Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) helps international students manage eligible healthcare costs while studying in Australia. However, having OSHC does not mean that every medical or healthcare expense will be covered.
Depending on the policy, students may still need to pay for services that are excluded, subject to waiting periods or benefit limits, or cost more than the benefit payable by their insurer.
Understanding these limitations before purchasing OSHC can help you choose suitable cover and reduce the risk of unexpected healthcare expenses while living in Australia.
OSHC is designed to provide benefits towards a range of eligible medical and hospital services for international students.
Depending on the insurer, policy and circumstances, benefits may be available for services such as:
The amount paid by the insurer can depend on the particular service, applicable benefit limits, policy conditions and the fees charged by the healthcare provider.
This means that a service being covered by OSHC does not necessarily mean you will have no out-of-pocket expense.
For a broader explanation of Student Visa health insurance, read our Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) guide.
Standard OSHC is primarily designed to help with eligible medical and hospital expenses. It does not generally cover every type of healthcare service a student may use.
Depending on the policy, services that may not be included in standard OSHC can include:
Students should always check the current policy documents for the specific insurer and product because exclusions, limits and benefits can differ.
Routine dental services such as check-ups, cleaning, fillings and other general dental treatment are not usually included in standard OSHC.
Students who want benefits towards eligible dental services may need to consider separate Extras cover or another suitable product.
Standard OSHC does not generally provide benefits for items such as prescription glasses or contact lenses.
Students who regularly use glasses or contact lenses should check whether optional Extras cover is available and compare the additional premium with the benefits and limits provided.
Services such as physiotherapy and some other ancillary treatments may not be included under standard OSHC.
If these services are important to you, check the policy carefully before purchasing and determine whether separate Extras cover is available.
Cosmetic procedures and treatments that are not considered medically necessary may be excluded from OSHC.
Always check the insurer's policy terms before arranging treatment if you are unsure whether a particular service is eligible for benefits.
OSHC may provide benefits for treatment related to pre-existing conditions, but a waiting period may apply before certain benefits become payable.
A pre-existing condition is generally assessed according to the terms and rules applying to the particular OSHC policy. It is therefore important not to assume that treatment will be immediately covered simply because you have purchased OSHC.
If you have a pre-existing condition, check:
If you require treatment during an applicable waiting period, you may need to pay some or all of the cost yourself.
Before purchasing OSHC, review the insurer's current policy documents or contact the insurer if you need clarification about how a pre-existing condition may be treated under the policy.
OSHC may provide benefits towards eligible pregnancy and birth-related medical and hospital services, but waiting periods and policy conditions can apply.
If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or may require pregnancy-related treatment while studying in Australia, it is particularly important to check your policy before relying on OSHC benefits.
Consider:
If treatment is required before an applicable waiting period has been served, some or all of the costs may need to be paid by you.
Because pregnancy-related healthcare can involve significant expenses, check the current policy documents of the particular OSHC insurer before purchasing or planning treatment.
OSHC may provide benefits towards the cost of certain eligible prescription medicines, but this does not necessarily mean the full cost of every medicine will be covered.
Depending on the insurer and policy, there may be:
If you take medication regularly, prescription medicine benefits can be an important factor when comparing OSHC policies.
Before choosing a policy, check the insurer's current policy information to understand which medicines may be eligible, the applicable benefit limits and any out-of-pocket costs you may need to pay.
Don't include specific dollar limits in this general article because these can vary between policies and change over time.
Yes. Having OSHC does not necessarily mean that every eligible healthcare service will be provided at no cost.
An out-of-pocket cost is the amount you may need to pay yourself after any applicable OSHC benefit has been paid.
Out-of-pocket expenses may arise when:
For example, if a medical provider charges more than the amount your insurer pays towards an eligible service, you may need to pay the difference.
Before arranging non-emergency treatment, it can be useful to check with your insurer and healthcare provider about the expected benefit and whether you are likely to have a gap or other out-of-pocket expense.
Understanding these potential costs is an important part of choosing OSHC based on overall value rather than premium alone.
International students may be able to purchase Extras cover in addition to their OSHC. Extras is designed to provide benefits towards certain healthcare services that may not be included in standard OSHC.
Depending on the insurer and product, Extras may provide benefits towards services such as:
Extras cover is generally an additional product or level of cover, so it can increase the overall cost of your health insurance.
Before adding Extras, check:
Extras will not necessarily be worthwhile for every international student. Whether it provides value depends on the services you expect to use and the benefits available under the particular product.
Students should review the current policy information before purchasing Extras rather than assuming that dental, optical or other services will automatically be covered.
Even with OSHC, students can sometimes face healthcare expenses that are not fully covered. Understanding your policy before receiving treatment can help reduce unexpected costs.
Consider these steps:
Taking these steps cannot guarantee that you will have no out-of-pocket expenses, but it can help you better understand the costs you may face before receiving treatment.
Understanding what OSHC does and does not cover is an important part of choosing suitable health insurance for your Student Visa.
Before purchasing, compare available policies based on your own circumstances. Consider the premium as well as hospital and medical benefits, prescription medicine benefits, waiting periods, exclusions and potential out-of-pocket costs.
At 500 Visa Insurance, international students can compare available OSHC options from:
The policy that is suitable for one student may not necessarily be the best option for another, so review the available price and policy information before making your decision.
For a side-by-side comparison, visit our OSHC comparison page.
Standard OSHC does not generally cover routine dental treatment such as check-ups, cleaning and fillings. Students who want benefits towards eligible dental services may need to consider separate Extras cover.
Standard OSHC does not generally provide benefits for prescription glasses or contact lenses. Optical benefits may be available through optional Extras cover, depending on the insurer and product.
Physiotherapy may not be included under standard OSHC. Students who expect to use physiotherapy should check their policy and whether suitable Extras cover is available.
OSHC may provide benefits for treatment related to pre-existing conditions, but waiting periods and other policy conditions may apply. Check the insurer's current policy documents for the rules that apply to your cover.
Eligible pregnancy and birth-related services may be covered under OSHC, but waiting periods and policy conditions can apply. Students planning a pregnancy should check the relevant policy details carefully.
OSHC may provide benefits towards certain eligible prescription medicines. Benefit limits and other conditions can apply, and students may still have an out-of-pocket cost.
Not necessarily. Depending on the service, provider charges and policy benefits, you may still have an out-of-pocket expense even when the treatment is eligible for an OSHC benefit.
Depending on the insurer and product, students may be able to purchase Extras cover that provides benefits towards eligible dental, optical and other ancillary services. Check the additional premium, waiting periods and benefit limits before purchasing.
OSHC provides important health insurance for international students in Australia, but it does not cover every healthcare expense. Services such as routine dental treatment, optical services and some ancillary treatments may not be included in standard OSHC, while waiting periods, benefit limits and other policy conditions can also affect what you can claim.
Even when a medical service is covered, you may still have an out-of-pocket cost depending on the benefit payable and the amount charged by the healthcare provider.
Before purchasing OSHC, review the policy's benefits, exclusions, waiting periods and limits carefully. If you need services such as dental, optical or physiotherapy, consider whether optional Extras cover is suitable for your circumstances.
At 500 Visa Insurance, international students can compare available OSHC options from Allianz Care, Bupa and nib and review available policy information before making a decision.
For assistance:
Email: info@500visainsurance.com.au
Call: 0479 070 270
WhatsApp: +61 479 070 270