Having a health insurance is mandatory for foreign students in Australia; check out the rules for Overseas Student Health Cover
If you plan on studying in Australia, you need more than a student's visa - you also must have health insurance for the duration of your stay.
The Australian healthcare system usually raises lots of questions among foreign students. Below, you find everything you need to know to guarantee your health care and, by doing so, to have no worries in Australia.
You must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Foreign students, who hold a Student Visa (subclass 500), must have an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) while they are in Australia.
Aussie universities often purchase and offer OSHC to their students. But if you prefer to hire health insurance on your own, you can find OSHC options with renowned healthcare providers in Australia, such as Allianz, Bupa, Medibank e nib.
The prices of OSHC may vary, depending on each student's medical history. But, according to Times Higher Education, the average value is $ 438 each year.
In general, students' health insurance covers the main medical expenses and hospital care you might need during your stay in Australia, like visits to General Practitioner (GP) and certain medications they prescribe, lab exams, specialist medical services (such as pathology and radiology) and emergency ambulances.
Keep in mind that students coming from Belgium, Norway and Sweden may not need to get an OSHC, because sometimes they have special arrangements under their national schemes.
Pay attention to the regulation of each healthcare provider in Australia
A very common doubt among students is: even if I have health insurance, will I have to pay for medical treatments?
Depending on the healthcare provider, students may need to pay for the medical bills, and, later, present the receipts and require reimbursement. Other companies, however, allow students to use their card to make a claim on the spot.
This variation may take place in hospitals, appointments and laboratories. So, you should pay attention to the rules of the healthcare provider before you hire their service.
What are Medicare and bulk billing?
If you search for information about the Australian healthcare system, you probably will come across the terms Medicare and bulk billing.
Medicare is an Aussie universal health insurance scheme, funded by contributors, Australian citizens who live in the country and dedicate at least 2% of their taxable income to help cover costs and access to healthcare.
Bulk billing is a process that happens under Medicare, focusing on patients who are unable to afford the total expenses of their treatments. In this case, the government pays the doctors for a portion of care and the patient pays the balance remaining.
However, bulk billing is not a mandatory practice for the doctors - that is why not all of them participate. Furthermore, bulk billing usually does not apply to foreign students.
Do you still have questions about Overseas Student Health Cover? Talk to Good Day experts!
