500 Visa Health Insurance

Compare health insurance for a 500 Visa

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Finder Score	Visa Compliant	Private Hospital	GP visits	Pharmaceutical	Price
Promoted Finder Score 9.1 Excellent Allianz Care Australia Overseas Standard Student Health Cover Most Loved	Finder Score 9.1 Excellent				$500 ($1,000 for families)	From $54 per month	$50 REWARD Get quoteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.8 Excellent ahm Overseas Student Health Cover	Finder Score 9.8 Excellent					From $54.3 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.3 Excellent Medibank Essentials Overseas Student Health Cover	Finder Score 9.3 Excellent				$500	From $59.95 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.2 Excellent Bupa Overseas Student Health Cover	Finder Score 9.2 Excellent					From $58.25 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score 9.2 Excellent nib Overseas Student Health Cover	Finder Score 9.2 Excellent					From $58.46 per month	ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder Score Not yet rated Medibank Comprehensive Overseas Student Health Cover	Finder Score Not yet rated				$1,000		ContinueView details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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Finder Score for overseas health insurance

To make comparing overseas health insurance even easier, we developed the Finder Score. Factors like price, hospital cover, extras cover, emergency travel, and more are weighted and scaled across 50+ policies from 15+ providers to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score, the more competitive the policy.

Read the full methodology

Pricing is based on a single individual living in the State of New South Wales on a visa and is not from a country that Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with and is not eligible for cover under Medicare. Prices are accurate for 2025 but are subject to change.

How does health insurance work in Australia?

The Australian healthcare system is a hybrid model meaning citizens need both public and private healthcare in order to receive comprehensive cover. Medicare, the public healthcare system, covers most Australian's healthcare.

But Medicare doesn't cover everything. You can choose to take out private health insurance to give yourself a wider range of health care options and more comprehensive cover.

There are two types of health insurance: hospital and general treatment (also known as extras). Extras aren't covered under Medicare so it's particularly important for people to have this.

Australia also has a special system of health cover for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It'll help you pay for medical or hospital care you may need while you're studying here.

How to provide evidence of your health insurance arrangements

"If applicants are required to provide evidence of their health insurance arrangements, any the following may be considered acceptable, unless a particular visa subclass instruction requires other specific information:

• a copy of the insurance policy;
• a written letter or cover note from an acceptable insurance provider, certifying that the primary visa applicant and any accompanying family members immediately upon visa grant or their arrival in Australia, are, or will be, covered by insurance that is at least as comprehensive as the prescribed adequate level of cover;
• evidence that the visa applicant has lawfully enrolled with Medicare via Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RCHA);
• evidence that the primary visa applicant and any accompanying family members immediately upon visa grant or their arrival in Australia, are, or will be, covered by health insurance that is at least as comprehensive as the adequate level of cover required under policy, with the understanding that the applicants will either enrol with Medicare under a RHCA or enrol in a private insurance arrangement after arrival; or
• for citizens from the Republic of Ireland that may access RCHA, evidence that they hold an Irish passport.

Family members applying separately from the primary visa applicant or visa holder must produce evidence as per above, which clearly indicates that they, as dependant applicants, will be covered upon arrival in Australia by a policy with an adequate level of cover."

— Kaku Caro is a lawyer in LegalVision's Corporate Immigration team. He has previous experience in the areas of commercial litigation, corporate and personal immigration. He also has experience advising on visa eligibility and preparing visa applications such as partner visas, employer-sponsored work visas, parent visas, and general skilled migration visas.

What's included in OSHC?

Hospital fees

OSHC can cover the same hospital and out-of-hospital treatments that are covered by Medicare, including accommodation, certain prosthetic devices and a shared ward in a private hospital.

Doctor fees

If you need surgery or treatment in hospital, OSHC can help pay towards the cost of doctor, surgeon and specialist fees.

Ambulance fees

It can pay for the costs of an ambulance in an emergency. Ambulance services aren't generally free in Australia.

Prescriptions and GP consultation fees

OSHC contributes towards the cost of most prescription medicines (for example, $50 per script with a limit of $300 per year) and GP consultations if you need to see a doctor.

Do 500 visa holders need OSHC?

You're not required to have OSHC if you're a student from Belgium, Norway or Sweden thanks to a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) Australia has with these countries.

RHCA are designed to help visitors cover emergency medical costs or access medical attention that can't wait until they've returned home. Most students however, won't be covered. This means you could find yourself substantially out of pocket. Hospital fees can be over $1000.

FAQs about the 500 visa

• Is OSHC always mandatory for a 500 visa?

  OSHC is generally mandatory for all international students on a subclass 500 visa. You must maintain adequate health insurance for the entire duration of your stay in Australia. However, there are specific exemptions for students from Belgium, Norway and Sweden due to Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with Australia. If you are from one of these countries you may not be required to take out OSHC.

• How long does my OSHC need to last?

  Your Overseas Student Health Cover needs to cover you for the entire period of your student visa or proposed stay in Australia. The Department of Home Affairs specifies that your OSHC start date should be before your arrival in Australia and your end date should align with your visa end date or slightly after to ensure continuous cover. You need to have continuous OSHC to meet your visa conditions.

• Can I include my family members on my OSHC policy?

  If your family members are accompanying you to Australia on a student dependent visa subclass 500 they must also be covered by OSHC. You can usually purchase a family policy that includes yourself, your partner and any dependent children. It is essential that all accompanying family members have OSHC from before their arrival and for the full duration of their stay.

• Does OSHC cover dental, optical or mental health services?

  Standard OSHC policies primarily cover hospital, medical and ambulance services similar to Medicare for Australian residents. While some basic policies may contribute to certain out-of-hospital services, for example GP consultations and prescriptions, comprehensive OSHC policies or additional extras cover can include benefits for dental, optical or mental health services. It is important to compare policies carefully to see what specific services each one covers beyond the basic requirements.

• What are waiting periods in OSHC policies?

  Waiting periods are specific timeframes during which you cannot claim benefits for certain treatments or services even if you have purchased OSHC. Common waiting periods apply to pre-existing conditions, for example typically 12 months for medical conditions and obstetric related services, 2 months for psychiatric care and 12 months for some allied health services like physiotherapy. It is important to understand these periods when selecting your OSHC policy.

• What happens if I change my course or extend my student visa?

  If you change your course of study or extend your student visa you must ensure your OSHC remains valid for the entire new duration of your visa. You will need to contact your OSHC provider to extend your policy or update your details. Failing to maintain continuous OSHC could result in your visa being cancelled or complicate future visa applications.

• Can I switch OSHC providers once I am in Australia?

  Yes you can generally switch OSHC providers while you are in Australia provided your new policy covers the remaining duration of your visa and meets the Department of Home Affairs requirements. You will need to contact your current provider to cancel your existing policy and then purchase a new policy from a different provider. Any accumulated waiting periods may restart with the new provider depending on the terms.

• What if I dont maintain OSHC throughout my stay?

  Maintaining Overseas Student Health Cover is a mandatory condition of your subclass 500 student visa. If you do not maintain adequate OSHC for the entire period of your visa the Department of Home Affairs may cancel your visa. Make sure your policy is always current and covers you for your full stay.

• How do I make a claim with my OSHC provider?

  Making a claim with your OSHC provider typically involves paying for your medical service first then submitting a claim form along with receipts or invoices to your insurer. Many OSHC providers offer online claiming through their websites or dedicated apps. Some providers also have direct billing arrangements with certain doctors or hospitals where the bill is sent directly to the insurer reducing your upfront costs. Always keep records of all your medical appointments and payments.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 572 Finder guides across topics including:

• Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
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