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Health cover

Health Cover for International Students and Visitors

Understand the difference between Overseas Student Health Cover and Overseas Visitors Health Cover, then explore participating insurers through BIG STEP's referral links.

Explore Insurance ProvidersUnderstand OSHC and OVHC

BIG STEP is not an insurer, insurance broker, underwriter or financial adviser. This page provides general information only - see the full disclosure and disclaimer further down the page.

A general practitioner talking with an international student during an unhurried consultation in a bright, sunlit Australian clinic room
The basics

OSHC and OVHC are different products

Two different types of health cover come up most often for people arriving in Australia on a temporary visa. Here's the general difference - not a recommendation for your specific situation.

OSHCOverseas Student Health Cover

Overseas Student Health Cover is generally intended for international students and eligible accompanying family members.

It may be required for many Student visa holders throughout their stay in Australia.

OVHCOverseas Visitors Health Cover

Overseas Visitors Health Cover is designed for certain visitors, temporary workers, student guardians and other temporary visa holders.

The level of cover varies significantly between policies.

Check your visa conditions, the insurer's eligibility criteria and the policy documents before you arrange cover. This page gives general information only and is not migration or insurance advice.

A general guide

Which cover may apply?

A starting point for who typically looks at each product - not an eligibility assessment.

OSHC

OSHC may be relevant for

  • International students
  • Eligible spouses or partners included in student cover
  • Eligible dependent children
  • People who must maintain health insurance as part of their Student visa arrangements
OVHC

OVHC may be relevant for

  • Temporary skilled workers
  • Working holiday makers
  • Student guardians
  • Sponsored parent visa holders
  • Other temporary visitors
  • Visitors who want private health protection during their stay

Visa type alone does not determine whether a particular policy is suitable. Clients should check their visa conditions and confirm eligibility directly with the insurer.

OSHC Providers

Overseas Student Health Cover providers

Explore participating insurers below. Review each insurer's current policy documents on their own website before you decide.

Official provider logo

Allianz Care Australia

Referral pending
OSHC

Offers Overseas Student Health Cover products for eligible international students. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Student cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit Allianz Care Australia's official website
Official provider logo

Medibank

Referral pending
OSHC

Offers Overseas Student Health Cover products for eligible international students. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Student cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit Medibank's official website
Official provider logo

Bupa

Referral pending
OSHC

Offers Overseas Student Health Cover products for eligible international students. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Student cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit Bupa's official website
Official provider logo

nib

Referral pending
OSHC

Offers Overseas Student Health Cover products for eligible international students. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Student cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit nib's official website
Official provider logo

ahm

Referral pending
OSHC

Offers Overseas Student Health Cover products for eligible international students. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Student cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit ahm's official website
OVHC Providers

Overseas Visitors Health Cover providers

Explore participating insurers below. Review each insurer's current policy documents on their own website before you decide.

Official provider logo

Allianz Care Australia

Referral pending
OVHC

Offers health-cover products for eligible overseas visitors. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Visitor cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit Allianz Care Australia's official website
Official provider logo

Medibank

Referral pending
OVHC

Offers health-cover products for eligible overseas visitors. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Visitor cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit Medibank's official website
Official provider logo

Bupa

Referral pending
OVHC

Offers health-cover products for eligible overseas visitors. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Visitor cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit Bupa's official website
Official provider logo

nib

Referral pending
OVHC

Offers health-cover products for eligible overseas visitors. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Visitor cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit nib's official website
Official provider logo

HBF

Referral pending
OVHC

Offers health-cover products for eligible overseas visitors. Product availability, benefits and eligibility depend on the selected policy.

  • Visitor cover options for singles, couples and families
  • Policy documents and benefit limits published on the insurer's website
  • Claims and policy administration handled by the insurer
Referral link coming soon

Referral link coming soon. You can still review this insurer's cover options on their official website.

Visit HBF's official website

Being listed here does not mean every insurer has an active referral arrangement with BIG STEP - see the disclosure below for what a referral link means and how BIG STEP may benefit from it.

Referral and Commission Disclosure

BIG STEP Migration and Education Consultants may receive a commission, referral payment or other benefit when a client purchases an eligible insurance policy through one of the links on this page. Insurance prices, eligibility, benefits, exclusions, waiting periods and claim decisions are determined by the insurer.

BIG STEP may receive a referral payment. Please check the final premium and policy details before purchasing.

You are not required to purchase insurance through BIG STEP. You may approach an insurer directly or compare other available providers.

Important information about this page

BIG STEP is not the insurer and does not issue, underwrite, administer or determine claims under the policies displayed on this page.

Read the full disclaimer

Information on this page is general and does not take into account your personal circumstances, medical needs or financial objectives. Policy terms, premiums, eligibility, waiting periods, exclusions, excesses and benefits are determined by the relevant insurer and may change. Review the insurer's current policy documents and seek appropriate advice before purchasing.

Purchase of a policy does not guarantee the grant of a visa or demonstrate compliance with every visa condition. Clients remain responsible for confirming that their chosen cover meets their visa and personal requirements.

Before you buy

What to Check Before You Buy

Whichever provider you choose, compare these points using the insurer's own policy documents.

Suitability and dates

  • Whether the policy is suitable for your visa
  • Policy start and end dates
  • Family or dependent cover

What is covered

  • Hospital cover
  • GP and specialist benefits
  • Ambulance cover
  • Prescription medicine limits

Limits and waiting periods

  • Excesses and co-payments
  • Waiting periods
  • Pre-existing-condition rules
  • Pregnancy and birth-related waiting periods
  • Exclusions

Using and ending the policy

  • Direct-billing arrangements
  • Cancellation and refund rules
  • Claim submission methods
  • Policy documents and insurer contact details

This list is a prompt for your own comparison, not a summary of any policy. The insurer's current policy documents are the only place these details are set.

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This is a guide, not a legal determination.