Oshc: Health Insurance For Overseas Students In Australia

Travelling to another country is exciting in most circumstances

, not to mention moving to that particular country to study and live. There is a lot to think about when living in a different country including flights, accommodation, visas and making new friends. One element that is often forgotten when moving is health insurance! Here we discover the "ins and outs" of health insurance for students living in Australia.

What is it?

OSHC (overseas student health cover) is a comprehensive hospital and medical private health insurance specifically designed for students. It's considerably cheaper than the equivalent private health insurance for Australian permanent residents. This insurance will provide important cover for students should they become ill while in Australia.

Many policies will cover the following elements:

- Medical treatment in hospitals (co-payments are often required)

- Hospital accommodation

- Medical treatment outside of hospitals

- Pharmaceuticals (medicines) up to a maximum of $300

- Ambulance cover for emergency situations

Why do you need it?

In Australia, it is a mandatory requirement of a student visa for the holder to take out overseas student health cover. This is because people who have a student visa are not covered by the public health system known as Medicare and medical treatment can be very expensive if the patient does not hold any kind of OSHC. In reality, this visa requirement is not in place to benefit the Australian government - it is merely to ensure the international student is covered if they fall ill while in the country.

Who is eligible?

People that are eligible for overseas student health cover are visitors who have a student visa and are studying in a country other than their own, or alternatively:

- A person who is an applicant of a student visa

- A person who was a holder of a student visa and has applied but is yet to be given a bridging visa

Each OSHC provider may have different criteria for those seeking this type of health insurance so it is always important to ask about your eligibility to be sure you are fully covered under the right policy.

How to use OSHC

When purchasing overseas student health cover, many providers will often have a website containing a vast array of information and how to claim on your insurance policy, should you get sick. You will undoubtedly need to quote your policy number and some other information, so always be sure to keep this information in a safe place. Each provider will reimburse you in different ways, some by cheque and some by direct bank deposit. Regardless of the method they use, always make sure your details are updated and correct so that they can supply you with your money quickly and easily.

by: Ralph Gray

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