If you aim to study abroad or have already planned everything, you will often come across the term overseas student health cover or OSHC. Now, your first question would be, what is it?

We will help you out in understanding OSHC better so you know if you are choosing the right health insurance for yourself or not. OSHC is health insurance for students migrating to Australia. The OSHC covers the medical expenses of international students who fall sick, meet with an accident, or like until the time their student visa is valid.

In the following blog, we will look at what Bupa, one of the major health insurance providers in Australia has to offer international students so, they know whether it is the right option for them or not.

Who is it for?

If you are Australia’s student visa (subclass 500) holder, you are required to have OSHC for the duration of your visa, as stated by the government of Australia. This also applies if you are on a bridging visa i.e., the time when you are waiting for the renewal of your student visa. Not only the student but also, any family member, or children above the age of 18 years accompanying the applicant must also have OSHC for the time they are in the country.

What are BUPA Cover Options?

BUPA OSHC follows the visa requirements stated by the government of Australia. The main purpose of having OSHC is to help overseas students cover their medical expenses whenever needed. OSHC Australia is available for singles, couples, and families of international students in Australia.

Your OSHC from BUPA covers ambulance services as well as offers certain benefits for pharmaceuticals. These are generally covered in all BUPA plans; however, if you are buying the lowest plan and want to add some extras such as optical, dental, and physiotherapy services, you can opt for BUPA’s Extras OSHC.

Medical Treatments under BUPA

Medical treatments covered by BUPA OSHC are enlisted below:

Hospital Cover

· You are covered for overnight or same-day hospital accommodation.

· You are covered for medical treatment taken in the operating theatre, and intensive care, including labour ward fees.

· You are covered for PBS-approved pharmaceuticals if taken from in-hospital treatment.

· You are covered for allied services - physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and dietetics.

· Medication, dressings, and other consumables are also included in OSHC BUPA.

· Diagnostic tests like pathology, radiology, and more are covered under your OSHC policy by BUPA.

· You are also liable to claim benefits against no-gap government-approved surgically implanted prostheses.

Medical Cover

· Medical cover includes inpatient services done by surgeons, anesthetists, pathologists, or radiologists.

· Medical cover includes outpatient services provided by General Practitioners, specialists, medical imaging providers, pathology providers, etc.

· Medical cover includes outpatient services at hospitals or clinics where the concerned person is not a patient.

· Ambulance services such as emergency ambulance transport to admit to a hospital or on-the-spot emergency treatment are also covered under BUPA OSHC policies.

· Lastly, BUPA covers outpatient pharmaceuticals prescribed by a doctor or specialist.

Extras Cover

· One dental check-up per calendar year is provided.

· $50 voucher for optical services for one visit per calendar year is provided.

· Physio, chiro, or podiatry’s three consultations per calendar year is provided.

· Two phone consultations with a dietician per calendar year are provided.

· Offers such as $50 for singles, and $100 for couples for one visit per calendar year is provided.

How to Compare BUPA OSHC?

BUPA is an age-old health insurance provider, a British multinational health insurance and healthcare company with a customer strength of 43 million and more throughout the world. It is preferably many visa holders’ first choice when it comes to buying overseas health insurance.

Its professionalism and ethics make it one of the major providers in Australia for OSHC – overseas student health cover and OVHC – overseas visitor health cover. However, to ensure it is the right option for you, you must go through other providers and compare their policies.

Australia’s top health insurance providers offer different policies with different offers and plans. Therefore, it is better to compare. Moreover, what else can be a better place than Budget Policy, where you get the opportunity of comparing top providers and save big?

Get in touch with us today, and let us help you with suitable BUPA OSHC options.