Understanding Overseas Student Health Cover in Australia

If you're an international student in Australia, you'll need to purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) as a condition of your student visa. OSHC ensures you have access to medical treatment and hospital care in Australia.

The Australian government requires all international students to have OSHC for the entire duration of their stay in the country. This includes students on a student visa.

OSHC policies usually cover a range of medical services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and emergency ambulance services.

You can extend your health cover by contacting your current health insurance provider directly or switching to Medibank to get a quote and easily switch your OSHC.

There are several ways to contact Medibank: via the Medibank OSHC App, online via online member services, or by calling Medibank on 134 148.

If you're joining Medibank from a different insurer, they'll recognise waiting periods you've served, so you may be able to start claiming as soon as you become a member.

If you're an international student at UWA, you can have your OSHC arranged through the university, which is a convenient option. This means you'll get extra benefits, such as comprehensive coverage that meets your student visa health insurance requirements.

The university has partnered with Medibank, their preferred provider, to offer this service. If you're joining for the first time, your cover will be purchased through Medibank, which exclusively offers Comprehensive OSHC to students at partner education providers.

The Medibank Comprehensive OSHC Policy offers some impressive benefits, including market-leading level of pharmacy benefits and best-in-market mental health coverage. You'll also get 100% of costs covered for ambulance callouts or emergency transportation.

Here are some key benefits of the Medibank Comprehensive OSHC Policy:

Remember to arrange your OSHC about the same time you accept your offer to study, as it's a condition of your student visa that you maintain OSHC for the duration of your studies.

Extending your OSHC is a relatively straightforward process. You can contact your current health insurance provider directly to extend your cover.

If you need to extend your OSHC, you can also contact Medibank, our preferred provider, to get a quote and easily switch your OSHC. They can be contacted via the Medibank OSHC App, online via online member services, or by calling Medibank on 134 148.

If you're extending your studies in Australia, it's quick and easy to extend your nib cover in the nib App. You can also transfer your cover to Medibank, which can be beneficial if you have already served waiting periods with your previous insurer.

If you transfer to Medibank OSHC, you will simply need to provide proof of your previous OSHC (transfer certificate), and any waiting periods you have already served will transfer across to your Medibank OSHC.

You can purchase your health cover through one of the Australian Government-approved providers, which include ahm OSHC, Allianz Care Australia, CBHS International Health, Medibank Private, and NIB OSHC.

You can also purchase OSHC through Bupa, our preferred provider, which has representatives available on campus during weekdays if you have any questions about your insurance. They can be found at Level 4, Wentworth Building, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Here are some of the approved health insurance providers you can consider:

The Allianz MyHealth app is a great tool for OSHC members. It allows you to access your digital membership card on the go.

You can use the app to submit or check the status of your medical claim. This can save you time and hassle, especially if you're dealing with a complex or urgent issue.

One of the best features of the app is that you can view your policy details at any time. This can help you understand what's covered and what's not, which is especially important if you're unsure about anything.

The app's digital membership card is a convenient alternative to carrying a physical card.

Bupa is a reputable health insurance provider that offers OSHC coverage. You can purchase OSHC from Bupa, and their representatives will be available on campus to answer any questions you may have.

Bupa has a dedicated space on campus, located at Level 4 of the Wentworth Building, where you can visit them from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

Health insurance is a crucial aspect of living abroad, and understanding the basics is essential for making informed decisions.

In Australia, where many international students study, health insurance is mandatory for visa holders.

Having health insurance can save you from financial burdens in case of medical emergencies.

You can choose from various types of health insurance, including private health insurance and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

You're likely wondering who needs health insurance. International students undertaking formal studies in Australia and their dependents (including spouses and children under 18) must have OSHC.

To be specific, it's a condition of your student visa that you maintain OSHC for the duration of your studies. This cover needs to be arranged about the same time you accept your offer to study.

Interestingly, membership of a health insurance scheme in your home country does not exempt you from paying OSHC.

Here are some details on how to arrange OSHC:

If you need to extend your OSHC, you can contact your current health insurance provider directly or contact Medibank to get a quote and easily switch your OSHC.

If you're new to health insurance, you might be wondering about waiting periods. Switching from another health fund can be a good thing - we'll recognise waiting periods you've served, so you may be able to start claiming as soon as you become a member.

If you're transferring from another insurer, we'll take a look at the waiting periods you've already served on an equivalent cover.

Mental Health Support is a crucial aspect of overall well-being. You can access a digital on-demand mental health and wellbeing tool through the thenib App to support your health and happiness.

This tool is designed to help international visitors, acknowledging that mental health can be a challenge when navigating unfamiliar environments.

If you're from the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia, Italy, or New Zealand, you might be eligible for Medicare under your country's Reciprocal Health Care Agreements.

Having reciprocal access to Medicare doesn't exempt you from needing to take out OSHC, so be sure to purchase it regardless of your eligibility for Medicare.

Students from Norway, Finland, Malta, and the Republic of Ireland are not covered by the agreements with those countries, so you'll need to purchase OSHC as usual.

If you're a student from Sweden, Norway, or Belgium, you might be exempt from purchasing OSHC under special arrangements, but you'll need to check with the Department of Home Affairs to find out for sure.

For more information on exemptions to OSHC, see the Department of Health and Aged Care's OSHC factsheet, which has all the details you need to know.