Overseas Student Health Cover

As an international student, it is a requirement of your student visa that you have private health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia As per the Australian Government. Medicare Australia national health program does not cover you.

What is overseas student health cover?

Overseas student health cover (OSHC) is insurance that provides cover on the costs for medical and hospital care which international students may need while in Australia. OSHC will also pay for most prescription drugs and emergency ambulance transport.

Who is eligible for OSHC?

People eligible for OSHC are students from overseas who are undertaking formal studies in Australia, and their family members (for example, spouses and children under 18 years old).

For the purpose of OSHC, there are three categories of overseas students.

These are:

• Non-Australian residents with a current student visa;
• Students from New Zealand; or
• Expatriate Australian students who are ineligible for cover by
  Medicare.

Students in all three categories are eligible for, and must take out, OSHC.

Why are international students required to maintain OSHC?

Hospital treatment in Australia can be expensive. The average cost for a bed in a public hospital in Australia is $240 per day. International students are not eligible for Medicare - the Australian government's public health insurance system. Without access to the safety net of Medicare, international students may have difficulty paying for medical treatment. As a result, overseas student health cover (OSHC) was introduced to ensure international students have adequate health care arrangements during their stay in Australia. OSHC ensures international students can
access appropriate health care without undue financial hardship. Additionally, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requires all holders of a student visa to maintain OSHC.

DIAC advises that international students who do not maintain their OSHC may have their visas cancelled.

The College has entered into an agreement with Medibank Private as the preferred provider of OSHC to commencing international students. After the first 12 months of membership, students are able to transfer to another OSHC provider. You can also purchase visa length health insurance coverage.

Information about other registered OSHC providers is available on the Department of Health and Ageing web site:

• Department of Health [ Click here ]

It is a condition of your student visa that you always have valid health cover. It is your responsibility to renew your health cover when it expires if you are covered by Medibank Private's OSHC, you can do this online or at any Medibank Private branch.

For information regarding current medibank's rates for single and family cover, as well as general information about coverage and renewal, please refer to medibank's web site:

• Medibank Private [ Click here ]

You are covered by Medibank Private OSHC from the date of your arrival in Australia, and your membership card will be available for collection when you enrol (or shortly thereafter).