What I need to know about OSHC

Coming to Australia to Study? It’s an Australian government regulation (and a condition of your student 500 visa) to maintain adequate health insurance while you’re here. Health insurance for international students in Australia is commonly known as Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

 

Why is OSHC required?

While Australia is an extremely safe place, sometimes you may fall ill or get into small accidents while having too much fun! OSHC is there to protect international students by offering you access to high quality medical assistance and covering the associated medical costs. Medical treatment can be very expensive in Australia and if you don’t have adequate cover and get admitted into hospital, this can cost upwards of A$1,500 per day.

So OSHC is really there to make sure you can enjoy your stay in Australia without ever having to worry about large medical costs if something happens. International students must ensure that their OSHC cover commences upon their arrival into Australia and will need to be maintained until you leave the country.

 

Do all overseas students need OSHC?

Most international students coming to Australia will require OSHC. So unless your from the following 3 lucky countries (Belgium, Norway and Sweden), you will be required to ensure you have purchased OSHC cover for the duration of your stay in Australia. The students from the countries listed above are exempt from purchasing OSHC as they have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia.

Some special groups of students (e.g. Edeavour Award, Defence supported and Foreign Affairs supported) are also exempt from obtaining OSHC cover.

 

Who provides OSHC cover?

There are a total of 6 OSHC providers in Australia (Allianz, Bupa, Medibank, AHM, NIB and CBHS). International students are free to select any one of these providers to purchase their OSHC policy. Your education institute may recommend a preferred provider, but you are encouraged to research the pros and cons of each provider before making your decision.

Some things to consider include the level of cover offered by the provider, the strength of the provider’s doctor network, and the level of premiums. Some providers offer a comprehensive doctor network with a 24/7 doctor on demand service, as well as a great network of claim offices and service centres located on many university campuses across Australia.

 

What does OSHC cover?

Each OSHC provider offers different levels of cover. You will need to check your policy document or enquire with the OSHC provider to determine the exact rebate/cover for various types of medical expenses. Generally, OSHC will provide you with adequate cover from a range of medical costs including:

• Visits to the GP (General Practitioner or doctor)
• Hospitalisation
• X-rays
• Pathology and bloodwork
• Selected prescriptions
• Ambulance and emergency services

For some medical procedures, there may be a small out of pocket cost that is not covered by your OSHC policy. Some providers also offer additional cover (at an additional cost) for medical services such as dental, optical or physiotherapy.

 

Bringing your partner or family to Australia as well? They need to be covered too!

If you are travelling to Australia with your partner/spouse or family/dependents, they will also require cover for the entire duration of your studies in Australia. It’s really easy to ensure your loved ones are also covered and all your need to do is to request couples or family cover when purchasing your OSHC.

 

What is not included in my OSHC policy?

You OSHC policy should provide adequate cover for a broad a range of general medical treatments. However, there are some medical procedures and services that are typically not covered, including:

• Treatments you sought out and arranged prior to arriving in Australia
• Assisted Reproductive Services (ARS) and cosmetic procedures
• Any treatments that are not covered by Medicare (the Australian public health system)
• Non-emergency ambulance services
• Some pre-existing medical conditions