Yes, you can. When you arrive in Australia you can register for Online Member Services (OMS). OMS allows you to access your personal information and perform online self-services, including updating contact details, downloading brochures and forms, adding or removing a dependant, ordering a replacement membership card, paying your premiums and submitting claims for general practitioner’s services.
Log in to OMS
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Yes, if you hold a current student visa, and are:
- continuing your studies in your current course
- switching courses or institutions
- taking up for further studies with the same or different institution
- re-enrolling into your course.
If you do not have a current student visa, you can renew your OSHC membership at a Medibank store. You may also be able to renew your cover through an educational institution. Renew your OSHC online now.
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You can choose any general practitioner you want or go to the outpatients department of a public hospital. If it is necessary, the doctor will refer you to a specialist for further treatment. Both specialists and general practitioners may order X-rays or pathology tests.
If you require admission to a hospital, you may choose to be admitted to either a public hospital or a private hospital.
How do I pay for services?
When you receive an account for treatment you have two choices. You can pay the bill, then claim back any benefits from Medibank Private (including via OMS for visits to your general practitioner). Or you can give Medibank Private the unpaid account and we will send you a cheque made payable to the doctor (or ambulance service). You should send this cheque to the doctor (or ambulance service), together with your payment for any additional amount above our benefit.
Medibank Private has special direct billing arrangements with some on-campus medical practices that provide a direct claiming system. Please ask your educational institution for more details.
For prescription medicines, you need to pay the pharmacist first and then claim from Medibank Private. You will need your receipt so don’t forget to collect it from the pharmacy.
Hospital bills are normally sent direct to Medibank Private for payment directly to them. You will be responsible for paying the difference between the OSHC benefit and the hospital charge.
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Yes you can!
As an OSHC member, you can suspend your membership for a minimum period of 1 continuous month up to a maximum of 6 months, if you need to travel overseas for any reason. However, if it is part of your curriculum to undertake work experience in your home country, you are able to suspend your membership for up to 12 months.
To suspend your membership, simply visit one of our Medibank stores within 1 month of arriving back in Australia with proof of the dates of your departure and return. 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 visit your nearest Medibank store or call us on 132 331 (between 8am and 8pm weekdays or 8am to 4pm Saturdays AEST).
Suspension Policy
Effective 14 August 2009, as an OSHC member, you may suspend your membership if you elect or are required to travel overseas for any reason, subject to the following conditions:
- Suspension and re-activation of your membership must occur within 1 month of returning to Australia.
- Your absence from Australia must be for a continuous period.
- The minimum period of suspension is 1 continuous month. The maximum period of suspension is 6 months, or 12 months if you are undertaking work experience in your home country.
- A further period of suspension cannot not be granted within 6 months after your membership has been re-activated.
- Suspension of your membership will start from the date of departure from Australia.
- Your membership must be paid at least 1 month in advance of the effective date of suspension before the suspension can be granted.
Any period of suspension within the first 12 months of membership will not count towards your 12-month waiting period for treatment for medical conditions or disabilities in existence before your arrival in Australia. The waiting period will need to be completed after re-activation of your membership.
If you hold a Medibank Private extras cover, the extras cover will be treated in the same manner as OSHC for the purposes of suspension.
Suspensions and re-activations cannot be requested by your Educational Institution. Please visit your Medibank store or call us on 132 331 or email us at ask_us@medibank.com.au.
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As an overseas student 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.
The easiest way to do this is to purchase Visa Length Health Cover for the length of your visa. Not only is this convenient and saves you having to renew your cover while you are in Australia, it can also be more cost effective because it is a once only payment option which locks in your premium for the length of your visa. This way you can be assured of no price increases during that period.
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You can save 6% on your OSHC premiums if you join or renew OSHC for 13 months or more (up to 5 years).
You are also protected against any future rate rises that may occur during the time of your cover.
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Government Organisations
International Education Organisations
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