Studying postgraduate studies in Australia is a dream come true for many Sri Lankan students. It is a big thing to attend esteemed universities, visiting new places, and making lifelong friends. However, it is important to make sure that you have the right support system while you enjoy your Australian dream. And what is this support system? We are talking about health cover in Australia.

As an international student you have to acquire an adequate health cover i.e., Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The health cover is an important part of your time studying in Australia, specially created for international students' health needs. To help you find the best health coverage, we have jotted down important considerations.

Why is OSHC Mandatory for Sri Lankan Students in Australia?
All international students, including those from Sri Lanka, must have an adequate OSHC as per the requirements of Australian government, ensuring extensive access to medical care for their time in the country. To help students bare the expensive medical bills in Australia, this was included as one of the key requirements for student visa. Without OSHC, students could have to pay expensive bills from their pockets. This could in turn lead to stress and financial burden. Therefore, to avoid such situation, OSHC was made compulsory for all international students moving to Australia.

What Does OSHC Cover?
Among the medical services and benefits that international students may need while studying in Australia are covered by OSHC:

•    Hospital Services: Accommodation, care, and admitting in both public and certain private hospitals are covered.
•    Medical Services: This include consultations with specialists, X-rays, pathology, and general practitioner (GP) visits.
•    Prescription Drugs: OSHC covers a portion of the cost of prescribed drugs.
•    Emergency Ambulance Services: Emergency ambulance services, which is very costly in Australia, are covered by OSHC policies.

Although these are the basic medical benefits, different OSHC providers give different levels of coverage. Sri Lankan students can choose the health plan that best fits with their needs and budget.

Popular OSHC Providers for Sri Lankan Students
Various top OSHC providers in Australia provide distinctively created designed plans for students from Sri Lanka. Enlisted are a few popular choices:

•    Medibank: It gives students a choice to choose the coverage levels according to their needs and budgets with flexible plan options.
•    BUPA: It is well-known for its wide network of healthcare providers across Australia and its comprehensive coverages.
•    Allianz Care Australia: It provides choices for OSHC plans with extra benefits like dental and optical care.
•    NIB OSHC: It provides comprehensive and affordable OSHC plans with a large provider network and easy online management.

How to Compare OSHC Policies Effectively
It is important to know your expectations and find out the greatest fit among the available options available while choosing an OSHC coverage. The following tips can help you compare and buy well:

•    Make Use of Comparison Tools: You can use websites (such as Budget Policy) to compare policies from different providers based on features like cost, coverage, and extra benefits.
•    Read the policy's inclusions and exclusions: You must carefully read the policy's inclusions and exclusions to know what is and is not covered.
•    Look for Deals and Discounts: You can save big on buying OSHC with great deals.
•    Think about customer service: Choose a provider that offers responsive customer service to ensure prompt responses, whenever needed.

Final Thoughts
For Sri Lankan students, OSHC is important to ensure a stress-free and successful academic journey in Australia. Making the most of your new life and career in Australia and focusing on your studies are important things to count on, so make sure you are informed of the coverage options and more.

If you are a Sri Lankan student planning to move to Australia on a student visa then you must look out for OSHC. At Budget Policy, we can guide you about best coverage plans and top providers to make sure you get the bets for your health needs.
Not only this, you can also save big on your pocket by comparing and buying best OSHC plans through Budget Policy. You can up to 47% on OSHC or get up to $100 gift care or 1-week free PTE voucher.
So, why wait? Contact us today and start comparing!