Moving to Australia with your partner or kids is a big step, and OSHC is one of the first bills you’ll see. Couple and family cover costs a lot more than single cover, and the gap between the cheapest and dearest insurer is much bigger too. On a 12-month family policy it’s more than $5,912. This guide shows what couple and family OSHC costs for common cover lengths, who comes out cheapest, and what to check before you buy. Prices updated 2 November 2026.
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.
Who needs couple or family OSHC?
If your partner or children are on your Student visa as dependants, they need OSHC for the whole time they’re in Australia on that visa. Most students buy one policy that covers everyone, rather than separate policies for each person.
On OSHC Australia there are three cover types:
- Single: just you.
- Couple: you and your partner. The same price also applies to a single parent with one child.
- Family: two parents with one, two or three children. If you’re a single parent with more than one child, choose the cover type carefully when you get your quote, and ask the insurer if you’re unsure.
Not sure what OSHC is or how long your policy should be? Start with our OSHC explainer, then come back here for prices.
Couple OSHC prices for 2026
Here’s what basic couple cover costs with each insurer for cover starting 1 December 2026. Prices are totals for the whole policy, not per month.
| Cover length | Allianz Care | AHM OSHC | Bupa | Medibank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $1,456 | $1,781.65 | $1,382 (cheapest) | $1,575.62 |
| 6 months | $2,914 | $3,563.30 | $2,764 (cheapest) | $3,151.20 |
| 9 months | $4,132 (cheapest) | $5,344.91 | $4,146 | $4,726.77 |
| 12 months | $5,351 (cheapest) | $7,126.61 | $5,528 | $6,302.40 |
| 18 months | $7,928 (cheapest) | $10,798.58 | $8,696 | $9,579.47 |
| 24 months | $10,503 (cheapest) | $14,470.66 | $11,594 | $12,856.63 |
The pattern is easy to spot. Bupa is cheapest for couples on shorter policies, up to 8 months, for example $2,764 for 6 months. From 9 months onwards Allianz Care takes over, and for 12 months it’s $5,351 compared with $7,126.61 for AHM. That’s a difference of $1,775.61 for the same visa-compliant basic cover.
Family OSHC prices for 2026
Family cover is where shopping around matters most. The prices below are for two parents with up to three children.
| Cover length | Allianz Care | AHM OSHC | Bupa | Medibank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months | $5,181 (cheapest) | $7,546.38 | $6,846 | $7,713.62 |
| 12 months | $9,515 (cheapest) | $15,092.76 | $13,692 | $15,427.19 |
| 18 months | $14,170 (cheapest) | $24,952.53 | $24,455 | $25,491.82 |
| 24 months | $18,692 (cheapest) | $34,812.29 | $32,607 | $35,556.55 |
Allianz Care is the cheapest family OSHC at every cover length in our data. For a 12-month policy it’s $9,515, while Bupa is $13,692, AHM is $15,092.76 and Medibank is $15,427.19. On a two-year policy the gap grows to more than $16,900.
Couples and families
Get a quote for your whole family
Pick your cover type and visa dates to see every insurer side by side.
Get my quote →Partner link to OSHC Australia. Prices updated 2 November 2026.
What about the AHM and Medibank discount?
AHM and Medibank currently have a limited-time discount when you buy an eligible policy through OSHC Australia by 28 February 2027. T&Cs apply. The prices above already include it. It’s genuinely useful for single students, but for couples and families Allianz Care and Bupa are still cheaper even after the discount. Our guide to the AHM and Medibank OSHC discount shows exactly how much it saves.
Tips before you buy couple or family cover
- Match your visa dates. Your policy needs to cover the full visa period for everyone on it, not just your course dates. Check the dates on your visa grant or your CoE before you choose a length.
- Plan for a partner who arrives later. If your family will join you after you start, talk to your insurer about upgrading from single to couple or family cover so there are no gaps.
- Pregnancy has a waiting period. Most OSHC policies have a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy and pre-existing conditions. If you’re planning a baby, read the policy details carefully.
- Know what’s not included. Basic OSHC covers GP visits at 100% of the MBS fee and a share of specialist fees, plus limited prescriptions. It doesn’t cover dental, optical or physio.
- You don’t have to take your school’s OSHC. Your provider may offer a policy, but you can usually buy your own and give them the details.
For a full side-by-side of single, couple and family prices, see our cheapest OSHC in Australia guide. If you’re still choosing between insurers on things other than price, our checklist for comparing OSHC providers walks you through it.
OSHC for couples and families: frequently asked questions
For cover starting 1 December 2026, basic couple OSHC on OSHC Australia costs from $2,764 for 6 months with Bupa and from $5,351 for 12 months with Allianz Care. Prices updated 2 November 2026. Prices change, so check your own quote.
A 12-month basic family policy starting 1 December 2026 costs $9,515 with Allianz Care, $13,692 with Bupa, $15,092.76 with AHM and $15,427.19 with Medibank. Prices updated 2 November 2026.
Yes. On OSHC Australia a single parent with one child pays the same price as a couple.
Yes. Dependants on your Student visa need OSHC for the whole time they’re in Australia on that visa. Most families buy one family policy that covers everyone.
In our data Bupa is cheapest for couples on policies up to 8 months, and Allianz Care is cheapest from 9 months onwards. Use the Study Anywhere OSHC calculator to check your exact length.
Related OSHC and Student visa guides
- OSHC price calculator: compare OSHC for 1 to 60 months
- Cheapest OSHC in Australia: 2026 prices compared
- OSHC for short courses and English classes
- AHM and Medibank OSHC discount
- How to compare OSHC providers
- What is OSHC and how long should your cover be?
- How much does an Australian Student visa cost in 2026?
Source and method: prices are totals in Australian dollars for basic OSHC, quoted on OSHC Australia on 2 November 2026 for cover starting 1 December 2026. Prices can change, so always check your quote before you pay. Cover details come from each insurer’s policy summary and the Department of Health OSHC fact sheet. This guide is general information, not insurance or migration advice.
Cover photo by Cameron Cox on Unsplash.
