OSHC for Australia: Cost and Rules for Nepali Students
OSHC for Australia (Overseas Student Health Cover) is the health insurance every Student visa (subclass 500) holder must have, and you must keep it for your whole stay. Only a handful of Australian insurers sell it, and there is no single government price: the cost depends on the insurer, the policy type (single, couple or family) and how long your visa runs, so you get an exact figure from each insurer’s own online quote. Buy it before you apply, make it cover your full visa period, and never let it lapse.
Last checked: 17 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 October 2026 (AUD 1 = Rs 105.97).
OSHC for Australia: key facts
| Question | Official answer |
|---|---|
| Who sets the rules? | The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing sets the minimum OSHC standard (insurers sell it under a Deed with the Department). The Department of Home Affairs makes it a visa requirement. |
| Who must have it? | You, plus any partner or children included on your Student visa. |
| How long? | For your whole visa period, with no gaps. |
| When do you buy it? | Before you apply for the visa (unless an exemption applies). |
| Which insurers sell it? | Allianz Care Australia, Bupa Australia, Medibank and ahm (part of Medibank), and nib OSHC, as listed in the Department of Health’s current OSHC fact sheet. |
| What does it cost? | No government price. Get quotes on each insurer’s website. |
| Exemptions | Only some students from Norway, Sweden and Belgium. None for Nepal. |
What OSHC is, and who is in charge of it
OSHC is a special type of Australian health insurance made only for international students. Nepali students are not eligible for Medicare, Australia’s public health scheme, so OSHC is what pays for doctors and hospitals while you study.
Two government departments are involved:
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Insurers offer OSHC under a Deed of Agreement with the Department. The Deed sets the minimum that every OSHC policy must cover. The government’s privatehealth.gov.au OSHC page explains this.
- Department of Home Affairs. Your Student visa carries condition 8501, which says you “must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance” while you are in Australia. Home Affairs’ adequate health insurance page says that if a policy lapses and you do not buy another adequate one, you are in breach of that condition.
OSHC is mandatory for your whole visa, not just your course
Study Australia, the government’s official student site, says students must hold OSHC for the entire length of their studies and arrange it before applying. privatehealth.gov.au goes further: student visa holders must keep OSHC for the whole visa period, and the policy must stay current the whole time.
This matters because your visa end date is not always your course end date. When you buy cover, check the dates your education provider or the insurer suggests against the dates on your Confirmation of Enrolment. After the grant, check your visa end date in your grant letter or on VEVO, and extend your OSHC if it ends earlier.
Other rules from the official pages:
- Family members. Your partner and any children on your visa must be covered too. Your policy type (couple, single-parent or family) must match your situation and be updated if it changes.
- Switching insurers is allowed at any time, as long as there is no gap in cover.
- Late payments. Home Affairs says insurers generally allow 60 days from the last paid date to pay a premium, but the insurer does not have to pay claims for treatment during that time until the arrears are paid.
- Health debts. You are personally responsible for any health care bills in Australia, and Home Affairs says it may consider unpaid health debts when you apply for a future visa.
- After your Student visa ends you can no longer hold OSHC. You would need a different type of cover for your next visa.
Which insurers sell OSHC
Only a few Australian registered health insurers sell OSHC. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing OSHC fact sheet (2026 version) lists:
- Allianz Care Australia
- Bupa Australia
- Medibank and ahm (ahm is part of Medibank)
- nib OSHC
Some older government pages and agent websites still list CBHS International Health. CBHS’s own website says that from 1 November 2025 its policies are no longer sold to new members, although existing members keep their cover. If you are buying new cover, choose from the list above.
You can buy directly from the insurer, through your university or college, or through an agent who represents an insurer. The fact sheet says your education provider may recommend an insurer, but you do not have to accept that recommendation.
What OSHC covers, and what it does not
| Basic OSHC covers | Details from the official fact sheet |
|---|---|
| GP and specialist visits | Benefits based on the Medicare (MBS) fee, generally 85% |
| Blood tests and x-rays | At least 85% of the MBS fee |
| Hospital treatment and surgery | Public or private hospitals (check your policy) |
| Emergency ambulance | 100% of the cost |
| Prescription medicines | Up to AUD 50 per item (about Rs 5,300), capped at AUD 500 a year for singles (about Rs 52,985) or AUD 1,000 for couples and families (about Rs 1.06 lakh) |
Not in basic OSHC: dental, optical, physiotherapy and similar “extras”. You can buy Extras OSHC from an OSHC insurer, or separate cover, if you want these. Repatriation, private psychology and counselling may also be in higher-level or additional policies, depending on the insurer.
Out-of-pocket costs still happen. A “gap fee” is the difference between what a doctor or hospital charges and what the insurer pays. privatehealth.gov.au also warns that medicine costs can be significant, especially for cancer treatment.
Waiting periods. The maximum waiting periods for OSHC are 12 months for pre-existing conditions, 12 months for pregnancy-related care, and 2 months for psychiatric, rehabilitation or palliative care. Waiting periods do not apply to emergency treatment. The fact sheet also says that from 1 January 2026 insurers began removing pregnancy waiting periods on policies of two years or more; confirm with your insurer.
How much OSHC costs, and how to get a real quote
There is no fixed OSHC price set by the government. Each insurer prices its own policies, prices change, and the online quote depends on your start and end dates and who is covered. Because we cannot check a live quote on your behalf, we do not print “typical” prices here. Any number you see on a social media post or agent flyer may be out of date.
To get an accurate figure:
- Find your course start and end dates on your offer letter or CoE.
- Open the OSHC quote page on each insurer’s own website (Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, Medibank, ahm and nib).
- Enter the same start date, end date and cover type (single, couple or family) on every site.
- Note the total price for the full period, and whether it is the basic policy or one with extras.
- Convert to rupees at the current NRB selling rate. At 17 October 2026, each AUD 1,000 is about Rs 1.06 lakh.
- Add the total to your budget in our student visa money calculator.
How to compare OSHC policies
All OSHC policies must meet the same minimum standard, so the comparison is about price, service and extras. The government fact sheet suggests getting quotes from each insurer and checking what each policy includes and pays. Look at:
- Direct billing. Some insurers pay approved GPs directly, so you only pay any gap. This is easier on a student budget than paying first and claiming later.
- Hospitals and doctors near your campus that have agreements with the insurer.
- Extras such as dental and optical, if you need them, and their extra cost.
- Refund and cancellation terms if your visa is refused or you leave early. Read the insurer’s policy document before you pay.
- Support in your language and a 24-hour helpline. A free government interpreter service is also available on 131 450.
For Nepali students: what to watch
- Paying from Nepal. Whether you pay the insurer directly or through your university, keep the bank’s remittance record and the insurer’s receipt or policy certificate. You need the policy in place before you apply for the visa. Our Australia student visa cost guide lists the other payments.
- Dependants. If your spouse is coming, the family or couple policy price will be much higher than a single policy. Get that quote before you finalise your funds plan. See Australia student visa financial documents.
- Packaged courses (for example, English plus a bachelor’s degree) need cover for the whole package, not just the first course.
- Dental. Basic OSHC does not cover dental, so consider a dental check-up in Nepal before you fly.
- Ask for written confirmation of the cover dates if anyone else buys OSHC for you.
Common OSHC mistakes
- Buying cover only for the course dates and leaving a gap at the end of the visa.
- Letting a policy lapse after changing course or provider.
- Assuming OSHC covers dental or glasses.
- Not updating to a couple or family policy when a partner joins you.
- Going to a private hospital for non-emergency care without checking with the insurer first.
- Trusting an old price list instead of a live quote.
What to do next
- Get your CoE and confirm your course dates.
- Collect quotes from the OSHC insurers for the full visa period.
- Buy the policy and save the certificate before you lodge your visa.
- After the grant, check your visa end date on VEVO and extend OSHC if needed.
- Read our wider guide to health insurance for international students and the Study in Australia from Nepal guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is OSHC compulsory for a student visa in Australia?
Yes. Student visa holders must have OSHC under visa condition 8501 and keep it for the whole visa period. Only some students from Norway, Sweden and Belgium may be exempt.
How much is OSHC for one year for a Nepali student?
There is no single official price. Each insurer sets its own, so get a quote for your exact dates from each OSHC insurer’s website and compare the totals.
Which companies provide OSHC in Australia?
The government’s 2026 fact sheet lists Allianz Care Australia, Bupa Australia, Medibank and ahm, and nib OSHC. CBHS International Health stopped selling to new members from 1 November 2025.
Does OSHC cover dental treatment?
No, not basic OSHC. Dental, optical and physiotherapy need Extras OSHC or separate cover.
Can I change my OSHC provider after arriving in Australia?
Yes. You can switch insurers at any time, but there must be no gap in cover between the old and new policy.
Do I need OSHC for my wife or husband?
Yes. Any partner or child on your Student visa must be covered, and your policy type must match your family situation.
Related guides
- What Is a CoE for Australia? Confirmation of Enrolment Explained
- How to Explain a Study Gap for a Student Visa (Nepal Guide)
- IELTS vs PTE for Nepali Students in 2026: Which to Take
Sources
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) fact sheet – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Overseas Student Health Cover – privatehealth.gov.au (Australian Government)
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) – Study Australia
- Adequate health insurance for visa holders – Department of Home Affairs
- Student visa (subclass 500) – Study Australia
- CBHS International Health: policies no longer sold to new members
Last checked: 17 October 2026. This is general information, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Confirm cover with your insurer before you pay.
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