There are 2 kinds of insurance that overseas students might take out in Australia. overseas student health cover (oshc) and inbound travel insurance.
All students studying in Australia are required to have adequate health cover for the duration of their stay. For most students, this means Overseas Student Health Cover. The only exception is if you are a citizen of a country with a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia
Inbound travel insurance is a form of travel insurance sold to non-Australians visiting Australia. It covers some medical costs, but can also cover lost luggage, cancelled flights and other travel related costs associated with travel insurance.
If you've been living in Australia for more than 3 months, you'll likely be eligible for a normal travel insurance policy, which will probably offer better value. If that's you, you should compare regular travel insurance quotes here.
Overseas student health hover is health insurance for people in Australia on a student visa. Australia’s public health care system (Medicare) is only available to Australian citizens and permanent residents, so visitors need to have health cover in case they are ill or injured and require medical treatment.
OSHC provides cover for hospital and general medical treatment, emergency ambulance assistance and prescription medicines covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The Australian Government requires all overseas students to have OSHC as a condition of their student visa. It must be maintained for the duration of their stay and extended if their stay is extended, otherwise their visa may be cancelled.
You can compare OSHC policies for free here.
Inbound travel insurance, also known as visitor insurance, is designed for non-residents traveling to a specific country, such as Australia. It provides coverage for various unforeseen events, including medical and dental expenses, lost luggage, travel document loss, accidental death, and personal liability. In the context of overseas students coming to Australia, inbound travel insurance can offer protection from the moment they start planning and traveling to their safe return home, covering aspects not included in Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). You can compare a couple of policies in the table below.
Brand | Policy Name | Maximum policy duration | Medical cover | Cancellation cover | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Inbound Travel Insurance | 1 year | Unlimited | Benefit limit chosen | Bonus How to apply |
 | Inbound Plan | 1 year | $10,000,000 | Benefit limit chosen |
Get quote How to apply |