OSHC is a mandatory requirement when applying for the international student visa - 500. You need to ensure that you have a valid and up-to-date OSHC for the entire time you hold a student visa. OSHC covers you only for the length of your visa.
OSHC includes private and public hospital admissions, emergency ambulance trips, doctors and specialist appointments, medical test expenses and limited prescription medication costs.
For certain countries, such as Sweden, Norway or Belgium, their governments have special agreements. If you are from any of these countries, please check the Department of Home Affairs website to see if these arrangements apply to you and if you are exempt from the requirement to purchase OSHC.
OVHC is a different type of health insurance, designated for those who apply to the visitor's visa or workers. While for some types of visas it is not compulsory to hold health insurance, it is highly recommended that you purchase insurance for the duration of your stay for both your safety and peace of mind.
A key difference between OSHC and OVHC is that OSHC is fully prepaid for the duration of your visa, while OVHC is typically paid on a month-by-month basis and the payment is done directly to the insurance company.
If your circumstances change, it is advised that you change the type of insurance you are holding to ensure you remain compliant with your visa.
You can compare the different insurers that provide OSHC: OSHC Australia or purchase your OVHC from: Compare OVHC Visa Health Insurance