About 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. If you have a question that isn't answered here you can also take a look at our FAQs or download a brochure in English or other languages
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.
Who needs OSHC?
It is a condition of most student visas to have private health insurance for the duration of that visa.
However, Norwegian students do not need to take out OSHC, as health insurance for all Norwegian students is provided by the Norwegian Government. Also many Swedish students have health insurance provided through CSN International, the Swedish National Board of Student Aid and do not require OSHC. However if you are not covered by CSN, you must take out OSHC.
If you are an expatriate Australian coming to Australia on a student visa, and you are not eligible for Medicare, you can take out OSHC too.
How long do I need OSHC for?
It is a condition of most student visas to have private health insurance for the duration of that visa.
If you are lodging an application for a student visa on or after 1 July 2010, you will need to provide evidence to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) that you, and any of your accompanying dependants, have OSHC for the proposed duration of your visa. For more information, or to find out the requirements for student visas lodged before 1 July 2010, please see DIAC’s web address www.immi.gov.au
If you have not paid a premium for the full length of your visa, or are extending your student visa, you can renew your membership here.
There are great benefits to having cover for the full length of your visa, such as:
- You will be eligible for a 6% discount when you purchase a policy for 13 months or more.
- You will be protected from future premium increases during the time of your cover.
- You won’t have to worry about renewing your membership for the length of your visa.
Who can be 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.
What is covered?
Medical cover
OSHC pays benefits towards:
- 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 (including pathology and x-rays) that take place whilst you are not an in-patient at a hospital, OSHC pays the published 85% MBS Fee* for that service. You will have to pay any additional cost if the doctor charges you more than the benefits we pay you.
For doctors, specialists and all other medical services that take place whilst you are an in-patient at a hospital, OSHC will pay 100% of the MBS fee. If the doctor or hospital charges you more than the benefits we pay you, you will have to pay the difference.
*Note: The published 85% MBS Fee may not equal exactly 85% of the total MBS Fee but an amount published in the MBS as set by the Australian Government.
Please see our OSHC Product brochure and OSHC Membership Guide for more details.
Hospital cover
There are two types of hospitals in Australia: public hospitals, operated by State/Territory Governments; and private hospitals, which operate on a commercial basis.
- Treatment in a Members’ Choice Private Hospital
Members’ Choice hospitals are private hospitals which Medibank Private has an arrangement with, to minimise the out-of-pocket expenses you will have to pay.
Medibank Private OSHC will pay the full cost of treatment in a Medibank Private Members’ Choice hospital for:
- Overnight accommodation in a shared or private room
- Same day admission
- Theatre fees
- No-gap surgically implanted prostheses and other items on the Federal Government’s Prostheses Schedule
- Other costs provided for in our agreement with the hospital (such as prescription medicines directly related to the reason for your hospital admission, some ancillary services, newspapers, TV hire and local telephone calls)
To find a Members’ Choice hospital, you can Find a Health Provider
- Treatment in a Public Hospital
Medibank Private OSHC will pay for the full cost of treatment in a public hospital for:
- Overnight accommodation in a shared ward
- Same day admissions (shared room only)
- Accident and emergency and outpatient medical and post-operative services (fees raised by the hospital for treatment where you are not an admitted patient)
- No-gap surgically implanted prostheses and other items on the Federal Government’s Prostheses Schedule
Note: Any charge above the benefit we pay will form part of your out-of-pocket expenses
- Treatment in a non Members’ Choice Private Hospital
If you are treated in a non Members’ Choice Private Hospital, you may receive very large out-of-pocket expenses. These expenses may vary between hospitals and are typically not subject to a maximum limit.
For full details of benefits paid for admission to a non Members’ Choice hospital, please call us on 132 331 before you go to hospital.
Please see our OSHC Product brochure and OSHC Membership Guide for more details.
Medically Necessary Ambulance Transport
Medibank Private OSHC pays 100% of the charge for medically necessary ambulance transport when provided by an ambulance service approved by Medibank Private. Transport by ambulance is medically necessary if, due to the patient’s medical condition, they could not be transported by any other means.
Prescription 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 prescription item before any benefits are paid.
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 limits listed above will not be affected.
In all other cases, any further charges above the benefit we pay will form part of your out-of-pocket expenses. This means you may incur significant out-of-pocket expenses if high cost prescription medicines (like those used for cancer treatment) are required for your treatment.
What is not covered?
OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) will not pay benefits for any of the following:
Public and Private Hospital:
- Assisted reproductive services, such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF);
- Any part of the accommodation charge raised by a public hospital that exceeds the benefit for a shared room, if you are accommodated in a single room at your request;
- The difference between the cost of a ‘gap prostheses’ included on the Federal Government's Prostheses Schedule and the benefit payable by Medibank Private;
- Any services or items in a Members’ Choice Hospital that are not covered by our agreement with the hospital;
- The difference between the charges raised by a non Members’ Choice Hospital and the benefit payable by Medibank Private;
- Any items provided to you on discharge from a hospital;
- Any ancillary services provided to you in hospital that are not related to the reason for your hospital stay;
- Outpatient charges (including accident and emergency department charges) raised by private hospitals;
- Surgically implanted prostheses and other items not included on the Federal Government’s Prostheses Schedule;
- The cost of newspapers, TV hire and telephone calls, except as covered in some Members’ Choice Hospitals.
Medical Services:
- Treatment not considered medically necessary – eg. health screening services and cosmetic surgery;
- Any difference between your doctor’s charge and the benefit payable by Medibank Private;
- Any medical examinations, x-rays or pathology required by DIAC (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) as part of the student visa renewal process.
Prescription Medicines:
- Your prescription medicine co-payment for each prescription medicine;
- Costs in excess of the benefit payable for each prescription medicine;
- Costs in excess of the maximum annual benefit payable for prescription medicines, as shown in the ‘What is Covered’ section;
- Medicines other than prescription medicines;
- Medicines prescribed for cosmetic purposes;
- Oral contraceptives.
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.
Ambulance:
Items you are generally not covered for:
- Pregnancy related services (including premature births, miscarriages and terminations) if the visa is for less than 3 months;
- Any treatment related to medical procedures that are not listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (although limited hospital benefits may be payable for certain dental procedures carried out in hospital) eg. health screening services or cosmetic surgery;
- Any treatment during the first 12 months of membership for medical conditions or disabilities (including secondary conditions arising directly from them) that you had before your cover commenced, unless a medical practitioner certifies and Medibank Private agrees that you required emergency treatment or treatment for a life-threatening condition. This 12-month period is known as the Waiting Period;
- Treatment provided outside of Australia, including treatment provided while travelling to or from Australia;
- Transportation into or out of Australia in any circumstance;
- Treatment arranged before you, your spouse or your dependent children came to Australia;
- Services and treatment for which compensation or damages can be claimed;
- Treatment for any of your children who are not dependent children;
- Treatment rendered by providers who are not recognised by Medibank Private for the purpose of paying benefits;
- Services rendered while premiums are in arrears;
- Services rendered while the membership is suspended;
- Benefits in excess of the amount charged for a service;
- Services for which a claim is submitted more than two (2) years after the date of service;
- Medibank Private may refuse to pay benefits or to provide continued cover if incorrect or false information has been provided.
For more information please refer to our OSHC Membership Guide, visit a Medibank store, or call 132 331.
Extras Cover
Benefits for extras services are not included in your OSHC. With extras cover you can receive benefits towards expenses associated with health services and items other than those provided in hospital or by a doctor.
These types of services include:
- Dental;
- Physiotherapy
- Optical items such as glasses and contact lenses.
For more information including the additional costs and waiting periods for extras cover, visit a Medibank store or medibank.com.au
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 prescription 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?
Going online is a quick, easy and convenient way to make your claims. With Online Member Services, you can claim for extras services (except pharmaceuticals) and for visits to your GP whenever you like, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Claims can also be lodged at any Medibank store or sent to Medibank by mail. Medibank Private need the following information to process a claim:
- A completed OSHC claim form;
- The original account(s);
- Receipts for paid accounts.
NB: Do not send your Membership Card when claiming by mail.
Other Claims Information
- Medibank Private has special arrangements with some on-campus medical practices that provide a direct claiming system. Please ask your educational institution for more details.
- Paid accounts: Claims for paid accounts are payable by cheque or by reverse EFTPOS into a cheque or savings account. Cheques are normally made out in favour of the contributor. However, a contributor may request that a cheque be made payable to their Spouse. Cheques are sent to the membership address shown in our records, so it is important you keep us informed of any changes of address.
- Unpaid accounts: Claims for unpaid accounts are paid by a cheque made out to the service provider and posted to the contributor. The cheque should then be sent promptly to the service provider, together with payment for any remaining charges.
- Medibank Private retains all account and receipt documentation. Benefit payments are accompanied by a statement that contains all information relevant to each service claimed.
- Medibank Private will not pay benefits on claims that are submitted more than two (2) years after the date of service.
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 1 month
The maximum period:
- 12 months for students who are required to travel overseas as part of their course of study and
- 6 months for students who travel overseas for any other reason
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 Medibank stores 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 store, or call us on 132 331.
How does Australia’s Health System work?
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 eligible Australian residents with access to free treatment as public patients in public hospitals and free or subsidised treatment by doctors and other health professionals.
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 in 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 usually not covered by Medicare.
Useful Links
Government Organisations
International Education Organisations