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Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a health insurance policy
to cover medical and hospital care costs that you may need while in Australia. OSHC will also pay for most prescription drugs
and emergency ambulance transport. Further information is available from the
Department of Health and Ageing Care website.
Who needs OSHC?
The Australian Government requires all international students and their dependents,
including Study Abroad and Exchange students who are undertaking formal studies
in Australia to maintain OSHC. The only exceptions to this regulation are students
from Norway and Sweden. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship
(DIAC) advise that students who do not maintain their OSHC may risk cancellation
of their visa.
International students need to arrange suitable OSHC before arriving in Australia,
so that they are covered from the time they arrive in Australia. They will
also need to maintain OSHC for the duration of their studies.
Program length Overseas Student Health Cover
Please refer to QUT's preferred provider of Overseas Student Health Cover, Medibank Private, for information relating to health cover pricing based on the duration of your course.
What does OSHC cover?
OSHC includes access to private hospitals and day surgeries, ambulance cover
and benefits for some pharmaceuticals. It also includes:
- 85% of the government fee for outpatient medical services, (e.g. consultation
with a general practitioner)
- 100% of the fee for inpatient medical services (e.g. surgery)
- Public hospital shared ward accommodation
- Private hospital shared ward accommodation (for hospitals that have contractual
agreements with students OSHC provider
- Day surgery accommodation
- Emergency ambulance transportation
- Pharmaceutical benefits up to $150 per single membership and $300 per family
membership.
What is not covered by OSHC?
OSHC does not cover:
- Treatment for pre-existing medical conditions, or disabilities during the
first 18 months of cover
- Pregnancy related services if the length of the student visa is for 3 months
or less
- Treatment needed while travelling to or from Australia
- Over-the-counter medications and additional services such as optical services,
dental work and/or physiotherapy.
Overseas students requiring insurance for additional services may take out
extra OSHC, at additional cost. Or consider upgrading the level of cover provided
by your OSHC insurer. OSHC providers normally offer a range of plans to suit
a variety of needs.
How much does OSHC cost?
You should contact the health funds offering OSHC for further information on the costs of extra OSHC products.
Where can I get OSHC?
Medibank Private is QUT's preferred OSHC provider and information has been provided on your letter of offer. Details are available from the Medibank Private website.
There are other health care providers from which OSHC can be purchased.
Further information is available from the Department of Health and Ageing Care website.
If you wish to use these providers, you must make arrangements with them directly,
as QUT does not accept payment for these organisations.
It is a condition of your student visa that your dependants also have acceptable
health insurance cover while you are studying in Australia.
Students who have commenced their study at QUT must ensure that their OSHC
is paid up and current for the duration of that study. Students are required
to contact their OSHC provider when their cover is due for renewal.
Medibank Private Membership Card
If you have arranged Medibank Private OSHC with QUT, you will need to apply for a Medibank Private membership card. Your card can be ordered on line at https://uniconnect.medibank.com.au/studentsearch.aspx and then follow the instructions.
Norway and Sweden
Students applying from Norway and Swedish students do not need to obtain
OSHC because the Department of Health and Aged Care has advised that these countries
have a national health scheme or other arrangements that provide acceptable
health insurance for them while they are overseas.
For the OSHC requirement to be waived, Norwegian students should have documentation
proving that they are covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. Swedish
students should have proof that they have insurance provided by CSN International
(the Swedish National Board of Student Aid). OSHC is available to Norwegian
and Swedish nationals if they require it.
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