Your Essential Guide to Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in Australia
If you’re an international student considering coming to Australia to study, it’s crucial to understand how you’re going to look after your health while you’re here. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is what you’ll need to get you through many unforeseen health crises while studying in Australia.
This blog will give you the lowdown on what an OSHC policy is, how it helps and if you really need it.
What is Medicare in Australia?
Medicare is Australia’s public healthcare system. It covers a wide range of medical services including General Practitioners (GP) and various medical specialists at low to no cost to those eligible. If you’re on of the following, you can use it:
Australian citizens
New Zealand citizens
Holders of a permanent visa or residence in Australia
Students from countries like Norway, Sweden or Belgium who are covered by a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia.
Can you use it as a visitor?
Unfortunately, overseas students do not have access to Medicare or its benefits. Instead, they are required to purchase an OSHC. If an overseas student does not have an OSHC and has a medical emergency, they will be responsible to cover the costs themselves.
What is Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)?
OSHC is a type of private health insurance that helps students be able to meet their healthcare needs while studying in Australia. The policy is designed to alleviate all or some of the costs of Australia’s medical services for those ineligible for Medicare.
Is OSHC mandatory/required for International Students?
OSHC is a mandatory requirement for international students planning to study in Australia. A policy must be obtained prior to arrival in Australia and should correspond with the duration of the intended Student Visa.
Coverage and benefits of OSHC
OSHC offers a range of policies at different prices. At a minimum, all available OSHC policies are required to include the following coverage:
Full reimbursement on services apart of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
100% coverage of the MBS fee for medical services when you’re admitted to a hospital
Stay covered for accommodation in public hospital and private hospital wards
Cover for specific prosthetic devices
Cover on ambulance services
Additionally, OSHC policies also come with a pharmaceutical benefit. This helps cut down on unexpected expenses, especially for sudden illnesses that need medication.
What is not covered by OSHC
OSHC doesn’t provide cover for services that are considered extras. This can include:
Elective cosmetic surgery
Stem cell treatment
Organ transplant
Bone marrow transplant
Assisted reproductive treatments
Does OSHC cover all medical and hospital expenses?
Not quite. OSHC will cover part but not all of your expenses. Usually, it will cover a good proportion of the costs. You should speak to the OSHC providers before taking out cover to ensure that you have the best cover, with the lowest cost and highest benefits.
What is extra OSHC?
Extra OSHC gives international students access to services that are not covered by the regular OSHC medical and hospital plans - think dental, physiotherapy and optical services. OSHC providers can provide you all the details about what’s included and how much it costs.
Who’s eligible?
To be able to purchase OSHC, you need to be an overseas student coming to Australia with a Subclass 500 student visa. If you’re moving to Australia on another visa subclass or type, you will have to organise a different health insurance policy such as Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC).
How to obtain coverage - key providers of OSHC
Only insurers that have entered into the Australian Government Deed for the Provision of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) are authorised to offer OSHC products. Currently, there are six major private health insurers offering OSHC coverage:
ahm OSHC
Allianz Global Assistance
Bupa Australia
CBHS International Health
Medibank Private
NIB
You can usually buy a policy directly online from any of these providers. Here’s how to get your coverage sorted:
Visit your preferred providers website
Find the OSHC policy offers
Choose the insurance policy that best meets your need and budget
Set a date for your policy to start and input your details
Pay for your OSHC policy
Receive your new policy
Before committing, you should speak to different OSHC providers to ensure you’re getting the right coverage for the best price. You can use Finder to take a look at the differences between plans from selected providers.
What if I need medical treatment in Australia?
The best option is to visit a doctor or go to the emergency department of a public hospital. Many educational institutions have a doctor on campus or nearby. OSHC providers often have direct billing relationships with medical clinics to ensure students can access treatment with no or minimal up-front expenses. The doctor will refer you to a specialist or hospital if you need further treatment.
You can choose either a public or a private hospital, but you should check your OSHC provider before going to a private hospital to ensure you’re covered. Vice versa, you should also contact your OSHC provider before going to a public hospital for non-emergencies or elective procedure to ensure that you are covered.
In an emergency, go straight to the nearest hospital’s emergency department, or call 000 for an ambulance if needed.
How long do I need to be covered?
You must obtain OSHC for the proposed duration of your student visa and renew your OSHC if you extend the length of your visa.
Can I switch providers?
You can transfer to a different OSHC provider at any time, but some providers charge a fee if you switch before your current policy ends.
Where can I go for further information or help?
For more information on OSHC, visit privatehealth.gov.au, call 1300 737 299 or 13 14 50 for a translation service or contact one of the OSHC providers listed above.
Information sourced from the Australian Government Department of Health website.
If you feel overwhelmed by all of the OSHC options, we can organise a great price for you through our partner providers. Reach out to us using the form below 💜
