An OSHC Can Be Your Best Friend While Studying in Australia - Choose Wisely

• byBudgetpolicy
• 2023-05-25

As a student, you have cultivated the dream to commence your higher education in Australia. You have made a plan for it and are all set to take the next step. However, you are unaware of the next step. You may wonder what it would be. It is easy; you need to take an English proficiency test to prove your fluency and ability to communicate in English in foreign countries.

Now, your exam is done and you have scored well. What is next? You need to look for the university in Australia that you want to study in. After you have made up your mind about the university, you will have to apply for your student visa and look for the essential requirements to follow. OSHC visa requirement is one of the most significant aspects of visa compliance.

This means that as a student, you will require to buy an Overseas Student Health Cover or OSHC. Now, it may click in your mind, why do I need to buy an OSHC? Well, there are two sides to it. First, it is an essential requirement by the government of Australia to have a valid OSHC for the entire duration of your stay in the country.

Secondly, the health care system of Australia provides various medical facilities free as well at a lower price, which cannot be availed by all international students. However, when paying for emergency medical treatments, can result to be very expensive in Australia. This is when overseas health coverage benefits come into the picture to help you.

When do I need to buy an OSHC?

If you do not belong to a country that has a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement (RHCA) with Australia, you need to buy an OSHC. The students from 11 RHCA countries may enjoy a free or subsidized Medicare facility. However, in the longer run, they may need to buy a health cover except for the students of Belgium, Norway, and Sweden as their country's own insurance covers them.

What is covered by an OSHC?

An OSHC helps you in covering hefty medical bills and manage hospital expenses. The aim to introduce OSHC is to help international students with their medical treatments during their stay in a foreign country. Therefore, OSHC Australia usually covers the following:

·         Hospital bills for treatment and accommodation

·         Out of the Hospital Emergency medical care

·         Emergency ambulance services across the country

·         100 percent of the MBS charge for any in-patient treatment such as surgery or extended disease care

·         Public and private shared ward accommodation

·         Surgically implanted prostheses that are enlisted in the Federal Government's list

·         Medicines prescribed by a registered doctor or general practitioner

Apart from the above-mentioned medical treatments, a few treatments are not included in the OSHC cover such as dental, physiotherapy, chiropractic services, eyeglasses, and contact lenses. However, you can avail of these medical services if you buy extra coverage for them. The extras will cost you additional payment.

How does OSHC work?

First, you look for a medical center, clinic, or hospital, followed by making an appointment with a General Practitioner. The process of finding and booking an appointment with a GP is very easy. OSHC can also provide you access to the doctor directly via social media or mobile, therefore, contributing a little more. You can also visit a doctor 24*7. If you are suffering from a severe illness or need a specialist, OSHC providers will refer you.

Which are the best providers for OSHC?

There are n number of health insurers available in the market. The following is the list of some of the top providers for OSHC Australia:

·        AHM

·         Nib

·         Medibank

·         BUPA

·         AllianzG

You do not need to consider buying OSHC from all of them but rather, from the one that fits best to your needs.

Conclusion

Budget Policy is here to guide you in choosing the best policy that is rightly suited to your needs and budgets. The process we follow is convenient and hassle-free. Visit Budget Policy’s website and you will witness the most extensive range of Overseas Student Health Cover policies from top service providers mentioned earlier in the blog.