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Australia's Six OSHC Insurers in 2026: Official List vs Products You Can Actually Buy

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Australia's Six OSHC Insurers in 2026

Short Answer

The Australian Government’s official OSHC page on PrivateHealth.gov.au lists six insurers as recognised OSHC providers: ahm, Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, CBHS International Health, Medibank, and nib. However, as of July 2026, CBHS International Health has publicly confirmed it is no longer selling OSHC or OVHC to new members. This means that while there are technically six government-recognised OSHC insurers, only five are currently accepting new student applications: ahm, Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, Medibank, and nib. For a new international student arriving in Australia, the practical choice is among these five. Students already holding CBHS policies remain covered for the duration of their current term but cannot renew. This article explains each provider’s status, the CBHS sales-status conflict with the government listing, what each of the five active providers offers, and how to choose among them.

The Government’s Official Six-Provider List

The Australian Government maintains a list of recognised OSHC insurers on PrivateHealth.gov.au, the official website for private health insurance information administered by the Department of Health and Aged Care. As verified on 14 July 2026, the page lists the following six insurers:

  1. ahm — Australian Health Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Medibank Private Limited
  2. Allianz Care Australia — trading name of Peoplecare Health Limited, part of the global Allianz Partners group
  3. Bupa — Bupa HI Pty Ltd, part of the global Bupa group
  4. CBHS International Health — the international arm of CBHS Health Fund, a not-for-profit insurer
  5. Medibank — Medibank Private Limited, Australia’s largest private health insurer by membership
  6. nib — nib Health Funds Limited, an ASX-listed insurer headquartered in Newcastle, NSW

Each of these six holds an APRA licence to operate as a private health insurer in Australia and meets the regulatory requirements to offer OSHC products. The government’s recognition means that a policy from any of these six satisfies Student Visa (subclass 500) Condition 8501, provided the policy covers the required period of stay.

The CBHS Conflict: Six Listed, Five Selling

The government’s six-provider list has not been updated to reflect CBHS International Health’s changed sales status. As stated on CBHS’s own website:

This creates a dated-source conflict: the government page says six providers, but only five are selling. For a new student, relying solely on the government list without checking each provider’s current sales status could lead to frustration — visiting the CBHS website to purchase OSHC and finding no purchase option.

As of July 2026, the five providers actively selling OSHC to new students are:

  1. ahm
  2. Allianz Care Australia
  3. Bupa
  4. Medibank
  5. nib

What Each Active Provider Offers: Quick Reference

All five providers must meet the Australian Government’s mandatory minimum OSHC benefits. Beyond that floor, they differ in network, extras, claims process, and service model. Here is a factual summary of each — for detailed policy terms, always refer to each provider’s current PDS and Fund Rules.

ahm (Medibank subsidiary)

Allianz Care Australia

Bupa

Medibank

nib

How the Five Compare: Decision Factors

When choosing among the five active providers, consider these factors rather than raw price alone (premiums change regularly and should be re-quoted at the time of purchase):

  1. University partnership: If your university has a preferred provider, using that provider typically means smoother on-campus health service access and simplified administration through the international student office. Allianz Care Australia has the most university partnerships.

  2. Provider network near your campus: Each provider has a different density of direct-billing GPs in different locations. Use the provider’s website or app to search for GPs near your intended residence or campus. Medibank has the broadest network overall.

  3. Private hospital access: If you anticipate needing private hospital treatment during your stay, providers with larger private hospital networks (Medibank’s Members’ Choice, Allianz Care’s agreement hospitals, Bupa’s Members First) offer lower out-of-pocket costs than providers with limited private hospital agreements.

  4. Extras: bundled or separate: nib bundles extras into its higher-tier OSHC products; other providers sell extras as separate add-ons. If you want dental, optical, and physiotherapy, compare the combined cost and waiting periods of nib’s Student Care/Top tiers against a base OSHC plus a standalone extras policy from another provider.

  5. Digital experience: Bupa’s Blua platform offers the most comprehensive digital health tools. nib’s app is well-regarded for claims. ahm and Medibank offer functional but more basic app experiences.

  6. Language support: Bupa offers multilingual app and phone support. Medibank offers interpreter services via TIS National and some in-store multilingual staff. Allianz Care, nib, and ahm offer English-only support by default, with TIS National available as an independent interpreter service.

  7. Claims processing speed: Bupa and nib typically process digital claims within 2 to 5 business days. Medibank and Allianz Care typically take 3 to 7 business days. ahm typically takes 5 to 10 business days.

What Is Mandatory and What Is Optional

All five active providers meet the Australian Government’s mandatory minimum OSHC benefits. Every OSHC policy must cover:

  1. Public hospital treatment as a public patient
  2. GP consultations at 100% of the MBS fee
  3. Specialist consultations at 85% of the MBS fee
  4. Pathology and diagnostic imaging at 100% of the MBS fee
  5. PBS-listed prescription medicines (subject to annual and per-prescription limits)
  6. Emergency ambulance services Australia-wide
  7. Inpatient psychiatric treatment (subject to waiting periods)
  8. Pregnancy and obstetric services (subject to a 12-month waiting period)

Benefits beyond this floor — dental, optical, physiotherapy, higher pharmacy limits, private hospital agreements, wellness programmes, telehealth platforms — vary by provider and tier.

FAQ

Q1: Why does the government still list six OSHC providers if only five are selling?

Government websites are not always updated in real time to reflect commercial changes. The PrivateHealth.gov.au OSHC page is an information resource, not a live marketplace. CBHS International Health remains a licensed and regulated APRA entity and continues to service existing members, which may explain why it has not been removed from the list. For practical decision-making, students should treat the number of actively selling OSHC providers as five.

Q2: If CBHS stops selling, does that mean it is unsafe for existing CBHS members?

No. CBHS International Health remains APRA-regulated and continues to service existing policyholders and process claims. The cessation affects new sales only. Existing CBHS members’ cover remains valid for the duration of their current policy period. The only change is that they cannot renew when the policy expires.

Q3: Do I have to buy OSHC from the provider my university recommends?

No. Australian Student Visa (subclass 500) Condition 8501 requires you to hold OSHC from a recognised provider — it does not specify which one. You are free to choose any of the five actively selling providers regardless of your university’s recommendation or preferred-provider arrangement. If your Letter of Offer includes an insurance fee from a specific provider, you may request its removal and purchase your own policy from a different provider.

Q4: Can I buy OSHC from a provider not on the government’s list?

No. Only OSHC policies from the government-recognised providers satisfy Student Visa Condition 8501. If you purchase health insurance from a company not on the PrivateHealth.gov.au list, it will not meet your visa requirement even if it is a legitimate Australian health insurer. Always verify that your chosen provider appears on the official government OSHC page.

Provider popularity varies by nationality, university, and awareness. Allianz Care Australia has the largest share of students who come through university-preferred-provider arrangements, given its 40+ university partnerships. Bupa and Medibank, as Australia’s two largest health insurers overall, attract high volumes of students who research and purchase independently. ahm and nib appeal to students who prioritise lower premiums and are comfortable with online-only service. There is no single “most popular” provider — the right choice depends on your individual circumstances.

Official Sources

Data as of: 14 July 2026. Provider sales statuses, policy terms, and product tiers may change after this date. Before purchasing OSHC, verify each provider’s current status and read the applicable Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or Fund Rules.

Insurance Disclaimer

This article provides general information only and does not constitute insurance advice, medical advice, legal advice, or visa advice. Provider descriptions and sales statuses are based on publicly available information as of 14 July 2026 and do not guarantee product availability, claim outcomes, or visa compliance. Each student’s insurance needs are individual; before purchasing OSHC, read the full policy documents of your chosen provider and consult a registered insurance broker, university international student advisor, or licensed migration agent if needed. The Australian Government’s provider list may not reflect current commercial availability — always verify directly with the provider before purchasing.

Need to compare the five actively selling OSHC providers in real time? Use the OSHC comparison tool for current pricing and policy details across all active providers.

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