Getting the right health coverage is important if you are planning to study or work in Australia. Talking about Filipinos, if you are among the ones want to migrate to Australia on a student visa or visitor visa then this blog is for you.
It can be difficult to understand the differences between Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in terms of which health cover should be bought with which visa type.

The following blog will focus on top providers including AHM, Medibank, BUPA, and NIB, helping you understand health coverage, medical benefits, and more provided by them on the Budget Policy platform.

Understanding OSHC and OVHC
What is OSHC?
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a compulsory health cover for international students moving to Australia for studying. Prescription drugs, emergency ambulance services, and medical and hospital treatment costs are covered under OSHC. And the key part? International students cannot get an Australian student visa without having OSHC, thus, it is important.

What is OVHC?
Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) is especially for those visiting Australia on temporary work or visitor visas. Prescription drugs, emergency ambulance services, and medical and hospital treatment costs are covered under OVHC. And the key part? The cover ensures visitors get the necessary healthcare without having to worry about out-of-pocket expenses.

Why You Need Health Insurance in Australia?
Despite being the world’s best, Australia's healthcare system can be expensive for individuals without access to local health insurance. Throughout your stay in the country, OSHC and OVHC ensure that you will get first-rate medical care and financial protection.

Choosing the Right Provider
AHM
AHM is popular for its cost-effective OSHC and OVHC plans and extensive coverage. Students and travellers from the Philippines can benefit from AHM's policy options and top-notch customer support. Plans from AHM OSHC and OVHC range from simple to comprehensive meets various health needs.

Medibank
Medibank provides various OSHC and OVHC plans catered to international students and visitors. Their coverage ranges from doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medicines. Medibank ensures providing their clients user-friendly online services and ongoing customer support, making it beneficial for newcomers to Australia.

BUPA
BUPA is a well-known international health cover provider that provides a wide range of OSHC and OVHC plans. BUPA is renowned for providing comprehensive coverage and best services, providing their clients with access to a large network of healthcare providers throughout Australia.

NIB
Filipinos moving to Australia on student or visitor visas have to buy NIB OVHC or OSHC plans. NIB helps you choose a plan that meets your health needs by offering various plans as well as the ones that aligns with your budget.

How to Compare OSHC and OVHC?
To ensure you choose the best and affordable OSHC or OVHC, you must compare the benefits and prices being offered by various health cover providers. Enlisted are a few factors to consider:

Coverage
Make sure the plan includes coverage for important medical services including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and emergency ambulance services.

Cost
To get an affordably priced OSHC or OVHC plans that provides sufficient coverage, you must compare the premiums offered by different providers. However, ensure that the cost you are paying covers all that you need from your health cover.

Network
Get to know your OSHC or OVHC plan's network of healthcare providers. If the network of hospitals and doctors is larger, you will have more possibilities for better medical treatment.

Customer Service
Having excellent customer service is equally important than anything else, especially when buying health care plan for a new place.

Additional Benefits
Some health care providers also include extra benefits such as mental health services, dental and optical coverage. Therefore, consider all these things when choosing your OSHC or OVHC.

Conclusion
Having the right health cover is important for a worry-free and safe travel to Australia. The ideal OSHC or OVHC plan for you can be found using comparison tools and knowing the health covers in detail.

No matter where you buy OSHC or OVHC from - NIB, BUPA, AHM, or Medibank, ensure you have the coverage you need for peace of mind throughout your stay. Book an appointment with our experts at Budget Policy and let us explore health cover together.