All international students are required to have overseas student health coverage (OSHC) if they wish to study in Australia. OSHC helps pay for medical and hospital care a student may need while in Australia. OSHC will also help pay for most prescription drugs and emergency ambulance transport. There are now four insurance companies that may issue OSHC policies:
How does a student arrange for OSHC? And how much does it cost?
The student’s Australian host university will instruct the student regarding their OSHC procedures. In most cases, a student pays the OSHC premium for the first period of their study in Australia, along with course fees, to their host university or to that university’s agent. The university will then send the student's premium to their chosen insurance provider and set up coverage.
Alternatively the student may be required to send the premium directly to the insurance provider. The Australian university will supply all of this information. Rates for 2006 were roughly AUD$171 for one semester and AUD$342 for a year of coverage.
What does OSHC cover?
OHSC generally covers the following, but the list is not meant to be used
in place of information provided by the Australian institution’s international office. The Australian university should provide your students with a brochure outlining the exact coverage available.
Typically, OSHC offers:
- A doctor (including specialists) to treat the student in a hospital, or at the doctor's office;
- Pathology services such as blood tests;
- X-rays;
- Some hospital coverage (depending on hospital type);
- Emergency Ambulance Transport; and
- Pharmaceuticals.
What is not covered?
- Pre-existing conditions;
- Treatment which would not otherwise be covered under the Medicare arrangements e.g. health screening services;
- Dental services;
- Physiotherapy;
- Optical e.g. items such as glasses and contact lenses.
Again the above lists are to be used as general guidelines only. The international offices at the Australian institutions will help your students enrol for OSHC, answer your questions and connect students with proper health services in Australia if it becomes necessary.
Travel insurance
Things sometimes don’t go according to plan while traveling, and so it’s advisable to take out some kind of travel insurance. There are many different kinds of travel insurance policies – each one providing different amounts of travel, medical and baggage protection. Travel insurance can cover you in the event that your flight is cancelled, delayed, or interrupted. It can provide coverage if your baggage is lost, stolen or delayed. Most importantly, it can provide services not covered by regular health insurance such as emergency evacuation and the support of a toll-free medical emergency number.
Supplemental insurance
Many companies offer services that are not covered by regular health insurance policies. These services include medical evacuation and repatriation, and a toll-free number to call for help in a medical emergency. These policies can be purchased for the duration of the student’s stay abroad and are designed to assist the study abroad population.