500 Student Visa

If you have bought the single policy, your family or dependents will not be covered. To include them in the policy, you need to buy an OSHC policy for your family members, de-facto partners any child or stepchild who is unmarried and below 18 years. OSHC also provides extra coverage for families.

Direct billing is when your GP charges MBS Fee on visiting him. Many doctors or GPs have links with OSHC providers to bill directly for the full MBS Fee. Here, you do not have to pay any amount, rather the fees will be entirely covered under your policy at that moment.

OSHC benefits are many, including coverage of your dependents or family members with a pre-existing condition, signs and symptoms of the illness or condition existing within 6 months before your or your dependent’s or family member’s arrival in Australia on a student visa. However, for pre- existing medical conditions, pregnancy-related services, and childbirth, you will have to wait for 12 months, meaning, if you happen to be in any of these situations at the time of your waiting period, you will not be covered for those 12 months. For a pre-existing condition of a psychiatric nature, you will have to wait for 2 months.

The Department of Immigration & Border Protection needs student visa holders to maintain their OSHC Australia policies well. This means that, if your health insurance is expired before its renewal, you will be in breach of your visa conditions. Therefore, it is essential to renew your OSHC policy before its expiration and payback for any period that your medical bills were not covered by OSHC.

There is OSHC coverage limits when it comes to medical treatments such as dental services, prescription glasses, physiotherapy, and chiropractic. Here, you will need to buy an extra cover or a specific plan which already includes coverage for these medical services.

OSHC visa requirement is a basic yet essential requirement for an international student visa. You need to buy it before applying for your visa and keep it with you until your stay in the country.

Overseas Student Health Cover popularly known as OSHC, helps you cover your hospital and medical bills which may occur while you study in Australia.