OSHC vs OVHC: What’s the Difference?
OSHC and OVHC are both designed for people from overseas, but they serve different visa groups. This guide explains the key differences, who commonly needs each type of cover, and what to check before choosing a policy.
OSHC and OVHC at a Glance
| Feature | OSHC | OVHC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Overseas Student Health Cover | Overseas Visitors Health Cover |
| Commonly used by | International students and eligible family members on Student visas | Visitors, temporary graduates and many temporary working visa holders |
| Student Visa 500 | Generally required, unless an exemption applies | Generally not the substitute for required OSHC |
| Condition 8501 | Designed to support the student visa health-cover requirement | An appropriate policy may be used by relevant temporary visa holders to meet adequate-health-insurance requirements |
| Benefits | Hospital and medical benefits, ambulance and limited pharmaceuticals; standard OSHC generally excludes extras | Varies by product; commonly hospital and medical benefits, with optional/general treatment available on some products |
| Policy choice | Available from approved OSHC providers | Available in different levels from participating insurers; benefits and eligibility vary |
What Is OSHC?
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance for international students in Australia. Student visa applicants and their accompanying family members generally need OSHC for the required period unless a specific exemption applies.
What Is OVHC?
Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) is designed for overseas visitors and many temporary visa holders who may not have full access to Medicare. Depending on the visa and policy, OVHC can help with eligible hospital and medical costs while in Australia.
OVHC is commonly considered by temporary workers, Temporary Graduate visa holders, visitors and other temporary visa holders. The appropriate level of cover depends on your visa conditions and personal circumstances.
Who Needs Which Cover?
Condition 8501 and Health Insurance
Visa condition 8501 requires a visa holder to maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia. It can apply to several temporary visa subclasses, but whether it is attached can depend on the visa and circumstances.
Medicare and Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
Most overseas visitors do not automatically receive full Medicare coverage. Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with certain countries, which can provide limited Medicare access to eligible visitors.
Reciprocal Medicare access does not automatically replace a visa health-insurance requirement. For Student visa holders, reciprocal Medicare is generally additional to OSHC, subject to specific exemptions for certain students.
What Should You Compare?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Choose Your Visa Type
Start with your visa type, then review the health cover options and requirements that may apply to you.
500Student Visa 500
International students generally need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), rather than OVHC.
- Compare OSHC options
- Student visa health cover
- Cover during your studies
600Visitor Visa 600
Health insurance can help visitors manage eligible medical and hospital costs while in Australia.
- Explore visitor cover
- Review insurer options
- Single or multiple-entry visitors
870Sponsored Parent Visa 870
Explore health insurance information for Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa holders.
- Compare parent cover
- Options for single or couple
- Review visa health requirements
485Temporary Graduate Visa 485
Temporary Graduate visa applicants commonly use OVHC designed for applicable health-cover requirements.
- Compare OVHC options
- Review visa requirements
- Benefits, excesses & waiting periods
407 • 408417 • 462 • 482
Working Visas
Explore health insurance options and guidance for a range of temporary working visas.
- Explore OVHC options
- Cover for multiple subclasses
- Review visa health requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OSHC the same as OVHC?
No. OSHC is Overseas Student Health Cover for eligible international students, while OVHC is Overseas Visitors Health Cover used by many visitors and temporary visa holders.
Does a Student visa 500 holder need OSHC or OVHC?
Student visa holders generally need OSHC from an approved Australian provider unless an exemption applies.
What does Condition 8501 mean?
Condition 8501 requires the visa holder to maintain adequate health insurance while in Australia. Check your visa grant letter or VEVO to confirm whether it applies to you.
Can OVHC satisfy Condition 8501?
An appropriate OVHC policy may satisfy Condition 8501 for relevant temporary visa holders, but the policy must meet the requirements that apply to the visa and holder.
Can OSHC satisfy Condition 8501 for students?
OSHC is the health cover generally required for Student visa holders and is designed to meet student visa health insurance requirements.
Do Visitor visa 600 holders always need OVHC?
Not every Visitor visa 600 holder has Condition 8501. Health insurance is still worth considering because many visitors have limited or no Medicare access.
Do Temporary Graduate visa 485 holders use OSHC or OVHC?
A 485 applicant who still holds a Student visa may have OSHC at application, but 485-compliant health insurance is generally needed before the 485 can be finalised.
Do working visa holders need OVHC?
Some working visa applicants and holders need adequate health insurance. OVHC is commonly used for temporary working visas, but requirements depend on the visa and circumstances.
Does Medicare replace OSHC?
Generally no for Student visa holders. Reciprocal Medicare access does not usually remove the OSHC requirement, subject to limited exemptions.
Does reciprocal Medicare mean I do not need OVHC?
Not necessarily. Reciprocal Medicare is limited and may not cover private hospital treatment or all services. Your visa may also impose a health insurance condition.
Does OSHC cover dental and optical?
Standard OSHC generally does not include general treatment such as dental, optical or physiotherapy. Additional extras cover may be available.
Does OVHC cover dental and optical?
OVHC products vary. General treatment such as dental, optical and physiotherapy may require an additional level of cover.
Are waiting periods the same for every policy?
No. Waiting periods, exclusions, benefit limits and eligibility can vary between insurers and products, so check the current policy documents.
Should I choose health insurance only by price?
Price is important, but also compare hospital and medical benefits, ambulance, pharmaceuticals, waiting periods, exclusions, excesses and family eligibility.
What should I do if my visa or Medicare status changes?
Tell your insurer and review whether your current cover remains suitable. Also check your current visa conditions in your grant letter or VEVO.