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HEALTH INSURANCE (OSHC & OVHC)

A Comprehensive Approach - Get the right cover for your visa

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

If you are planning to study in Australia then you know Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a mandatory condition under student visa and you need to keep your policy up to date whilst you are in Australia and holding a student visa. You need to buy OSHC before you apply for Australian student visa.

 

We are here to make it easy for you to find the best cover to suit your needs.

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Why do I need OSHC?

OSHC helps you cover the cost of hospital and medical treatment whilst you are studying in Australia including:

  1. Doctor (GP)/specialist consultations

  2. Hospital services cost including accommodation. As an OSHC member you can choose to go to Private or Public Hospital for your treatment

  3. Medical Tests such as X-Rays and Blood Test

  4. Emergency Ambulance

  5. Prescription medicine

 

OSHC essentially provides benefits similar to what Australian citizens receive through national health system - Medicare.

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What does OSHC not cover?

OSHC does not cover items such as:

  • OSHC does not pay for general treatment (ancillary or extras cover) such as:

  1. Dental,

  2. Optical 

  3. Physiotherapy

  • Procedures not recognised by Medicare

  • Cosmetic surgery (that is not clinically necessary and where benefits are not payable by Medicare)

  • Non-emergency ambulance

  • Assisted reproductive services

  • Experimental treatment

  • Repatriation

  • any treatment rendered outside of Australia or any treatment arranged in advance of the dependant's or overseas student's arrival in Australia

  • Any pre-existing condition treatment within first 12 months of the cover after arrival in Australia

 

Please check with your insurer for any specific individual service if you are not sure about the coverage. If you require cover for services such as dental, physiotherapy and optical, you may take Extras OSHC provided by an OSHC provider or general treatment cover with any Australian private health insurer.

 

Who can offer OSHC?

Only a small number of registered health insurers offer OSHC:

Ahm OSHC

Allianz Global Assistance (Peoplecare Health)

BUPA Australia

CBHS International Health

Medibank Private

NIB OSHC

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What support Trans-Consult Education can provide?

We have done the legwork for you by selecting and comparing all Australian government approved insurance providers.

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These approved providers offer:

1. Discounts exclusive to their members

2. Easy claims process

3. Value for money

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Also, see our FAQs for more information.

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Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC)

If you are a visitor to Australia, and one of your visa conditions is 8501: Health Insurance then you (and your family) will require OVHC during your stay in Australia. If you are on a visa subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage), visa subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa, and any other visa subclass with 8501 condition then you require an appropriate level of health insurance.

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Visa subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) and OSHC

If you hold a valid Student visa at the time you apply for the Subclass 485 visa, you will already be covered under an OSHC policy as a condition of your student visa requirement. Your existing OSHC is considered acceptable health insurance at the time you lodge your 485 visa application and you should submit evidence of this with your visa application. You will still need to take out a 485-compliant health insurance cover during the visa processing period in order for your 485 visa application to be finalised.

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Unlike OSHC policy, OVHC policy does not require upfront payment for the duration of the visa and can be paid as a regular monthly payment.

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Speak to us to arrange the appropriate level of cover based on your needs and visa type with one of the approved OSHC or OVHC insurers.

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