Student Travel Insurance
Student health insurance is a compulsory requirement of the Australian Government if you are coming to Australia to Study.
Australia has a special system of health cover for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). You will need to buy OSHC before you come to Australia to cover you from when you arrive. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship requires you to maintain OSHC for the duration of your time on a student visa in Australia.
There are several OSHC providers and you might find that your institution has an agreement with a specific OSHC provider. You can choose to take out OSHC with this provider, or with the Australian OSHC provider of your choice. Currently there are five providers of OSHC in Australia. They are: Australian Health Management, BUPA Australia, Medibank Private, OSHC Worldcare and Westfund
Your OSHC will help you pay for any medical or hospital care you may need while you’re studying in Australia, and it will contribute towards the cost of most prescription medicines, and an ambulance in an emergency.
OSHC does not cover dental, optical or physiotherapy. If you want to be covered for these treatments you will need to buy additional private health insurance. Australia has quite a good health care system and should anything happen to you rest-assured that you will be able to fine professional practitioners. However as a foreign student you will be required to pay for your medical bills in full unless you have taken out sufficient private insurance.
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