Frequently asked questions
Most Australian residents are covered by the Australian national health program, Medicare, which covers a significant portion of their medical costs. International students aren’t eligible for Medicare (unless they are covered under a country's Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia). To ensure you have some of your medical expenses covered while you’re in Australia, you need OSHC.
There are three reasons why you should take out student cover (OSHC):
- It is a requirement for international students while they study in Australia.
- OSHC keeps you protected against the costs of medical treatment if you get sick or have an accident. Some treatments can cost thousands of dollars!
- Your cover will help lessen the impact of costs on the Australian health system. This helps our country continue to bring in international students.
You must be covered for the full length of your stay in Australia under your student visa.
OSHC is only available for students on a valid student visa. If you’re on a visa with condition 8501, you will need to change your cover to Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC).
