Prices updated 12 November 2026. Written by the Study Anywhere team.
How much does OSHC cost for international students?
For 12 months of basic cover starting 1 December 2026, the lowest single OSHC is $660.28 with AHM, including a limited-time discount (T&Cs apply). Couples and single parents start at $5,351, and families at $9,515, both with Allianz Care. Prices updated 12 November 2026, in Australian dollars, from OSHC Australia.
Disclosure: Study Anywhere may earn a commission if you buy OSHC through our partner links, at no extra cost to you. Prices through our link are the same as on OSHC Australia’s own website.
OSHC prices compared: 12 months, 2026/27
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is the health insurance every Student visa (subclass 500) holder must have in Australia. Every basic OSHC policy meets the visa requirement, so the cheapest one is just as valid for your visa as the most expensive. Here is what a 12-month basic policy costs with each provider compared on OSHC Australia:
Quote buttons are partner links to OSHC Australia. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
| OSHC provider | Single student | Couple or single parent | Family | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allianz Care | $665 | $5,351 (cheapest) | $9,515 (cheapest) | Get a quote |
| AHM OSHC | $660.28 (cheapest) | $7,126.61 | $15,092.76 | Get a quote |
| Bupa | $713 | $5,528 | $13,692 | Get a quote |
| Medibank | $683.05 | $6,302.40 | $15,427.19 | Get a quote |
Want a quote for your exact dates? Compare all four providers and buy your policy online.
Need a different length of cover? Our OSHC price calculator shows prices for 1 to 60 months for singles, couples and families.
What about nib? nib also sells OSHC, but it isn’t part of the OSHC Australia comparison, so it isn’t in our tables. If you want to compare nib as well, get a quote on nib’s own website and check it against the prices above. Not sure what to compare? Our simple checklist for comparing OSHC providers helps.
Cheapest single OSHC from $660.28
Get your OSHC quote in a few minutes
Compare Allianz Care, AHM, Bupa and Medibank side by side for your exact dates, then buy your policy online.
Get my quote →Partner link to OSHC Australia. Prices updated 12 November 2026.
Cheapest OSHC for a single student
AHM OSHC is the cheapest single OSHC at $660.28 for 12 months, including a limited-time discount (regular price $681.40). Allianz Care is a close second at $665, followed by Medibank ($683.05 with its discount, regular price $719) and Bupa ($713). The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive single policy is only $52.72 a year, so for single students the choice often comes down to cover details rather than price.
Quote buttons are partner links to OSHC Australia. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
| OSHC provider | 6 months | 12 months | 24 months | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AHM OSHC | $330.14 | $660.28 | $1,341.19 | Get a quote |
| Allianz Care | $334 | $665 | $1,350 | Get a quote |
| Medibank | $341.53 | $683.05 | $1,384.15 | Get a quote |
| Bupa | $357 | $713 | $1,449 | Get a quote |
Get a quote for the cheapest single OSHC
Cheapest OSHC for couples and single parents
New rules from 2 October 2026: most new Student visa applicants can no longer include a partner or children in their application. You may still be able to include family if you’re studying a PhD, sponsored by DFAT or Defence, receiving a foreign government scholarship, or an eligible student from a Pacific or ASEAN country. If your family is already on your current Student visa and you apply again in Australia, you may be able to include them in your next application. Family members can’t be added after a Student visa is granted, and applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are assessed under the old rules. Check the details on the Department of Home Affairs website.
If your partner is included in your Student visa, Allianz Care is the most affordable couple OSHC at $5,351 for 12 months, followed by Bupa at $5,528. AHM, the cheapest for single students, is the most expensive for couples at $7,126.61 even with its limited-time discount, so choosing the right provider saves you more than $1,700 a year. A single parent with one child pays the same price as a couple with every provider. For more prices and cover lengths, see our guide to OSHC for couples and families.
Cheapest OSHC for families
If your partner and children can be included in your Student visa under the rules above, family OSHC prices vary the most. Allianz Care costs $9,515 for 12 months, more than $5,900 less than Medibank, the most expensive provider at $15,427.19 including its limited-time discount. The family price was the same whether we quoted one or two children. Our couples and families guide compares longer policies too.
Couples and families
Save over $5,900 a year with the right provider
Family OSHC ranges from $9,515 to $15,427.19 for 12 months. See the price for your family before you pay.
See family prices →Partner link to OSHC Australia. Prices updated 12 November 2026.
Worked example: OSHC for your whole visa
Your OSHC has to cover your whole Student visa, not just one year, and your visa often runs a little longer than your course. Say you’re starting a two-year Master’s degree and your visa is granted for 26 months. Here is what 26 months of basic cover costs with each provider:
Quote buttons are partner links to OSHC Australia. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
| OSHC provider | Single student | Couple or single parent | Family | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AHM OSHC | $1,471.86 (cheapest) | $15,779.73 | $37,852.97 | Get a quote |
| Allianz Care | $1,487 | $11,331 (cheapest) | $20,162 (cheapest) | Get a quote |
| Medibank | $1,516.34 | $13,941.35 | $38,522.36 | Get a quote |
| Bupa | $1,569 | $12,560 | $35,324 | Get a quote |
For a single student, the gap over 26 months is $97.14, so pick the cover you like best. For a couple the right choice saves $4,448.73, and for a family $18,360.36. Check the end date on your visa grant, then use our OSHC calculator to price your exact number of months.
How to pay less for OSHC: 5 tips
- Compare all providers before you buy. The cheapest provider depends on your cover type: AHM is cheap for singles but the most expensive for couples. Compare OSHC quotes here.
- Match your visa dates exactly. The price grows with the length of cover (for example $334 for 6 months and $665 for 12 months with Allianz Care), so don’t buy more months than your Student visa needs. Check the correct OSHC duration.
- Choose basic cover if it meets your needs. Every basic OSHC policy meets the Student visa health insurance requirement (visa condition 8501).
- Check current offers. AHM OSHC and Medibank have a limited-time discount on OSHC Australia. T&Cs apply. Check your quote before you pay, and read what the AHM and Medibank discount saves you.
- Compare and buy your own cover. You can choose any approved provider and pick the cheapest option yourself, rather than being locked into your school’s default insurer at a set price. Buying your own is usually cheaper.
Buying OSHC from overseas before your visa
Most students buy their own OSHC from home, before they apply for the Student visa, so they can compare providers and pick the cheapest option. Whether you are buying from the UK, Japan, Malaysia, India or anywhere else outside Australia, these are the things to get right:
- Buy your own cover before you lodge your visa. Compare all approved providers and pick the cheapest option yourself, rather than being locked into your school’s default insurer. You need paid OSHC when you apply, then enter the insurer, cover dates and policy number in your visa application. Home Affairs refuses applications without it. If your school has already arranged cover, the insurer and dates appear on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and you won’t need a policy number for the form.
- Start it on the day you arrive. Your cover must start from the day you arrive in Australia, not the day your course starts. Many students land one to four weeks early, so choose your planned arrival date, and don’t enter Australia before your policy begins.
- Cover the whole visa, not just the course. Use the course dates on your CoE to work out how long your visa will be. It usually runs a little past your course end date, and your OSHC needs to cover that extra time too. Our OSHC calculator prices any number of months.
- Pay in your own currency. OSHC Australia takes payment through Flywire, so depending on your country you can usually pay in your home currency by card or bank transfer. Card payments are the quickest, and your OSHC certificate usually arrives by email within minutes.
- If your visa is delayed or refused. If your arrival date moves, ask to change your policy start date before the cover begins. Date changes can take one to two business days. If your visa is refused, you can cancel your OSHC and get a full refund of what you paid.
Rules can change, so check the Home Affairs Student visa page before you apply. You can compare OSHC quotes and buy online from anywhere in the world.
Applying for your Student visa?
Sort your OSHC before you lodge your visa
You need OSHC for the whole length of your Student visa. Compare all 4 providers and buy your cover online in one place.
Buy OSHC online →Partner link to OSHC Australia. Prices updated 12 November 2026.
Can you switch to a cheaper OSHC provider?
Yes. You can change your OSHC insurer at any time during your studies, as long as there is no break in your cover. Before you switch, check the waiting periods and the refund rules of your current policy, then buy the new policy so it starts the day after the old one ends. Compare OSHC providers before you switch.
OSHC if you apply for another Student visa in Australia
Since 2 October 2026, most Student visa holders can no longer apply for another Student visa while in Australia. You may still be able to apply onshore if, for example, you need up to 12 more months to finish your main course with the same provider, you have completed your main course and are moving up to a higher AQF level, you’re applying for a PhD, you’re sponsored by DFAT or Defence, or your provider has defaulted. Otherwise you’ll need to apply from outside Australia. Check the Home Affairs exemptions.
Either way, your OSHC must cover the whole period of the new visa, not just your new course. You can extend your current policy with your insurer or buy a new policy from a cheaper provider, as long as there is no gap between the two. Read about the onshore Student visa extension fee and use the OSHC calculator to price the extra months. Only need cover for a short course? See how many months of OSHC a short course needs.
OSHC vs OVHC: which one do you need?
OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) is for Student visa holders and their dependants. OVHC (Overseas Visitors Health Cover) is for most other temporary visa holders, for example graduates moving to a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), who also need adequate health insurance. If you hold or are applying for a Student visa, you need OSHC, not OVHC.
What does OSHC cover?
The compulsory basic OSHC plan usually covers:
- visits to the doctor (GP), at 100% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee with all four providers above
- some hospital treatment, including accident and emergency
- emergency ambulance
- limited prescription medicines, usually up to $500 per person a year
Specialists, pathology and X-rays are covered at 85% of the MBS fee with Allianz Care, AHM and Medibank, and at 100% with Bupa. Waiting periods apply, usually 12 months for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy-related services. OSHC doesn’t cover dental, optical or physiotherapy treatment, so you need separate extras cover for those. Find out more about OSHC on the Australian Department of Health website.
Quote buttons are partner links to OSHC Australia. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
| OSHC provider | Specialists, pathology and X-rays | Waiting periods | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bupa | 100% of the MBS fee | Usually 12 months for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy | Get a quote |
| Allianz Care | 85% of the MBS fee | Usually 12 months for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy | Get a quote |
| AHM OSHC | 85% of the MBS fee | Usually 12 months for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy | Get a quote |
| Medibank | 85% of the MBS fee | Usually 12 months for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy | Get a quote |
Same visa, lower price
Don’t pay more for the same visa-compliant cover
Every basic OSHC policy meets the Student visa requirement. Prices through our link are the same as on OSHC Australia’s own website.
Find cheapest OSHC →Partner link to OSHC Australia. Prices updated 12 November 2026.
Cheapest OSHC Australia: frequently asked questions
As of 12 November 2026, AHM OSHC has the cheapest basic single OSHC on OSHC Australia at $660.28 for 12 months (1 December 2026 to 30 November 2027), including a limited-time discount (T&Cs apply). Allianz Care is a close second for single students at $665 and the cheapest for couples and single parents ($5,351) and families ($9,515).
A 12-month basic OSHC policy for one international student costs between $660.28 (AHM OSHC) and $713 (Bupa) on OSHC Australia as of 12 November 2026. Allianz Care costs $665 and Medibank $683.05. The AHM and Medibank prices include a limited-time discount on OSHC Australia (T&Cs apply).
For 12 months, couple and single-parent OSHC costs from $5,351 (Allianz Care) to $7,126.61 (AHM), and family OSHC costs from $9,515 (Allianz Care) to $15,427.19 (Medibank), as of 12 November 2026, with the AHM and Medibank limited-time discounts included.
Yes. Every basic OSHC policy from an approved insurer meets the health insurance requirement of the Student visa (subclass 500), including the cheapest one. Choosing a cheaper policy does not affect your visa.
Yes. You can change your OSHC insurer at any time, as long as there is no break in your cover. Check the waiting periods and refund rules before you switch.
Since 2 October 2026 most Student visa holders can only apply for another Student visa in Australia if an exemption applies, for example needing up to 12 more months with the same provider. If you can apply, your OSHC must cover the whole period of your new Student visa. You can extend your current policy or buy a new one from a cheaper provider, as long as there is no gap in cover.
Yes. Buy your own cover before you apply so you can compare all approved providers and pick the cheapest option, rather than being locked into your school’s default insurer. You need paid OSHC for the length of your visa, and you enter the insurer, cover dates and policy number in your visa application. Your cover must start on the day you arrive in Australia. If your school has already arranged cover, the insurer and dates appear on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and you won’t need a policy number for the form.
Yes. OSHC Australia takes payment through Flywire, so depending on your country you can usually pay in your home currency by card or bank transfer. Card payments are the quickest, and your certificate usually arrives by email within minutes.
If your arrival date moves, ask to change your policy start date before the cover begins. If your visa is refused, you can cancel your OSHC and get a full refund of what you paid.
Five insurers sell OSHC, according to the Australian Department of Health: Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, Medibank, ahm (part of Medibank) and nib. OSHC Australia compares Allianz Care, AHM, Bupa and Medibank; nib was not listed in its comparison.
No. Basic OSHC does not cover dental, optical or physiotherapy treatment. You need separate extras cover for those.
Related OSHC and Student visa guides
- OSHC for couples and families: prices compared
- AHM and Medibank OSHC discount: what it saves you
- How to compare OSHC providers: a simple checklist
- OSHC for short courses and English classes
- Cheapest courses in Australia for international students
- OSHC price calculator: compare OSHC for 1 to 60 months
- How to get the cheapest Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- What is OSHC and how long should your cover be?
- OSHC meaning for international students
- How much does an Australian Student visa cost in 2026?
- Browse courses for international students in Australia
Source and method: prices updated 12 November 2026 from OSHC Australia (oshcaustralia.com.au, powered by Flywire) for basic cover from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2027. On OSHC Australia, Allianz Care’s basic policy is shown under the Worldcare logo, Allianz Care’s original name. List of OSHC insurers: Australian Department of Health OSHC fact sheet. AHM OSHC and Medibank prices include a limited-time discount on OSHC Australia. T&Cs apply. Prices are in Australian dollars and can change. If you have questions, contact the Study Anywhere team.
