CBHS OSHC is closed to new sales — what this means

What actually happened

CBHS International Health ceased selling new OSHC and OVHC policies from 31 October 2025. It was also removed from at least one industry comparison site's active listings from 3 October 2025, ahead of the formal sales-cessation date. Secondary sources describe the decision as a strategic move by the wider CBHS Group to focus on the Australian domestic health insurance market rather than the overseas-visitor and student-cover segment.

This is a run-off, not an abrupt cancellation. CBHS is not cancelling existing members' cover or forcing them onto a new insurer immediately — the change only affects whether CBHS will sell OSHC or OVHC to anyone new, from that date onward.

If you already hold a CBHS policy: what continues

CBHS's own communications state that it continues to fully service policies purchased before 31 October 2025 — claims and support — for the life of those policies. Members are sent 90 days' notice ahead of each policy's expiry as it approaches renewal, at which point CBHS won't offer a renewal and the member needs to arrange cover with one of the currently-selling insurers instead.

In practice, that means an existing CBHS member with, say, six months left on a 12-month policy can generally expect claims and support to continue as normal through to that expiry date, with a notice period built in before they need to act. What it doesn't mean is indefinite CBHS cover — every current policy is on a countdown to its own natural expiry, after which CBHS is not an option for renewal.

What "run-off" actually means for a health cover product

A run-off is standard industry language for what CBHS is doing: an insurer stops writing new business in a category while continuing to administer and pay claims on policies already in force, until each one naturally expires. It's a managed wind-down of new sales, not a sudden withdrawal of existing cover.

The main thing to watch for as a current CBHS member is your own policy's specific expiry date and the 90-day notice CBHS sends ahead of it — that notice is the trigger to start comparing the five currently-selling insurers, rather than waiting until your cover is about to lapse. A gap in OSHC or OVHC cover, even briefly, can put a student or work visa holder in breach of visa condition 8501, so timing the switch before expiry matters.

What genuinely isn't confirmed

One detail worth being honest about: no evidence was found in this research of CBHS's existing OSHC/OVHC policy book being sold or transferred to another insurer. That's a "no confirmed transfer" finding, not a confirmed "no transfer occurred" finding — the absence of a reported transfer doesn't prove one hasn't happened or won't happen, and a definitive answer would need to come from CBHS directly or a formal regulatory notice.

If you're a current CBHS member and want certainty on this point specifically, CBHS's own member communications or a direct enquiry to CBHS is the right place to check, rather than relying on secondary industry commentary.

If you're a new student choosing cover now

CBHS is not an option for a new OSHC or OVHC purchase as of the date this article was written — the five currently-selling insurers are Allianz Care Australia, ahm, Bupa, Medibank and nib. All five meet the same government-mandated minimum cover under the OSHC Deed, so the practical decision is about waiting-period detail, direct-billing networks and claiming apps, not about which one offers "more" cover at the baseline.

If you were specifically drawn to a CBHS quote or plan you'd seen referenced somewhere, that content is now out of date for new purchases — treat any pre-October-2025 CBHS pricing or product mention you come across as historical rather than current.

How we wrote this article

Cover requirements are set by the government OSHC Deed, so minimum cover is similar across insurers — differences are in service, networks and extras. This is general information, not advice; check the insurer's current policy documents.

Migratio may earn a commission if you take out cover through links on this site; that never changes how providers are presented.

Can I still buy CBHS OSHC or OVHC?

No. CBHS stopped selling new OSHC and OVHC policies from 31 October 2025. New cover needs to come from one of the five currently-selling insurers: Allianz Care Australia, ahm, Bupa, Medibank or nib.

What happens to my existing CBHS policy?

CBHS states it continues to fully service policies purchased before 31 October 2025 — claims and support — for the life of that policy, with 90 days' notice sent ahead of expiry. CBHS won't offer a renewal once your current policy expires.

Was CBHS's policy book sold to another insurer?

No evidence of a book sale or transfer was found in this research. That's not confirmation that no transfer occurred — check directly with CBHS if you need certainty on this specific point.

Why did CBHS stop selling OSHC and OVHC?

Secondary sources describe it as a strategic decision by the CBHS Group to focus on the Australian domestic health insurance market rather than the overseas-visitor and student segment.

How much notice will I get before my CBHS policy expires?

CBHS states it sends 90 days' notice ahead of each policy's expiry, giving members time to arrange cover with one of the currently-selling insurers before their existing policy lapses.