OSHC
Overseas Student Health Insurance
OSHC is your student health insurance while you are studying in Australia. It provides you with peace of mind, so you can really enjoy your Aussie experience. And, if your life takes an unexpected turn while you’re in Australia, Medibank Private will be with you every step of the way.
Please note, you are only eligible for OSHC if you currently hold a student visa, or are in the process of applying for one.
Here are some questions about OSHC we think you’d like answered:
Like to find out more?
Take a look at our FAQs, download brochures in English or other languages or take a look at some useful links.
Why Medibank Private OSHC?
Medibank Private is the preferred private health fund for almost three million Australians. It is also the number one choice for international students for student health insurance. As Australia’s leading private health fund, our staff are qualified to understand your needs and are committed to providing you with outstanding service and affordable OSHC.
Why do I need OSHC?
You will need to buy Overseas Student Health Cover prior to coming to Australia. This is a necessary step to obtain your student visa from an Australian visa issue office and have health cover when you arrive.
When you buy your Overseas Student Health cover online, you become a member from the date of your arrival in Australia. You will also be issued with an unique Medibank Private receipt. However, if you do not pay your OSHC premium before your date of arrival, your commencement date will be the date your OSHC premium is paid.
To obtain your student visa from an Australian visa office you will need a Medibank Private receipt as proof of purchase of your Overseas Student Health Cover, together with enrolment documents as advised by the educational institution where you are enrolled.
How long do I need OSHC for?
It is a condition of your student visa that you have private health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. You need to renew your membership if you are extending your student visa or have not paid the full length of your original visa.
Please remember that the Australian Government requires that the minimum period of OSHC is 12 months or the length of your student visa, whichever is shorter. The maximum period is the length of your student visa.
We recommend you purchase Visa Length Cover because you won’t have to worry about renewing your membership or premium increases.
Who is covered?
You can choose OSHC as a:
Single – covers you only
Family – covers you, your husband or wife, and dependent children under 18 if they live with you in Australia.
If you are an expatriate Australian student or New Zealand student coming to Australia to do formal studies and you have a Student Visa, it is important you have OSHC for the length of your stay.
Who does not need to be covered by OSHC?
Norwegian students do not need to take out OSHC, as health insurance for all Norwegian students is provided by the Norwegian Government.
Swedish students have health insurance provided through CSN international, the Swedish National Board of Student Aid. If you are not covered by CSN, you must take out OSHC.
If you are an expatriate Australian student or New Zealand student coming to Australia to start formal studies, you might not be on a student visa and therefore unable to take out OSHC. However, if you’re on a Student Visa, it’s important you take out OSHC for the length of your stay.
For more information, call 132 331 or visit one of our Retail Centres.
What is covered?
Doctors
- Medical Practitioners (including specialists) who treat you in hospital, at home or at the doctor’s surgery;
- pathology services such as blood tests;
- x-rays.
Subject to their availability, you may choose any general practitioner (GP) you want. OSHC pays 100% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee. For Specialists and all other medical services that do not take place as an in-patient in a hospital, OSHC pays 85% of the MBS fee for that service and you pay the difference.
For medical services while you are an in-patient at a hospital, OSHC will pay 100% of the MBS fee. If the doctor or hospital charges more than the MBS fee you pay the difference.
Hospitals
There are two types of hospitals in Australia: public hospitals, operated by State/Territory Governments; and private hospitals, which operate on a commercial basis.
- Public hospitals
OSHC pays all hospital charges in a shared ward in any public hospital, including treatment by your doctor. The only amount you will have to pay is the difference (if any) between the OSHC benefit for medical treatment by your own doctor and the actual fees charged. OSHC will also cover all charges for outpatient medical treatment provided by a public hospital.
- Private hospitals
You may choose to be treated in a private hospital. Medibank Private has agreements
with most private hospitals in Australia. For details of these hospitals,
go to Members’ Choice Hospitals. If you choose a Members’ Choice Hospital,
Medibank Private will meet the full cost of charges raised by the hospital except:
- any difference between your doctor’s charges and the MBS fee.
- any prescribed medicines not covered by the hospital agreement (or in excess of applicable limits).
- discharge items and ancillary services not related to the reason for your hospital admission.
- charges for ancillary services not covered by our agreements.
- outpatient fees.
- surgically implanted prostheses and other items on the Australian Government Prostheses Schedule which have a gap or those which are not on the Schedule.
In a non Members’ Choice Hospital, charges may be more than the benefit paid by OSHC.
You will be responsible for paying the difference between the OSHC benefit and the hospital charge.
Emergency Ambulance Transport
OSHC pays 100% of the charge for medically necessary ambulance transport when medical attention is required immediately. There are no benefits for routine ambulance journeys (even if offered to the member).
Prescribed medicines
Medibank Private OSHC provides benefits for prescription medicines (excluding oral contraceptives and medicines when prescribed for cosmetic purposes).
Benefits are payable up to a maximum of $50 for each prescription medicine. This is subject to the following Calendar Year limits:
- for a Single membership - $300
- for a Family membership - $600 (with a maximum of $300 per person).
Members are required to pay a contribution towards the cost of each prescribed item.
Medibank Private may cover the full cost of prescription medicines provided to an inpatient of a Members' Choice Hospital if those medicines are covered by our agreement with the hospital and are directly related to the reason for the hospital admission. In this case the annual limits listed above will not be affected.
In all other cases, you will be responsible for paying any costs above the benefits that are payable. This means you may incur significant out-of-pocket expenses if high cost prescription medicines are required for a treatment.
What is not covered?
OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) will not pay benefits for any of the following:
- Pregnancy related services (including premature births, miscarriages and terminations) if the visa is for 3 months or less. This applies whether or not you or your spouse were pregnant at the time of joining. However, you will be entitled to immediate benefits for pregnancy related services provided by a medical practitioner if the length of your visa is more than 3 months, or from the date it is extended to a period of more than 3 months;
- Treatment for medical conditions, or disabilities, in existence before you came to Australia during the first 12 months of membership;
- Assisted reproduction services, such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF);
- Treatment arranged before you came to Australia;
- Treatment provided while travelling to or from Australia;
- Treatment for which compensation or damages can be claimed either in Australia or overseas;
- Additional charges for single room accommodation in a public hospital;
- Treatment for any of your children over 18 years of age;
- Treatment which would not otherwise be covered under the Medicare Benefits Schedule e.g. health screening services or cosmetic surgery;
- Medicines that are not Prescription Medicines, medicines prescribed for cosmetic purposes and oral contraceptives. Costs in excess of the benefit payable for each Prescription Medicine and costs in excess of the maximum annual benefit payable
- The difference between the benefits paid and the actual fees; and
- Cosmetic surgery.
In addition OSHC does not pay for services such as:
- Dental;
- Physiotherapy; and
- Optical (items such as glasses and contact lenses).
If you wish to be covered for these expenses, Medibank Private has a choice of four levels of insurance to help you. Ask us about these covers when you arrive in Australia.
What if I get sick or injured?
Being sick or injured in a new country can be a scary experience. But at Medibank Private, we’re here to help.
In Australia, you can choose any doctor you want or go to the outpatients department of a public hospital. If necessary, the doctor will refer you to a specialist for further treatment.
If you need to go to a hospital, you can choose to go to either a public hospital or a private hospital.
How do I pay for my medical services?
There are 3 ways:
- Hospitals and some doctors may bill us direct for charges like accommodation, theatre fees and medical services. You are responsible for paying the difference between the OSHC benefit and the charge.
- Give us your unpaid account and we will send you a cheque made payable to your doctor. You then send the cheque and any unpaid difference to your doctor.
- You can pay your doctor or specialist first, then make a claim.
For prescribed medicines you have to pay the pharmacist first and then claim from Medibank Private. You will need your receipt, so remember to collect it from the pharmacy.
How do I make a claim?
You can claim in person or by mail.
In person
After you have paid your doctor’s account, you can visit any Medibank Private Retail Centre to make a claim (remember to bring your account and your receipt). You will get this amount in cash, however claims above a certain amount can either be paid directly into your nominated bank account via EFT transfer or, by cheque which will be sent to your residential address.
You can also drop your completed claim form with all relevant accounts and receipts into the claim box at any Medibank Private Retail Centre. We’ll then send you a cheque.
By mail
Simply complete an OSHC claim form, attach your accounts and receipts and post to Medibank Private GPO Box 9999 in your nearest capital city.
Can I suspend my OSHC?
Yes, you can! If you need to go overseas, you can suspend your membership:
- for a minimum continuous period of 2 months
The maximum period:
- for students who are required to travel overseas as part of their course of study is 12 months, and
- for all other reasons for overseas travel is 6 months
You will not have to pay the premiums for the period of time you have suspended your membership, but will not be covered for any services you may need while your membership is suspended.
So how do I suspend my membership?
Visit one of our Retail Centres within 1 month of arriving back in Australia with proof of your departure/return dates. Examples of proof include:
- Departure and arrival boarding passes with appropriate dates;
- Stamps in passport from departure and arrival countries;
- Confirmed travel itinerary from airlines;
- Airline issued and dated luggage tags.
If you have any questions about suspending your membership, please take a look at our Membership Guide, visit a Medibank Private Retail Centre, or call us on 132 331.
Tell me about Australia’s Health System
The Australian health care system is divided into a public and a private system.
The Public System
Australia has a national public health system called Medicare. It provides permanent Australian residents with access to free treatment in public hospitals and subsidised prescription medicines.
Australian residents contribute to the health care system through their taxes. It is not generally available to overseas visitors, including international students.
The Private System
Many Australian residents:
- Choose to receive treatment in private hospitals
- Want to choose the doctor who treats them hospital
- Want more options when they go to a private hospital
- Need services of other health professionals like dentists and physiotherapists
Generally, many Australian residents take out private health insurance to help cover these costs, which are not covered by Medicare.
Useful Links
Government Organisations
International Education Organisations