How Much Does OSHC Cost? What Drives the Premium and How to Compare Quotes

International students on a temporary student visa must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of their visa. Dependants must also have suitable cover. The minimum requirements are set by the OSHC Deed, but meeting those requirements does not mean every insurer offers the same policy or benefits.

What OSHC costs

BlueTier’s own indicative figures, compiled from publicly available 2026 insurer rate sheets for standard OSHC, place a 12-month single-member policy between A$585 and A$668 a year across nib, ahm, Allianz Care Australia, Bupa and Medibank.

These figures are a reference range, not quotes. They do not establish which policy will cost least for a particular student, and they do not account for the applicant’s individual circumstances. BlueTier’s pricing disclosure identifies four inputs that can change an insurer’s actual price:

• age;
• cover level;
• start date; and
• promotions.

That is why two students can receive different prices from the same insurer. Their ages may differ, they may select different cover levels or start dates, or one may qualify for a promotion that is not available to the other. Any applicable promotion and its terms should be confirmed with the insurer.

Dependant and part-year policies also produce different numbers from a 12-month single policy. A couple, family or part-year quote should therefore be calculated for the relevant member type and duration rather than treated as a direct version of the single annual figure. BlueTier does not add fees on top of the insurer’s published price.

What drives the price and policy differences

The Australian Government’s Private Health Insurance site says the minimum requirements for OSHC are set out in the OSHC Deed. Study Australia describes basic OSHC as usually covering visits to a doctor, some hospital treatment, ambulance services and limited pharmaceuticals.

The pharmaceutical minimum is limited to $50 per item, with a maximum annual benefit of $500 for a single membership and $1,000 for a family membership. These minimum standards do not require every visa-compliant policy to provide identical broader benefits.

Allianz Care Australia Standard and Essentials

Allianz Care Australia’s student-visa comparison shows that OSHC Standard and OSHC Essentials both meet student-visa requirements. In the displayed comparison, they share the same core benefits:

• doctor visits outside hospital: 100% of the MBS fee;
• hospital treatment and accommodation: 85% of the MBS fee;
• emergency ambulance: 100% of insurable costs;
• X-rays and blood tests: 85% of the MBS fee; and
• medical repatriation: up to a maximum benefit of $100,000 per policy.

The listed differences are the pharmaceutical annual caps and psychology benefit. Both allow up to $50 per pharmaceutical item, but Standard has annual limits of $500 for Single and $1,000 for Dual and Multi-family cover. Essentials has higher annual limits of $750 for Single and $1,500 for Dual and Multi-family cover. Essentials also includes out-of-hospital psychology consultations up to $50 per consultation.

This comparison shows why “meets visa requirements” is not enough to establish that two policies are equivalent. One can be the legal minimum and another can add benefits while meeting the same visa condition. Cover level is therefore both a pricing input and a reason to compare the policy schedule, not only the headline premium.

These Allianz figures are a summary of benefits. Exclusions, limitations, waiting periods and the full policy wording also need to be checked.

Excess, co-payments and hospital choice

The premium is not the only possible cost when using OSHC. An excess or co-payment may apply depending on the level of cover selected. Bupa says it can discuss any excess or co-payment that applies to its cover.

Bupa also sets out important differences between hospital settings. At an agreement hospital, Bupa says a small number may charge a fixed daily fee that the member must pay. This is in addition to any excess or co-payment.

At a non-agreement private hospital, Bupa states: “You will have restricted cover for your hospital costs.” It also warns that the member is likely to face large out-of-pocket costs at these hospitals.

Being treated as a private patient in a public hospital is different again. Under Bupa’s wording, the insurer pays minimum benefits for shared-room accommodation as set by the Australian Government. This will usually cover a shared room, but the member may still have an amount to pay.

These are Bupa’s stated rules, not a universal description of every insurer’s policy. They nevertheless show why the hospital-network assumption belongs in a quote comparison. Two policies can have the same premium input but expose the member to different costs depending on the hospital, the type of admission and whether an excess, co-payment or fixed daily fee applies.

What basic OSHC does not pay for

OSHC does not pay for general treatment such as dental, optical or physiotherapy. These services are not included in the basic medical and hospital premium simply because a policy complies with the visa requirement.

To obtain cover for those services, look for Extras OSHC or a separate general treatment policy. When comparing plans, list this cover separately rather than folding it into the basic OSHC premium. One quote may appear lower partly because it excludes services that another quote includes through extras.

A fair OSHC comparison checklist

Use the same basis for each insurer’s quote:

• Member type: compare the same single, couple or family structure.
• Start date and duration: use the same start date and the same 12-month or part-year period.
• Visa-compliant cover level: compare policies that provide the relevant visa-compliant cover, then check the actual benefit schedules rather than relying on product names.
• Excess or co-payment: use the same amount or apply the same assumptions.
• Hospital-network assumption: make the same assumptions about agreement hospitals, non-agreement hospitals and private treatment in a public hospital.
• Extras: list dental, optical, physiotherapy and other general-treatment cover separately.
• Benefit limits: check pharmaceutical annual caps and any psychology or other additional benefits included in the selected tier.
• Likely out-of-pocket exposure: weigh the premium together with possible excess, co-payment, fixed daily fees, restricted-cover costs and capped or excluded services.

A lower premium alone does not show that a policy will cost less to use. The fairest comparison keeps the policy and hospital assumptions aligned, then considers both the quoted premium and the financial exposure the member is prepared to accept.

FAQ

How much does OSHC cost for a subclass 500 student?

BlueTier’s indicative figures, compiled from publicly available 2026 insurer rate sheets, range from A$585 to A$668 for a 12-month single OSHC policy. These are reference figures rather than quotes. The actual price depends on age, cover level, start date and any promotions, while dependants and part-year cover change the final number.

Does every OSHC policy that meets the visa requirement provide the same cover?

No. The OSHC Deed sets the minimum requirements, but insurers offer different tiers within that framework. For example, Allianz Care Australia Standard and Essentials share several core benefits but have different pharmaceutical annual caps, and Essentials includes a psychology benefit.

Can I add cover for dental, optical and physiotherapy?

OSHC does not pay for dental, optical or physiotherapy. To have those services covered, look for Extras OSHC or a separate general treatment policy. Compare that cover as a separate premium line rather than assuming it is part of basic OSHC.

What out-of-pocket costs can arise when I use a private hospital?

Under Bupa’s terms, treatment at a non-agreement private hospital attracts restricted hospital cover and is likely to result in large out-of-pocket costs. An agreement hospital may charge a fixed daily fee in addition to an excess or co-payment. As a private patient in a public hospital, minimum shared-room benefits may apply, but Bupa says there may still be an amount to pay.

General information only. Confirm current terms, eligibility and policy wording before buying cover.