As an International Student, you must have valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). This is a condition (8501 – Maintain adequate health insurance) of your student visa.

You need to have a valid OSHC before you apply for your student visa.
The Department of Home Affairs (“DoHA”) grants the student visa based on the length of the course, and you need to purchase OSHC as per the DoHA guidelines.

1. If your course duration is less than 10 months, the DoHA usually grant a visa 1 month longer than your course length.

2. If your course duration is more than 10 months and finishes between January and October, the DoHA usually grant a visa 2 months longer than your course length

3. If your course duration is more than 10 months and finishes between November and December (Australian Academic Year), the DoHA usually grant a visa until 15 March of the following year.

OSHC assists international students to meet the costs of medical and hospital care, which you may need while in Australia.

OSHC also includes ambulance cover and limited pharmaceuticals. OSHC also gives you peace of mind knowing your health will be looked after and you can easily access medical services while you are in Australia.

How much you pay for OSHC depends on the type of cover you need. For example:

• Singles – covering only the overseas student who is the primary Student Visa holder

  Dual family – covering the overseas student, and either:

  One adult spouse or de facto partner

  One or more children under the age of 18 years old

• Multi-family – covering the overseas student and more than one dependant, which can include:

  Only one adult spouse or de facto partner

  One or more dependent children

 

BUPA Australia, Allianz Care Australia (Peoplecare), ahm OSHC, CBHS International Health, Medibank Private, and NIB OSHC provide the OSHC in Australia.

3BEES can organise the OSHC policy according to your preferences and requirements.

When your visa status or Medicare eligibility changes, inform your insurer so they can find a suitable policy. When your student visa expires, you are no longer eligible to hold OSHC. OVC is suitable for many temporary working and non-working visas, such as subclasses 188, 400, 403, 407, 408, 417, 462, 482, 485, 489, and 600. You can also contact us to find a suitable policy based on your visa subclass. You can then switch to an appropriate cover. Link to check Overseas Visitors Health Cover plan.