How International Students Can Get Health Insurance in Australia: A 2026 Guide

International students in Australia must maintain mandatory Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for visa compliance, while optional travel insurance provides added protection for property and trip disruptions. Ensure continuous coverage through government-approved providers to secure your stay and access essential medical services across the country.

Travel Insurance (Optional)

While not required for a student visa, travel insurance protects your journey to Australia. Typical plans provide:

Property Protection:

Reimbursement for lost or damaged belongings, including laptops and phones.

Medical & Emergency:

Coverage for illnesses, accidents, and emergency repatriation.

Trip Disruption:

Reimbursement for food and lodging if connecting flights are delayed.

Personal Liability:

Protection against costs related to accidental injury to others or property damage.

What to Consider:

Check if your credit card includes travel insurance or if your health insurance provider offers it as an add-on.

Mandatory Health Insurance (OSHC)

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a requirement for all international students and must remain active for your entire stay. Allowing your OSHC to lapse can lead to automatic visa cancellation.

Proof Required:

You must apply for OSHC before submitting your student visa application.

What’s Covered:

Basic OSHC includes doctor (GP) visits, hospital treatment, emergency ambulance services, and some prescriptions.

What’s Not Covered:

Standard policies typically exclude dental, optical (glasses/exams), physiotherapy, and cosmetic surgery. You may purchase “Extras OSHC” to cover these services.

Purchasing Your Policy

You can purchase coverage from one of the six government-approved providers: Allianz, ahm, BUPA, Medibank, nib, or CBHS International Health.

Policy Types:

Choose from Single (student only), Dual (student plus partner or child), or Family (student, partner, and dependent children).

Digital Access:

Most providers offer mobile apps for 24/7 telehealth consultations and digital claims processing.

Refund Policy:

If your visa is refused, most providers offer a refund, typically processed within two to six weeks.

Health Examinations and Reciprocal Care

Health Exams:

Students staying over 12 months or those from high-risk countries (including most of South Asia) must complete physical and radiological exams with a government-approved panel doctor.

Reciprocal Agreements:

Students from certain countries (including the UK, Italy, and New Zealand) may access Medicare. However, OSHC is still mandatory regardless of these agreements.

Key Terms to Know: Gap Fees and Waiting Periods

A “gap fee” is the difference between what your doctor charges and what your OSHC insurer pays; the insurer covers its share, and you pay the rest. Some services have waiting periods, especially for pre‑existing conditions, and from 1 January 2026 insurers will begin removing waiting periods for pregnancy‑related treatment on OSHC policies that are two years or longer in duration.

Extra Support, Complaints, and Special Cases

If you ever have questions about what’s covered, how to claim, or where to find a doctor, your OSHC insurer can guide you step by step and may even pay approved doctors directly so you only pay any gap fee on the day. Students from certain countries, such as Norway, Belgium, and Sweden, may be covered by their own government arrangements and can be exempt from OSHC, but many still choose to buy OSHC for extra protection.