One app for all your study abroad needs
Australia has a unique health care coverage for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Overseas Student Health Cover is a unique health insurance plan for international students in Australia (OSHC). OSHC is a type of insurance that is meant to assist overseas students in covering the costs of medical and hospital care while in Australia. Due to these regulations, overseas students should obtain their Australian international student health insurance before leaving their home country.
What is Overseas Student Health Cover?
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is an Australian government-mandated health insurance programme for international students studying in Australia. It is a type of insurance that provides overseas students with coverage based on the Australian Medicare system. Students can make arrangements with their educational institution to pay for their OSHC. Even if their educational school provides a specific suggestion because they have signed a preferred provider agreement with a particular insurer, students can still choose their own OSHC provider.
Why are International Students Required to have OSHC?
It helps you pay for medical expenses while you’re studying abroad, such as prescription meds:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital
- Emergency Ambulance
- Prescription Medicine
For some countries, you will require Overseas Student Health Cover before you can apply for a student visa.
Who offers OSHC and How Much Will it Cost?
The Australian Government Department of Health has approved the following funds to offer OSHC:
- Ahm OSCH
- Allianz Care Australia
- BUPA Australia
- CBHS International Health
- Medibank Private
- NIB OSHC
OSHC costs vary depending on the type of coverage needed. Minimum cover costs as little as AUD $478 (INR 35,905) for a year of singles coverage, $2,600 (INR 1,95,302 for a year of couples coverage, and $4,200 (INR 3,15,488) for a year of family coverage (as of September 2021). Your educational institution can organise your OSHC for you, or you can buy it online through the OSHC provider’s website.
What Does OSHC Cover?
OSHC policies help to defray the costs of hospitalisation and medical care. Ambulance services are also covered under benefits. General treatment (ancillary, or additional cover) such as dental, optical, or physiotherapy is not covered by OSHC. You can get Extras OSHC from an OSHC provider or general treatment cover from any Australian private health insurer if you need coverage for these services. Other insurance, such as international travel insurance, can be used to augment OSHC.
OSHC and Covid-19
- OSHC covers Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related ailments, primarily the clinical categories “Lung and chest,” “Kidney and bladder,” and “Dialysis for chronic kidney failure.”
- Foreign students who are trapped in Australia as a result of the Australian government’s mandatory travel restrictions in response to the global outbreak should contact their private health insurer for additional assistance to ensure continuity of coverage during this period.
- International students who are away from home due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) while on a student visa can contact their private health insurer to learn about their possibilities.
Also Read: COVID – 19 Safety Rules at School Classroom
OSCH and Pharmaceuticals
Only limited pharmaceutical benefits apply:
- With a maximum of $300 (INR 22,545) per year for a single membership ($600 for a family membership) and $50 (INR 3757) per pharmaceutical item.
- If you need pharmaceutical therapy, especially oncology (cancer) treatment, you may face considerable out-of-pocket payments.
Where can I purchase OSHC?
Certain insurers offer OSHC to students as part of a Deed of Agreement with the Department of Health to provide adequate health insurance at a fair rate. OSHC is offered by a small number of registered health insurers:
- Ahm OSCH
- Allianz Care Australia
- BUPA Australia
- CBHS International Health
- Medibank Private
- NIB OSHC
FAQs
No. Your expenses are partially covered, but not entirely. OSHC will, in most situations, cover a significant amount of the costs. Before purchasing OSHC coverage, you should speak with the providers to ensure that you are getting the best coverage at the lowest cost and with the most advantages.
Extra OSHC provides international students with access to treatments not covered by OSHC medical and hospital coverage, such as dental, physiotherapy, and optometry. OSHC providers will be able to provide complete descriptions of the services available under extended OSHC coverage, as well as the associated costs.
You must get OSHC for the period of your student visa, and you must renew your OSHC if your visa is extended.
You can change OSHC providers at any time, however, some providers impose a ‘refund processing fee’ if you switch policies before your current one expires.
Visits to the doctor, basic hospital care, limited medications, ambulance coverage, some prosthetic equipment, and access to private hospitals and day procedures are all covered under basic OSHC.
This was all about Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). If you are an international student seeking admission abroad to prominent universities, we at Leverage Edu can provide you with perfect assistance. Reach us on 1800572000 and sign up for 30 minutes of free career counselling sessions with our mentors and fulfil your study abroad dream.
15,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.
