Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for international students in Australia under the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It ensures that students have access to essential medical services during their stay, as healthcare in Australia can be very expensive without coverage. OSHC typically covers doctor visits, hospital treatment, limited pharmaceuticals and emergency ambulance services.
Students can obtain OSHC in two main ways. Firstly, many universities arrange OSHC on behalf of students as part of the admission or enrolment process, making it convenient and aligned with visa requirements. Alternatively, students can independently purchase OSHC from approved private providers such as Bupa, Allianz Care Australia, or Medibank, depending on their preferences and budget.
In the event of a visa refusal, most OSHC providers offer a refund of the unused premium. However, this is subject to the provider’s refund policy and students are usually required to submit official proof of visa refusal from the Department of Home Affairs to process the claim.