What Is OSHC Extras Cover?

OSHC extras cover is a type of health insurance that sits alongside your standard OSHC. While OSHC takes care of doctor visits, hospital care, and prescription medicines, it doesn’t include things like dental check-ups, glasses, or physiotherapy sessions. Extras cover fills in those gaps.

If you buy an extras policy, you’ll pay regular premiums to access rebates or set benefits for additional services. These policies usually come with annual and lifetime limits, which means there’s a cap on how much you can claim each year.

Services Covered by Extras Insurance

Depending on your policy, extras insurance can cover a wide range of everyday health services. Typical inclusions are:

• Overseas student dental cover (routine check-ups, fillings, cleaning, and sometimes major dental)
• Optical cover under OSHC (eye tests, prescription glasses, contact lenses)
• OSHC with physiotherapy cover (sports injuries, rehabilitation, posture problems)
• Chiropractic or osteopathy
• Acupuncture and natural therapies
• Speech therapy, audiology, or psychology support (on higher levels of cover)

It’s important to check with your provider which services are included, as every extras policy is different.

Levels of Extras Cover for International Students in Australia

Extras policies usually come in three levels, though the exact names and inclusions vary depending on your insurer:

1. Basic Extras Cover: This is the entry-level option and typically includes services like routine dental, optical, and general physiotherapy. The limits are lower, and only essential services are included.
2. Medium Extras Cover: This level covers more services, often including chiropractic, podiatry, or remedial massage. Benefit limits may be higher, making it a good balance for students who want broader coverage without paying top-tier premiums.
3. Top Extras Cover: Top-level ancillary cover includes the widest range of services, with higher annual limits. This is the most expensive option but may be valuable for students with ongoing healthcare needs, such as major dental work or specialist therapies.

How Do Benefits and Limits Work?

Extras cover doesn’t usually pay the full cost of your treatment. Instead, you’ll either:

• Receive a percentage rebate (e.g., 60% of the cost), or
• Get a fixed benefit amount per service (e.g., $40 back per dental visit).

Each extras policy also has annual limits (the maximum you can claim for a service each year) and lifetime limits for certain treatments like orthodontics.

For example, you might have $500 per year for dental and $200 per year for optical. If you exceed those limits, you’ll have to pay the rest out of pocket.

Waiting Periods on Extras Cover

Most extras policies have waiting periods before you can claim on services. For example:

• 2 months for general dental or physiotherapy
• 6 months for optical
• 12 months for major dental, orthodontics, or high-cost procedures

However, some health funds offer promotions that waive waiting periods, especially on basic services like dental check-ups or physio. It’s worth keeping an eye out for these deals, as they can make extras cover immediately useful.

Do International Students Really Need Extras Cover?

The answer depends on your lifestyle, health needs, and budget. Here are some scenarios to help you decide:

Yes, it’s worth it if…

• You know you’ll need regular dental check-ups or orthodontic treatment.
• You wear glasses or contact lenses and want optical cover with OSHC.
• You play sports or are prone to injuries that may require physiotherapy or chiropractic care.
• You want peace of mind knowing you won’t face large unexpected bills for everyday services.

Maybe not necessary if...

• You rarely need dental or optical services.
• You prefer to pay out-of-pocket when the need arises.
• You’re on a tight budget and want to keep premiums as low as possible.

For many international students, extras cover is most valuable for dental and optical services, since these are common and often expensive in Australia. Even a single dental filling can cost a few hundred dollars, while glasses can easily exceed $200. Extras insurance can offset much of this.