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Compare Health Insurance for Students
Compare Health Insurance for Students
Written by
Tina Sendin
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Andres GutierrezCheck out our range of private health funds
iSelect does not compare all providers in the market or all policies offered by our partners in your area. Not all policies or special offers are available to all customers and some may only be available over the phone or on the website. Learn more.
What is health insurance for students?
Private health insurance for students isn’t really a standalone product; it’s just regular health insurance. But there are a few things to keep in mind. For instance, insurers might not consider you young enough to stay on Mum and Dad’s policy (and no, it won’t cover you forever). So it’s worth checking whether you’re considered a dependant – we’ll talk about this in a sec.
But first, let’s clarify: we’re talking about health insurance for domestic students here. If you’re an international student, you’ll need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is a requirement for your student visa.
What could student health insurance cover?
For Aussie students, health insurance is a safety net. It helps take some of the sting out of hospital stays as it lets you choose your own doctor, specialist, and hospital. You could also skip long waitlists in the public system. You can even throw in some extras like dental and optical – depending on your chosen plan.
How can health insurance benefit students?
Student budgets are usually tighter than your schedule in exam week. Textbooks, rent, and the odd Friday night out already suck up enough funds.
Here’s where health insurance can make a difference.
Get your favourite doc
One awesome thing about being a private patient is that you get to choose your doctor or specialist, not to mention your preferred clinic or hospital. This can be a real comfort if continuity of care matters to you. Say you’ve got an ongoing medical condition (sorry to hear) and need to head to the hospital. Your specialist can stick with you the whole way through. It’s a level of choice you just don’t get in the public system!
Skip some hospital queues
Let’s be real – no one’s a fan of waiting, whether it’s for the delayed train or your morning soy latte. With health insurance, you could cut down the wait time if you ever need a hospital visit. Plus, you can choose to be a private patient in public or private hospitals, and maybe even enjoy the luxury of a private room.
Cover what Medicare doesn’t
Medicare’s a ripper, but it’s not Aladdin’s oil lamp. It won’t help you out with things like dental or optical. That’s where extras cover can step in. Depending on your policy, it might cover those treatments and more, giving a welcome lift to your pearly whites or specs budget.
Helpful tip
Health insurance is a bit like bringing snacks and coffee (or an energy drink) to a study session – it keeps you going when things get tough. But if you’re planning a gap year or a backpacking adventure overseas, here’s the deal: don’t just cancel your health insurance and hope for the best.
Instead, chat with your insurer about suspending your policy. Many insurers let you hit pause while you’re off exploring the world, so you won’t lose the waiting periods you’ve served when you return.
Enjoy your travels, but don’t forget to keep your future self sorted!
Andres Gutierrez
General Manager – Health
If I’m studying, can I stay under my parents’ health insurance?
Are you studying full-time, without the budget for your own health insurance yet? You might still be covered by your family’s health insurance (as a dependent student, in insurance speak). In fact, depending on the policy, you could potentially score a ride on your parents’ health cover until you’re 31 – as long as you’re single and studying full-time.
Now if you’re asking how long you can stay on your parents’ policy, the answer is – surprise, surprise – it depends. Many policies let you stick around past 24 (with a few strings attached), while others could show you the door as soon as you hit adulthood.
And even if the policy allows it, your parents might decide it’s time to move on. If they switch to a singles or couples cover, there won’t be room for you on the family plan anymore.
But as long as your folks have got you (and your health cover), just enjoy the benefits of getting health insurance as a dependent! It’s a bit like getting your laundry done when you visit home – easier and doesn’t cost you extra.
No extra cost
Lots of policies let you tag along without pumping up the premium.
Longer cover
You could be covered until you hit the big 3-1 (depending on your insurer).
Less paperwork
Skip the admin headache and focus on your studies.
I’m rolling solo – what kind of health insurance for students can I choose from?
If you’re running your own show health insurance-wise, good on ya! Not everyone can (or wants to) stay on the family plan, and that’s okay – you’ve got street smarts and independence on your side.
Plus, if you’re no longer eligible to stay as a dependent, it’s a good idea to sort out your own health insurance policy sooner rather than later. The upside? If you’ve already done the time on your family’s policy, you can usually dodge those annoying waiting periods for certain services. That means you can start claiming benefits straight away – as long as you stick to a comparable level of cover.
Now, when it comes to private hospital cover, there are four main tiers to choose from: basic, bronze, silver, and gold. Think of them like levels in a video game – the higher you go, the more you unlock (and the more you’ll pay).
Basic and basic plus
Basic health insurance doesn’t usually cover much, but if you’re planning ahead for something specific – like a tonsillectomy or an endoscopy – a basic plus policy could be handy. Just keep in mind, you’ll need to serve the waiting periods before you can claim.
Bronze and bronze plus
Stepping up a notch, the bronze tier covers at least 18 clinical categories, including cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Bronze plus policies can throw in extras like lung and chest treatments or medically necessary plastic surgery. It’s a solid choice if you want more than the basics but aren’t ready to splurge.
Silver and silver plus
The silver tier covers at least 26 clinical categories, including heart and vascular systems, dental surgery, and back, neck, and spine treatments. Silver plus policies take it further, with options like joint replacements or pregnancy and birth cover. It’s a popular pick for families or anyone wanting mid-range cover with a bit of flexibility.
Gold
The top tier – gold is the VIP of hospital cover. It includes all 38 clinical categories, from cataracts and IVF to weight loss surgery and insulin pumps. If you want the works and don’t mind paying for it, golds got you covered. It’s ideal for those with specific health needs or anyone who wants peace of mind knowing they’re covered for just about everything.
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Share some basic details about yourself or your household and the type of policy you’re looking for
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What else should I know about student health insurance?
There are a few important things you need to know about health insurance as a young adult. Some of these will only apply once you hit a certain age or income threshold, but they’re worth knowing about and planning for now.
Age-based discounts
If you’re under 30 and planning to get your own health insurance, here’s some good news – your age can save you money!
Since 2019, insurers have been giving young Aussies a little nudge to grab private health insurance early. How? By offering a 2% discount for every year under 30 you are when you first sign up. So, if you’re 25, that’s a sweet 10% off your premium.
The best part? You can keep that discount until you turn 41. After that, it starts to drop by 2% each year until it disappears completely. It’s a little reward for getting in early and being proactive about your health.
But there’s a catch: if you switch policies or insurers, you’ll want to double-check that your discount comes with you. Not all insurers are required to honour it, so it’s worth asking before you make the leap. Also, age-based discounts don’t apply to those who are covered as a dependant on a family or single parent policy.
Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading
Have you met the age-based discount’s evil twin? Meet LHC loading.
If you don’t have at least basic hospital cover after turning 30, once you do sign up, you’ll cop an extra 2% on your premium for every year you delay. It’s like a late fee, but for your health insurance. Ouch!
Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)
Adulthood can mean getting your own place and cooking dinner other than two-minute noodles. It can also mean dealing with the tax man. This includes the Medicare Levy Surcharge, the tax you might need to pay if:
- you earn over a certain amount (in 2025–26, $101,000 as a single or $202,000 as a family)
- you don’t have hospital cover with an excess of $750 or less (singles) or $1,500 or less (families).
If you’re earning above the threshold, you’ll get hit with the MLS (up to 1.5% of your taxable income) – unless you’ve got hospital cover. Health insurance is your ticket to sidestepping that extra tax sting.
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Health Insurance & Tax
Tax Implications on Health Insurance
How to save on Health Insurance
About the Medicare Levy Surcharge
About the Life Time Health Cover Loading
Government Rebate & Means Testing
iSelect does not compare all health insurance providers or policies in the market. The availability of policies will change from time to time. Not all policies available from its providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, your stated needs and circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Some policies and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers