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If you’re moving to Australia to study, work, or visit, one of the first requirements you’ll face is choosing the right type of health cover. Whether it’s OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) for Student Visa holders or OVHC (Overseas Visitors Health Cover) for work and other temporary visa categories, insurers offer three main membership types:
Most people assume each category includes different benefits - but that’s not true. The benefits remain the same regardless of the membership category.
So what actually changes between Single, Couple, and Family cover?
Let’s break it down using accurate, rule-based information.
Although insurers use slightly different naming variations (Bupa’s “Dual Family” and “Multi Family”, nib’s “Family”), the definitions across the industry are consistent. All of them follow the rules set out in the Private Health Insurance Act.
What Single, Couple and Family Mean
While the number of insured people changes, the scope of benefits does not.
No - Benefits Stay the Same Across All Membership Types
This is the most important part of this blog.
OSHC Benefits Are Fixed by Law
The OSHC Deed specifies mandatory services that every OSHC provider must cover, including:
These mandatory benefits apply to every insured person, regardless of whether the policy is Single, Couple, or Family.
OVHC Benefits Are Based on the Product, Not Membership Category
Every OVHC - Bupa, AIA, nib, Medibank - states the same principle:
“Benefit entitlements depend on the level of cover, not the membership type.”
In simple words:
Single, Couple, and Family get the same benefits.
Only the number of covered people changes.
This is consistent across all OVHC tiers such as:
Since benefits remain constant, the real differences between Single, Couple, and Family come down to:
OSHC Coverage Comparison
Since OSHC is legally regulated, benefits cannot be reduced for any membership category.
OVHC Coverage Comparison
When Single Cover Makes Sense
Choose Single cover if:
When Couple Cover is the Better Choice?
Choose Couple cover if:
Couple cover is commonly used for:
When Family Cover Is Essential
Choose Family cover if:
“Dependent children” include those under 21, or under 25 if studying full-time.
GetMyPolicy.online allows users to compare health cover from:
OSHC Providers
OVHC Providers
1. Is Couple OSHC/OVHC more expensive than Single?
Yes. Premiums increase because more people are covered, but benefits remain the same.
2. Does Family cover include pregnancy, birth, and newborn care?
Yes, if those benefits are part of the insurer’s product, and standard waiting periods apply.
3. Can I switch from Single to Couple/Family later?
Yes. Insurers allow policy upgrades when your circumstances change - marriage, dependants arriving, new baby, etc.
4. Do children get the same benefits as adults?
Yes. Every insured person receives identical entitlements based on the policy’s Level of Cover.
5. Do OVHC benefits differ between Visiting Cover and Working Cover?
Yes - but membership type does not affect benefits.
Differences depend on whether you choose Basic, Mid, Top, or Comprehensive tiers, as per the insurer’s policies.
Choosing between Single, Couple, and Family cover is not about comparing benefits - the benefits stay the same across categories.
What changes is how many people need:
Whether you are a student, worker, or visitor, comparing membership types and prices can help you choose the most cost-efficient option without compromising on benefits.
You can easily compare quotes from leading insurers like nib, Bupa, AIA, Medibank, AHM and Allianz Care directly on GetMyPolicy.online - helping you select the right category at the best price.
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