Overseas Student Health Cover
If you're a student in Australia, you need health insurance while living in the country. Overseas Student Health Cover has been mandated by the Australian Government for all international students.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a legal necessity, even if there are no specific costs associated with it. For the whole time you study here, you must have OSHC, which lets you access medical care quickly in Australia. You can concentrate on your studies and enjoy your time if it is already done.
Students can choose to buy insurance policies from different providers. We can help search them the best prices from the OSHC companies we have tied up with.
Which insurance companies have OSHC coverage?
OSHC is currently offered by five insurers and can be bought through your academic institution or directly:
- NIB OSHC
- BUPA Australia
- Medicare
- Australian Health Management
- Allianz Global Assistance
The OSHC package is intended to cover international students seeking care at a hospital or prescription medications with a restricted supply. Since coverage varies depending on the package you buy, it's essential to contact each OSHC provider to ensure you get your medical coverage.
It would be best to inquire about the plan's waiting times, exclusions, and other restrictions. Treatment planned before arrival in Australia, treatment in and out of Australia, and transportation into and out of Australia are not covered by the OSHC insurance scheme. Dental, visual, and physiotherapy usually are not covered by OSHC.
OSHC is designed to meet the cost of medical treatment that you need while studying in Australia. At a minimum, such policies must cover the things as given:
- the benefit amount listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee for out-of-hospital medical services (for example, a general practitioner)
- all the costs for in-patient medical services (for example, surgery)
- the public hospital shared ward accommodation
- the private hospital shared ward accommodation (only for hospitals that have contractual arrangements with the overseas student’s health insurance company)
- day surgery accommodation
- some prosthetic devices
- pharmaceutical benefits up to $50 per pharmaceutical item to a maximum of $300 a year for a single membership ($600 for a family membership)
- Ambulance services
International Student Health Insurance for UK+
International Student Health Insurance in UK
International students in the United Kingdom must have health insurance. In addition to having one of the top education systems in the world, it is home to the well-known National Health Service (NHS).
The United Kingdom offers some top universities globally, with a reputation for world-class education and high-quality teaching. Furthermore, international students in the UK benefit from a diverse and accepting environment in which they are free to mingle, study, and enjoy their time in the UK. Health Insurance will help International Students to enjoy their time in the UK fully.
Reasons that health insurance is essential for international students in Uk:
For starters, having health insurance gives you access to high-quality care in hospitals, private offices, emergency departments, and other settings. In addition, you won't have to worry about medical bills if something goes wrong, so you'll have a more relaxing time in the UK.
Furthermore, health insurance is an essential need when applying for a visa, not just in the UK but elsewhere. Health insurance ensures the students will not have to worry about medical bills while away from their home country and family.
National Health Service ( NHS )
The National Health Service is one of the most widely used healthcare systems in the world. International students can also use the NHS if their study programme is six months or longer. Otherwise, they'll have to look into alternative private insurance options. The National Health Service provides a wide range of benefits, and you will receive the same services as UK residents. The NHS offers free GP (General Practitioner) visits, office visits, emergency care, mental care, and other services. Please see the following:
If you are eligible for NHS, the following services are provided free of charge:
- Consultation with your primary care physician
- Hospital treatment in Accident or Emergency services
- GP-recommended hospitalisation
- Maternity services Hospitalisation advised by your doctor
- Contraception services
However, you will be required to pay for prescription medications and other GP services such as travel immunisations, dentistry, and optical treatments.
