Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): Health Coverage for International Students in Australia

Author: Shoikot Ahmed
April 23, 2023

Health Coverage for International Students in Australia

Who Must Purchase OSHC?
Who Purchases OSHC?
Whch Insurers Provide OSHC?
Cost of OSHC
What is Covered by OSHC?
Validation of Payment
Final Word

Overseas Student Health Insurance (OSHC) is a special type of health insurance available to foreign students in Australia. With the help of OSHC insurance, overseas students can pay for any necessary hospital and medical care while studying in Australia. This makes it crucial for international students to buy their Australian international student health insurance before leaving their home country.

Who Must Purchase OSHC?

All people in Australia on student visas, along with any dependents they might well have, are required by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to retain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of their time in Australia.

Few exceptions to this rule:

Belgians Students: Not required to purchase OSHC because they are protected by the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
Swedish Students: Do not need to purchase OSHC because they are already covered by Kammarkollegiet or the National Board of Student Air. International Swedish students will have to buy OSHC if neither plan covers them.
Norwegian Students: Are not need to purchase OSHC because they are protected by the Norwegian National Insurance Plan.

Who Purchases OSHC?

Your education provider may purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) on your behalf, or you may select your own OSHC-approved provider and pay for the insurance yourself. It's crucial that you keep up constant coverage for the duration of your trip to Australia, whoever purchases it. This is especially true for students who are enrolled in classes at two distinct schools, each of which arranges its own insurance.

Whch Insurers Provide OSHC?

There are now 5 insurers who provide Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which you can acquire through your academic institution or directly from them:

Australian Health Management
BUPA Australia
Medibank Private
Allianz Global Assistance (subcontracted by Lysaght Peoplecare)
nib OSHC

Cost of OSHC

Depending on the kind of coverage needed, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) costs vary. The cheapest minimal cover for a person is about AUD 478 for a full year (as of September 2021). Your educational institution can arrange for you to receive your OSHC, or you can buy it online from the official OSHC provider's website. To make sure that the level of coverage you have selected satisfies your needs, it would be ideal if you consulted with the various OSHC providers before deciding to purchase the coverage.

What is Covered by OSHC?

The Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) plan is made to offer coverage for medical services at a hospital or doctor's office as well as for a small number of prescription prescriptions to overseas students. Contacting each OSHC provider is essential if you want to ensure you have the coverage you need because it depends on the plan you select.

You should find out about the waiting periods, exclusions, and other limitations of the plan. The OSHC insurance plan does not provide coverage for travel into or out of Australia, treatment received in or outside of Australia, or treatment arranged before arriving in Australia. Services including physiotherapy, dental care, and vision care are frequently not covered by Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

You must purchase a separate private Australian international student health insurance plan if you want coverage for these occurrences. Depending on the type of coverage you require, there are three alternatives below.

Emergency Medical Evacuation and Remains Repatriation
Prepare for Cancelling a Trip
Medical Travel Insurance

You are covered by Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) while you are traveling within Australia, but you also want to be covered while you are in the air or while visiting other countries. After all, New Zealand and Fiji are only a short distance away. If you want to be protected when your OSHC plan expires, think about getting Australian international student health insurance. Rates for travel medical insurance is updated every day, and you may apply online.

Validation of Payment

When submitting your application, you will need to show evidence of payment and documentation proving that your OSHC coverage starts the moment you arrive in Australia.

Final Word

It's important to familiarize yourself with the country's health insurance system before studying abroad. In this manner, insurance will have you covered if you experience a sudden illness or injury. The Australian health insurance system for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is as impressive as the country itself. In Australia, access to healthcare has been growing steadily.