ahm OSHC
~AUD 56/month
AUD 672/year
Budget cover from the Medibank group
- Part of Medibank — same hospital network
- Members can add a separate Medibank extras policy
- 2-month waiting period for pre-existing mental health conditions
OSHC comparison 2026
Compare all 5 OSHC providers in Australia
Australia has exactly 5 government-approved Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) providers. All meet the same minimum standards — they differ in price, benefits above the minimum, service and extras.
5Approved providers
AUD 55–60Single cover per month
Visa 500Meets the visa condition
01Side by side
Side-by-side comparison
All 5 providers compared — price, cover and features.
Every international student on a Student visa (subclass 500) must hold OSHC for the entire visa period. The Australian government approves only 5 providers: ahm, Allianz Care, Bupa, Medibank, and nib. Single cover costs between AUD 665 and AUD 726 a year (2026 prices).
| Feature | ahmView Details | Allianz CareView Details | BupaView Details | MedibankView Details | nibView Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||||
| Monthly price (single) | ~AUD 56 | ~AUD 55Better | ~AUD 59 | ~AUD 60 | ~AUD 60 |
| 12-month price (single) | AUD 672 | AUD 665Better | AUD 712.80 | AUD 719 | AUD 725.81 |
| Couple (12 months)12-month rate from the provider’s 2026 online quote | AUD 6,686 | AUD 5,351Better | AUD 5,527.50 (NSW) | AUD 6,031 | AUD 6,402 |
| Family (12 months)12-month rate from the provider’s 2026 online quote | AUD 13,544 | AUD 9,515Better | AUD 13,691.04 (NSW) | AUD 14,121 | AUD 15,979 |
| Out of hospital | |||||
| GP visits% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee | 100% MBS | 100% MBS | 100% MBS | 100% MBS | 100% MBS |
| Specialists% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee | 85% MBS | 85% MBS | 100% MBSBetter | 85% MBS | 85% MBS |
| Pathology & X-rays% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee | 85% MBS | 85% MBS | 100% MBSBetter | 85% MBS | 85% MBS |
| In hospital | |||||
| Hospital emergency (A&E)Which hospitals are covered | All hospitals | Public / agreement hospitals | Public / agreement hospitals | All hospitals | Public / agreement hospitals |
| Ambulance | |||||
| ProsthesesSurgically implanted | |||||
| Prescriptions | |||||
| Medication limitPer prescription item | AUD 50/item | AUD 50/item | AUD 50/item | AUD 70/itemBetter | AUD 50/item |
| Annual medication cap | AUD 500/year | AUD 500/year | AUD 500/year | AUD 500/year | AUD 500/year |
| Waiting periods | |||||
| Mental health (pre-existing) | 2 months | None | Waived | None | 2 months |
| Pre-existing conditions | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Pregnancy & birth | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Extras & digital | |||||
| Online doctor | |||||
| Extras (dental, optical, physio)Not part of OSHC — bought on top | Separate extras policy | Optional add-on | Optional add-on | Separate extras policy | Check with provider |
| Claims | Online portal | Online + phone | Online + app | Online + app | App + online |
| Hospital network | Same as Medibank (ahm is a Medibank business) | Good national coverage | Wide network, many university partnerships | Largest hospital network | Good national coverage |
| Visit ahm→ | Visit Allianz Care→ | Visit Bupa→ | Visit Medibank→ | Visit nib→ | |
Pricing
Monthly price (single)
~AUD 56
~AUD 55Better
~AUD 59
~AUD 60
~AUD 60
12-month price (single)
AUD 672
AUD 665Better
AUD 712.80
AUD 719
AUD 725.81
Couple (12 months)
12-month rate from the provider’s 2026 online quote
AUD 6,686
AUD 5,351Better
AUD 5,527.50 (NSW)
AUD 6,031
AUD 6,402
Family (12 months)
12-month rate from the provider’s 2026 online quote
AUD 13,544
AUD 9,515Better
AUD 13,691.04 (NSW)
AUD 14,121
AUD 15,979
Out of hospital
GP visits
% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee
100% MBS
100% MBS
100% MBS
100% MBS
100% MBS
Specialists
% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee
85% MBS
85% MBS
100% MBSBetter
85% MBS
85% MBS
Pathology & X-rays
% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee
85% MBS
85% MBS
100% MBSBetter
85% MBS
85% MBS
In hospital
Hospital emergency (A&E)
Which hospitals are covered
All hospitals
Public / agreement hospitals
Public / agreement hospitals
All hospitals
Public / agreement hospitals
Ambulance
Prostheses
Surgically implanted
Prescriptions
Medication limit
Per prescription item
AUD 50/item
AUD 50/item
AUD 50/item
AUD 70/itemBetter
AUD 50/item
Annual medication cap
AUD 500/year
AUD 500/year
AUD 500/year
AUD 500/year
AUD 500/year
Waiting periods
Mental health (pre-existing)
2 months
None
Waived
None
2 months
Pre-existing conditions
12 months
12 months
12 months
12 months
12 months
Pregnancy & birth
12 months
12 months
12 months
12 months
12 months
Extras & digital
Online doctor
Extras (dental, optical, physio)
Not part of OSHC — bought on top
Separate extras policy
Optional add-on
Optional add-on
Separate extras policy
Check with provider
Claims
Online portal
Online + phone
Online + app
Online + app
App + online
Hospital network
Same as Medibank (ahm is a Medibank business)
Good national coverage
Wide network, many university partnerships
Largest hospital network
Good national coverage
Prices: 12 months of cover from each provider’s 2026 online quote for its entry-level OSHC (plan named on each provider card). Premiums change regularly and can differ by state and start date — the provider’s quote shows the exact price for your visa dates. Benefit details: provider websites and policy documents; the policy wording always applies.
02Providers
Provider details
Pros, cons and key highlights of each OSHC provider.
Allianz Care OSHC
OSHC Standard
~AUD 55/month
AUD 665/year
24/7 telehealth & optional extras
- 24/7 telehealth doctor (Doctors on Demand)
- Optional OSHC Extras add-on (dental, optical, physio)
- No mental health waiting period
- Higher medicine limit, psychology and repatriation benefits only in the pricier OSHC Essentials tier
Bupa OSHC
~AUD 59/month
AUD 712.80/year
Highest specialist cover & optional extras
- 100% of the MBS fee for specialists and pathology (others 85%)
- Optional extras add-on (dental, optical)
- Online doctor (Blua)
- Mental health waiting period currently waived
- Extras cost extra on top of the base OSHC
Medibank OSHC
OSHC Essentials
~AUD 60/month
AUD 719/year
Largest OSHC insurer, highest medication limit
- Australia’s largest OSHC insurer (by revenue)
- Emergency cover at all hospitals, not only public ones
- Highest medication benefit per item
- Online Doctor in the OSHC app at no cost
- No mental health waiting period
- Extras only as a separate policy
- The richer OSHC Comprehensive is sold only through selected universities
nib OSHC
OSHC Core
~AUD 60/month
AUD 725.81/year
Free telehealth GP appointments
- Telehealth GP appointments with no out-of-pocket cost
- Digital mental health and wellbeing tool in the nib app
- 2-month waiting period for pre-existing mental health conditions
03Limits
What OSHC does not cover
OSHC covers hospital treatment, doctor visits, some medicines and emergency ambulance. It usually does not pay for:
- Dental treatment (except accident-related emergencies)
- Glasses and contact lenses
- Physiotherapy and other allied health — unless you buy extras cover (not offered by every provider)
- Pre-existing conditions during the waiting period (usually 12 months; 2 months for mental health at some providers)
- Treatment you receive outside Australia
041-on-1
Head-to-head comparisons
Detailed one-on-one comparisons between OSHC providers.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Allianz Care is the cheapest for single students at AUD 665 a year (about AUD 55 a month). For couples and families, the 12-month prices are: ahm AUD 6,686 (couple) and AUD 13,544 (family); Allianz Care AUD 5,351 (couple) and AUD 9,515 (family); Bupa AUD 5,527.50 (NSW) (couple) and AUD 13,691.04 (NSW) (family); Medibank AUD 6,031 (couple) and AUD 14,121 (family); nib AUD 6,402 (couple) and AUD 15,979 (family). ahm is part of Medibank and uses the same hospital network.
No. All of them meet the OSHC minimum standards, but the benefits above the minimum differ. Bupa pays specialists and pathology at 100% of the MBS fee (the others 85%). Medibank has the highest medication benefit per item. Allianz Care and Bupa sell optional extras as an add-on; Medibank and ahm members can take out a separate Medibank extras policy. ahm and nib have a 2-month waiting period for pre-existing mental health conditions.
Yes, you can switch at any time. Let the new policy start the day after your current cover ends — many providers arrange the transfer for you — and ask your old provider about a refund for any unused period. Waiting periods you have already served are recognised, so your cover continues without a gap.
Standard OSHC does not cover dental or optical treatment. You can buy extras cover on top: Allianz Care (OSHC Extras) and Bupa sell it as an add-on, and Medibank and ahm members can take out a separate Medibank extras policy. Check the waiting periods and annual limits of the extras cover before you buy.
Some universities have a preferred OSHC partner and include OSHC in the enrolment package. You are not obliged to use it — you can choose any of the 5 approved providers.
OSHC is a condition of the Student visa (subclass 500). Without valid OSHC your visa can be cancelled, and your university may suspend your enrolment. Keep continuous cover for the whole duration of your visa.
Allianz Care and Medibank have no waiting period for mental health services. ahm and nib apply a 2-month waiting period for pre-existing psychiatric conditions; Bupa currently waives its 2-month waiting period. If you need mental health care straight away, Allianz Care, Medibank or Bupa are the safer choice.
06Learn more
Related guides
How to Get Student Health Insurance in Australia (OSHC Guide)
Complete guide to Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in Australia. Compare providers, understand costs, and get covered for your Visa 500.
Read more →OSHC Comparison 2026: ahm vs nib vs Bupa vs Medibank vs Allianz Care
Compare all 5 OSHC providers in Australia: prices from AUD 665/year, coverage details, mental health, extras. Real 2026 data for Visa 500 students.
Read more →Australia country guide
Insurance requirements, visa rules and costs for studying in Australia.
Read more →Ready to choose your OSHC?
Compare all 5 approved providers above and buy your policy directly from the one that fits you. Every provider on this page meets the Student visa requirement.