Compulsory health cover
International students in Australia must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) so that they are covered for any medical treatment that may be required during their stay in Australia.
Why are international students required to have OSHC?
Who offers OSHC and how much will it cost?
What kinds of services are you entitled to with your OSHC?
Does OSHC cover all medical and hospital expenses?
Can students choose which company they take out OSHC with?
Do all OSHC providers offer the same product and service?
What if I need treatment while I’m in Australia?
How do I pay for medical treatment?
How long do I have to have OSHC?
Can I transfer to a different OSHC provider?
Where can I go for further information or help?
Why are international students required to have OSHC?
Australian hospital and medical care can be very expensive without health insurance. International students are not covered by the Australian Government’s public health insurance system (called Medicare). OSHC was therefore introduced so that overseas students can access health care without experiencing financial difficulty. It is a condition of student visas that OSHC is taken out and maintained for the length of the study stay in Australia.
Who needs OSHC?
All international students and their family members (spouses and children under 18 years of age) need OSHC. An international student is:
1. a non-Australian resident with a current student visa
2. a New Zealand student who is ineligible for Medicare cover
3. an expatriate Australian student who is ineligible for Medicare cover.
The only exceptions are Norwegian students and some Swedish students. Norwegian students are provided with health insurance by the Norwegian Government and don’t need Australian OSHC. Swedish students who have insurance with CSN International also don’t need Australian OSHC.
Who offers OSHC and how much will it cost?
The following health funds are approved by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to offer OSHC:
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BUPA Australia OSHC: www.overseasstudenthealth.com . Also known as HBA and Mutual Community. Phone 1800 888 942.
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Medibank Private: www.medibank.com.au/productandservices/overseas/students
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Lysaght Peoplecare Limited, subcontracting to OSHC Worldcare: www.oshcworldcare.com.au
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Australian Health Management: www.ahm.com.au .
Cover for a single person costs around A$80 for three months or around A$300–350 for twelve months. It is worth comparing the prices of cover from each provider as they vary. Many providers offer a discount on program-length cover.
What kinds of services does OSHC entitle you to?
Overseas student health cover includes the general public medical services that are available to all Australians through Medicare. It also provides access to private hospitals and day surgeries, ambulance cover, and pharmaceutical benefits. Services covered by OSHC are listed on the Department of Health and Ageing website: www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/content/health-privatehealth-consumers-deed.htm .
Does OSHC cover all medical and hospital expenses?
No. Part but not all of your expenses are covered. In most cases OSHC 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.
Can international students choose which company they take out OSHC with?
Yes. International students can choose which company they wish to have OSHC cover with. When they first come to Australia international students normally have their cover linked to their educational facility, however, after the first twelve months the students need to independently renew their cover with the OSHC provider of their choice.
Do all OSHC providers offer the same product and service?
No they don't. All OSHC providers need to provide what is required of them in the OSHC Deed but they can elect to enhance their product or service with accessibility to their private hospital network, medical networks, added services not covered by the Deed etc. You need to be aware of these added services as they can provide a better option for the student, reducing or eliminating any payment gaps.
What is extra OSHC?
Extra OSHC gives international students access to services that are not covered by OSHC medical and hospital cover (for example, dental, physiotherapy and optical services). OSHC providers will be able to provide full details of the services available under extra OSHC cover, and the additional cost involved.
What if I need treatment while I’m in Australia?
The best option is to go and see a doctor. Most educational facilities have a doctor on campus or nearby. Many OSHC providers also have direct billing relationships with medical clinics to ensure students have access to treatment with no or minimal out-of-pocket expenses. The doctor will refer you to a specialist or hospital if further treatment is required. You can choose either a public or private hospital, but you should contact your OSHC provider before going to a private hospital to ensure that you will be covered for treatment at that hospital.
How do I pay for medical treatment?
Depending on which OSHC provider you take cover with you can access a range of ways of claiming your medical benefit for treatment, they are:
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You can use a Direct Bill Doctor who charges the OSHC provider directly only charging the student any difference
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Claim online over the web
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Pay for your treatment and claim back from the provider in their branch network — only BUPA Australia and Medibank Private have a branch network
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Pay for your treatment and claim back via the mail or fax claiming methods.
For pharmaceutical claims, you need to pay the pharmacy first and then claim a refund from your OSHC provider. Be aware that benefits are paid on prescription items only (as per the Deed guidelines ) and do not cover general pharmacy items like cold and flu 'non-prescription' medicines. This is a little bit complicated but benefits are paid for expenses exceeding the equivalent of the current Pubic Benefits Scheme (PBS) patient contribution for general beneficiaries, up to $50 per pharmaceutical item. Talk to your OSHC provider to understand this more clearly.
Hospital bills are normally sent directly to OSHC providers for payment. Arrangements for payment of bills will vary between OSHC providers, however, so it’s important to contact your OSHC provider for more information.
For how long do I have to have OSHC?
You must have OSHC for the entire length of your study stay in Australia. The minimum period of cover is 12 months or the length of your student visa, whichever is shorter.
Can I transfer to a different OSHC provider?
It is easy to transfer between OSHC providers at any time. Some providers charge a ‘refund processing fee’ if you transfer to a new policy before your old policy ends. Your new provider will require evidence of your previous cover and the length you held cover for, to ensure that you don’t have to re-serve your waiting period.
Where can I go for further information or help?
If you require any further information about OSHC now or during your stay in Australia, you can contact the Department of Health and Ageing on 02 6289 1555, visit their website: www.health.gov.au or contact one of the OSHC providers listed previously.
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The information in the above article was sourced from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website, Overseas Student Health Cover frequently asked questions, viewed 20 June 2007, |