Pre-Existing Conditions and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in Australia
If you’re moving to Australia to study, there’s a lot to organise—student visas, accommodation, enrolment, and of course, your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Before applying for OSHC, it’s important to understand how pre-existing medical conditions may affect your coverage.
Knowing what counts as a pre-existing condition, how insurers assess them, and what’s included in your policy can help you avoid unexpected costs later.
What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?
A pre-existing medical condition is any illness, ailment, or condition where signs or symptoms were present before you arrived in Australia or before your OSHC started—whichever came later.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis for a condition to be considered pre-existing. If you had symptoms or if treatment was recommended before your cover began, insurers may still classify it as pre-existing.
Examples of Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-existing conditions vary widely. They may be long-term or recently treated. Common examples include:
-
Asthma or other respiratory conditions
-
Diabetes
-
Mental health concerns (e.g. anxiety, depression)
-
Heart conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, arrhythmia)
-
Chronic pain or musculoskeletal issues
-
Autoimmune disorders (e.g. lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
-
Recent surgery or hospitalisation
-
Pregnancy (if signs or symptoms existed before cover began)
Even if you currently feel healthy, past symptoms or treatments may still count as pre-existing.
Waiting Periods for Pre-Existing Conditions
Most OSHC providers apply a 12-month waiting period before covering hospital treatment for pre-existing conditions.
This means:
-
If you need surgery or in-hospital care linked to a pre-existing issue within your first year of cover, you’ll likely need to pay for it yourself.
-
Routine GP visits, prescription medicines, and some out-of-hospital care may still be claimable (depending on your OSHC policy).
This waiting period exists to keep the system fair and sustainable, preventing people from taking out cover only when they already know they’ll need treatment.
Who Decides if a Condition Is Pre-Existing?
The decision isn’t made by your personal doctor—it’s usually determined by a medical practitioner appointed by your insurer.
They’ll review your medical history, including:
-
Doctor’s notes
-
Prescription records
-
Reports from past treatments
They assess whether signs or symptoms were present in the six months before your OSHC began or before you arrived in Australia (whichever came later).
What If You Have a Pre-Existing Condition?
Having a pre-existing condition doesn’t stop you from getting OSHC. However, it does affect what’s covered in the first year:
-
You must declare any known conditions when applying.
-
A 12-month waiting period usually applies for hospital treatment related to that condition.
-
After 12 months of continuous cover, hospital treatment for the condition is generally included.
-
GP visits, some medications, and out-of-hospital care may still be covered during the waiting period (check your policy).
Tip: Many students keep OSHC for longer than a year to ensure they’re fully covered once the waiting period ends. Always read your policy carefully and contact your insurer if you’re unsure what’s included.
If you’re looking at other visa options:
-
Working visa health insurance for visa subclass 485, 482, 417, 462, 408 and more can be compared at www.485visainsurance.com.au
-
Visitor visa health insurance for visa subclass 600 can be compared at www.600visainsurance.com.au
If you’re moving to Australia to study, there’s a lot to organise—student visas, accommodation, enrolment, and of course, your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Before applying for OSHC, it’s important to understand how pre-existing medical conditions may affect your coverage.
Knowing what counts as a pre-existing condition, how insurers assess them, and what’s included in your policy can help you avoid unexpected costs later.
What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?
A pre-existing medical condition is any illness, ailment, or condition where signs or symptoms were present before you arrived in Australia or before your OSHC started—whichever came later.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis for a condition to be considered pre-existing. If you had symptoms or if treatment was recommended before your cover began, insurers may still classify it as pre-existing.
Examples of Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-existing conditions vary widely. They may be long-term or recently treated. Common examples include:
- Asthma or other respiratory conditions
- Diabetes
- Mental health concerns (e.g. anxiety, depression)
- Heart conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, arrhythmia)
- Chronic pain or musculoskeletal issues
- Autoimmune disorders (e.g. lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Recent surgery or hospitalisation
- Pregnancy (if signs or symptoms existed before cover began)
Even if you currently feel healthy, past symptoms or treatments may still count as pre-existing.
Waiting Periods for Pre-Existing Conditions
Most OSHC providers apply a 12-month waiting period before covering hospital treatment for pre-existing conditions.
This means:
- If you need surgery or in-hospital care linked to a pre-existing issue within your first year of cover, you’ll likely need to pay for it yourself.
- Routine GP visits, prescription medicines, and some out-of-hospital care may still be claimable (depending on your OSHC policy).
This waiting period exists to keep the system fair and sustainable, preventing people from taking out cover only when they already know they’ll need treatment.
Who Decides if a Condition Is Pre-Existing?
The decision isn’t made by your personal doctor—it’s usually determined by a medical practitioner appointed by your insurer.
They’ll review your medical history, including:
- Doctor’s notes
- Prescription records
- Reports from past treatments
They assess whether signs or symptoms were present in the six months before your OSHC began or before you arrived in Australia (whichever came later).
What If You Have a Pre-Existing Condition?
Having a pre-existing condition doesn’t stop you from getting OSHC. However, it does affect what’s covered in the first year:
- You must declare any known conditions when applying.
- A 12-month waiting period usually applies for hospital treatment related to that condition.
- After 12 months of continuous cover, hospital treatment for the condition is generally included.
- GP visits, some medications, and out-of-hospital care may still be covered during the waiting period (check your policy).
Tip: Many students keep OSHC for longer than a year to ensure they’re fully covered once the waiting period ends. Always read your policy carefully and contact your insurer if you’re unsure what’s included.
If you’re looking at other visa options:
- Working visa health insurance for visa subclass 485, 482, 417, 462, 408 and more can be compared at www.485visainsurance.com.au
- Visitor visa health insurance for visa subclass 600 can be compared at www.600visainsurance.com.au