Health Care and Insurance

Health Cover in Australia

Standards of health care in Australia are very high. It is compulsory for all international students to have health insurance while they are in Australia on a student visa. Payment normally is required before the issue of a student visa. The 2003 charge is $312 per year for single cover and $624 for family cover per annum. Evidence of, or arrangements for, health cover is required at the time of enrolment.

The Australian Government requires that all international students with student visas and their families pay for health insurance in Australia through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Scheme and maintain insurance for the full duration of their studies. The only exceptions to this requirement are for students from Sweden and Norway, who are not required to pay for OSHC if they can provide proof of official health insurance cover from their home government provider.

The university receives payment from new students and purchases cover on behalf of the student for the first year of enrolment. The University will choose the insurance provider deemed to offer the best value.

After the first year at University College students are able to choose one of a number of Government approved insurance companies for the rest of their time in Australia. You must pay for the OSHC before being issued with a student visa or, in the case of continuing students, before the granting of a further Temporary Entry Permit. Except in the cases of Sweden and Norway, membership of health insurance schemes in your home country does not exempt you from payment of the OSHC. OSHC rates will be advised to applicants very early in the application process.

Medical treatment

OSHC will pay 85% of the schedule (Government recommended) fee for each consultation with private doctors, private specialists and optometrists. Services covered by OSHC also include treatment by specialists, surgery and diagnostic services such as pathology and radiology and eyesight testing performed by optometrists.

Hospital treatment

OSHC covers ambulance transport, shared ward accommodation and treatment in public hospitals where the treatment is provided by a doctor appointed by the hospital. If your own doctor treats you and charges above the schedule fee, you must pay the difference. If you choose to be treated in a private hospital, OSHC pays up to the schedule fee for treatment and accommodation. Any costs beyond the schedule fee must be met by you.

Exclusions

Certain services are currently not covered by OSHC. These include optical, physiotherapy, dental and pharmaceutical. If you wish to be covered for these expenses, you need to have additional insurance.

Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered by OSHC and a waiting period of 18 months is generally imposed. If you or your dependent spouse’s length of stay is 3 months or longer, pregnancy related medical expenses will be paid by OSHC; however, assisted reproduction services such as IVF are not covered.