Insurance
Overseas Student Health Cover
Australia has a special system of health cover for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). You must have health cover for the duration of your enrolment as a condition of your visa requirements. OSHC will assist you in paying for any medical or hospital care you may need while you're studying in Australia, and will contribute towards the cost of prescription medicines and an ambulance in an emergency. Dental, optical and physiotherapy are not covered.
Your educational institution arranges OSHC for you. When you arrive in Australia you need to register with an insurance company to get your membership card.
Overseas Student Health Cover Providers
The cost of OSHC depends on how long you will be in Australia and your OSHC provider. Generally, premiums start at about A$75 for three months' insurance (A$312 a year). If your spouse and/or dependent children accompany you to Australia you will need to pay a family premium.
If you come to Australia on a visa other than a student visa, and your course of study is under three months' duration, you will not be eligible for OSHC. In this case travel insurance is recommended.
Medicare
Medicare is Australia's universal health care system. Medicare ensures that all Australians have access to free or low-cost medical, optometrical and hospital care while being free to choose private health services and in special circumstances allied health services.
People who reside in Australia - excluding Norfolk Island - are eligible if they:
- hold Australian citizenship
- have been issued with a permanent visa
- hold New Zealand citizenship
- have applied for a permanent visa (excludes an application for a parent visa)-other requirements apply. Contact Medicare for further information.
You will need to provide documents to support your residency in Australia or your severing of ties with the previous country of residence if:
- you are an Australian citizen returning to Australia to reside after living overseas for more than five years
- you are a New Zealand citizen requesting enrolment as a permanent resident
In some cases both forms of documentation may be needed.
For more information on Medicare head on over to http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.
Private Health Cover
Although Australian citizens have the luxury and privilege of universal health care, private health care can offer such benefits as shorter waiting times, ability to choose doctors/specialists, as well as avoiding the Medicare levy surcharge (a payment made to the government annually through an individual's income tax return).
For assistance in selecting private health cover, the government offers help at http://www.privatehealth.gov.au.
