Guides
Working out the details
Plain-English explanations of the parts of OSHC that trip students up — written from the OSHC Deed and the insurers' own published product information.
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Can travel insurance replace OSHC for a Student visa?
Travel insurance cannot replace OSHC for a temporary student visa; students must maintain current OSHC throughout their Australian stay, while travel insurance provides additional protection.
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Does adequate OSHC cover X-rays, blood tests and inter-hospital transfers?
Explains that recommended equivalent cover includes X-rays, blood tests and emergency inter-hospital transfers, without guaranteeing that every related charge will be paid in full.
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Does OSHC continue if I fall behind on premiums?
Explains why OSHC can continue after missed payments while claims for services received during arrears may be unavailable.
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Guardian visa 590: does a guardian need health cover in Australia?
Explains Allianz Care Australia's 590 guidance that a guardian of an international student under 18 should get health cover for the stay in Australia.
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Do I need an OSHC policy number for PRISMS if my school arranged it?
If an education provider arranged a student’s OSHC, the policy number may be omitted from the visa application; students who arranged their own OSHC must include it.
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Packaged course OSHC: what evidence covers the remaining stay?
For a packaged course, a student whose provider insured only the institution portion must evidence OSHC arranged for the rest of their stay.
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When can I activate ahm OSHC bought overseas?
Explains when ahm says overseas buyers can activate OSHC and why its supplied page does not support activation before arrival.
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OSHC visa certificates: as soon as purchased or as soon as 5 minutes?
ahm and Medibank cite online purchase, HCF gives no email speed, and nib states 5 minutes for its OSHC Confirmation Certificate and approval for its Visa Certificate.
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The OSHC insurers compared in 2026: who still sells student cover and who does not
A verified list of the insurers currently selling OSHC in Australia, and why the widely repeated six-insurer list is now out of date.
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Finished studying? What happens to your OSHC when your student visa ends
OSHC is tied to the student visa. Here is what to arrange when you graduate — a new visa's cover, OVHC, or resident cover — and what to do about your existing policy.
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How to make an OSHC claim in Australia: the steps, the documents and the timing
How an OSHC claim actually flows, from a provider billing your insurer directly to you paying and claiming reimbursement, and what to keep for the reimbursement route.
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OSHC compliance checklist: the seven things to confirm before you enrol
A short, source-backed checklist for confirming your OSHC actually satisfies your Student visa before you enrol, not after.