Overseas Student Health Cover: what international students need to know

Health insurance is easy to overlook when you are planning a move to study. For international students in Australia, it is not optional.

A condition of your visa

The Australian Government's privatehealth.gov.au explains that if you are in Australia on a temporary student visa, maintaining adequate health insurance for your whole stay is a condition of your visa. That means buying Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and keeping it up to date while you hold a student visa.

What OSHC covers

OSHC helps international students meet the costs of medical and hospital care they may need while in Australia. It also includes ambulance cover and limited pharmaceuticals. The exact benefits depend on the policy, so read your insurer's details.

Avoiding gaps

Because OSHC is a visa requirement, take care to keep it active. The site notes that if you fall behind on payments or renewals you can continue your cover, but you may not be able to claim for services you received while you were in arrears. Setting up automatic payments and a renewal reminder helps.

When things change

• If your visa status or Medicare eligibility changes, tell your insurer as soon as possible to check your cover is still suitable.

• When your student visa ends, you are no longer eligible to hold OSHC. You can move to resident cover or Overseas Visitors Health Cover, depending on your situation.

A note on Medicare

Students from some countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia may also be able to access Medicare. privatehealth.gov.au lists the details, and the rules differ by country.

This is general information. Check your visa conditions and policy documents for your own circumstances.