Common questions

OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) is health insurance for international students in Australia. On a student visa (subclass 500) you must hold OSHC for your whole stay under visa condition 8501, and a partner or children who come with you must be on the policy.

Yes. The visa application asks for your OSHC details, and the policy must start on or before the day you arrive.

The government sets the basic cover, so that's the same. They differ in specialist rebates, provider networks, extras, waiting periods and service; see the table on the OSHC page.

Fill in the form on the Buy page. Our licensed insurance partner then issues Bupa's official payment link, which we email to you. You pay on Bupa's site and Bupa issues your policy. Buying directly on Bupa's website is full price.

The Buy page has Allianz Care's official group link. You get a quote and pay on Allianz's own site, at the official price.

You pay the insurer directly; we never handle your premium. We and our licensed insurance partner may earn a commission from the insurer, which doesn't change your price.

Premiums are in AUD and paid on the insurer's site. Visa and Mastercard are accepted, and dual-currency cards issued in China generally work.

You need a couple or family policy. Choose the matching type on the form and add your family members' names and dates of birth in the notes. We'll get in touch to confirm.

From the day you arrive (or earlier) until your visa ends. The visa usually runs 1 to 2 months past the course, or to 15 March the following year for courses over 10 months ending in November or December. The date calculator works it out.

OSHC is for the student visa (subclass 500). OVHC is for other visas, such as the 485 graduate visa, work visas and visitor visas. When you move from a student visa to another visa, switch from OSHC to OVHC with no gap.

No. Once the new visa takes effect you need OVHC, joined to your OSHC with no gap. Arrange it before the 485 is granted.

Send us the new CoE and we'll arrange a date change or extension.

At the insurer's partner clinics you usually pay nothing, or just the gap. Elsewhere you pay first and claim it back.

An itemised invoice (clinic number, date, item codes), your member number, and an Australian bank account.

Basic OSHC doesn't include dental or optical. Bupa offers OSHC Extras as an add-on.

Bupa's student line supports many languages, and Allianz Care's Sonder app is available in Chinese. We can also contact the insurer for you.

Bupa: you can apply for a refund if your visa is refused, you don't come to Australia, or you finish your studies early and leave, with proof. Allianz Care: under Allianz's policy terms. We're happy to ask for you.

Yes. Upgrade from single to couple, single parent or family. The premium is recalculated for the new type.

Usually yes, as long as there's no gap. How waiting periods you've already served carry over depends on both insurers' rules, so ask us before you switch.

Submit your organisation's details on the For agents page. Once approved, we email you your agent code.

The same as for students: Bupa OSHC at 92%, Allianz Care and OVHC at the official price. We agree the commission with you directly.

Send students a link with your agent code; orders placed through that link are attributed to you.