Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is insurance that covers the costs of medical and hospital care that international students may require while studying in Australia. OSHC pays 85% of the scheduled (government-recommended) rate for private medical visits (including specialists) and emergency ambulance transport.
It also covers all costs for a shared ward and treatment in a public hospital provided you are treated by a doctor appointed by the hospital. During the first 9 months of coverage, OSHC does not pay for pharmaceutical medications, dentists, physiotherapists, spectacles or contact lenses, pregnancy-related treatments, or previous conditions.
Additional coverage for these uses is available from BUPA or any other private insurer of your choice. Students from other countries pursuing official studies in Australia, as well as their family members (for example, wives and children under 18), are eligible for OSHC.
There are three types of international students for the purposes of OSHC. They are as follows:
• Non-Australian residents having a current student visa;
• New Zealand students; or Expatriate Australian students who are not eligible for Medicare coverage.
Students who want the Institute to arrange their OSHC must pay in full upon acceptance of the Letter of Offer. Students who choose to arrange their own OSHC must pay in full upon acceptance of the Letter of Offer. Before beginning their studies, students must produce evidence to the Institute that they have secured OSHC for the duration of their studies.
Why Is OSHC Required Of International Students?
Australia’s hospitals can be very pricey. In Australia, a public hospital bed typically costs $240 per day. The public health insurance program run by the Australian government,
Medicare, is ineligible for international students. International students may struggle to pay for medical care if they do not have access to Medicare's safety net.
As a result, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) was established to guarantee that visiting international students have access to quality medical care while they are in Australia.
International students are guaranteed access to quality healthcare without experiencing undue financial hardship thanks to OSHC. The Department of Home Affairs additionally mandates OSHC for all people with student visas.
International students who do not keep their OSHC risk having their visas revoked, according to the Department of Home Affairs. According to Australian Government regulation, it is a requirement on your student visa as an international student to have private health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. You are not covered by Medicare, Australia's national health program. IIBIT has chosen BUPA as its preferred Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) supplier in collaboration with Federation University Australia. Students are not required to register with them, however, proof of purchased OSHC must be submitted before a COE is issued.