  • We compare every major provider
  • Cover dates aligned to your visa
  • Certificate ready for lodgement
  • Sydney-based humans, not chatbots
  • Family cover sorted in one go
  • Help using it from day one
Ready to sort it?

OSHC, done before
you board the plane

Send us your CoE dates - we'll come back with a shortlist and the certificate ready to attach to your visa application.

🎓 Visa requirements →
Ask about courses & visas