Health Insurance (OSHC & OVC) - A Comprehensive Guide

Australian government requires people who come to Australia on various visa subclasses to have health insurance for work, study, or tourism, depending on the specific visa conditions.

Taking out health insurance ensures that those people don’t become a burden to the taxpayers of Australia, i.e., a burden on Medicare, and don’t have to pay out of pocket for medical costs.

• OSHC, known as Overseas Student Health Cover, is for student visa holders (subclass 500 visa), their dependents, and guardians.
• OVC, known as Overseas Visitor Cover, is for international workers on various working visas, as well as for tourists (optional).

Health insurance is required because, without it, you and, by extension, your dependents have to pay for the full cost of medical bills.

Note: The following students may be exempted from OSHC – health insurance:

• International students from Belgium, Norway, and Sweden may be exempted from these requirements.

• You have to pay the full premium when you take out health insurance.
• If you apply for a visa extension, you must purchase a new policy that meets visa requirements.
• You can purchase an insurance policy of Single, Couple, Single-parent, or Family, whichever fits your needs.
• Generally, visa holders have to wait 12 months for pregnancy-related conditions, and pre-existing medical conditions may also require you to wait 12 months. So, be alert to waiting periods.
• PS: Always check the policy wording document for included and excluded items.

The cost of health insurance, namely for OSHC & OVC, depends on policy type and insurance provider, as follows:

The approved providers of health insurance, OSHC & OVC are:

• Allianz Care Australia,
• Bupa Australia,
• Medibank and ahm (part of Medibank), and
• nib

Generally, health insurance providers offer 2 types of coverage: a compulsory/basic coverage plan or an additional coverage plan. Visa holders can choose whichever fits their budget and needs. Every insurance provider, by law, has to offer the following coverage (in the compulsory/basic plan):

• Your regular visit to the doctor.
• Treatment provided by hospitals, if any.
• Cost for ambulance, if any.
• Some limited amount of pharmaceuticals, if any.

Some of the common exclusions from the compulsory/basic coverage plan of health insurance are:

• Your regular dental checkups.
• Your regular optical services.
• If you are having cosmetic surgery, they are not covered.
• If you are having infertility treatments, they are not covered.
• Other treatments such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, and osteopathy.

Note: You may come across something called gap fees. So, what are gap fees?

Gap fees are basically the amount of money that is not covered by insurance providers, which you have to pay. All of these gap fees are determined by the MBS (Medical Benefits Schedule) released by the Australian government.

Having the right health insurance is important for studying, working, or visiting Australia. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is required for most international students, while Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) is designed for many temporary visa holders.

If you're unsure which cover is right for you or want to compare the best health insurance options, Search Education is here to help. Our experienced team can guide you through your options, explain your visa requirements, and help you find suitable cover at a competitive price.

Visit us at 147 King Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia, or contact us at [email protected] to speak with our team today.