Health Insurance for Students in Australia
With its strong economy and excellent healthcare system, Australia offers numerous opportunities for students to get scholarships and financial aid. The country is always mindful of the wants and needs of international students and has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. The health care system is safe and affordable, so there is no doubt why Australia is a popular study destination among many international students.
Types of Healthcare Systems in Australia
The Australian healthcare system is world-renowned for its comprehensive services, from general and preventative care to more complex specialist treatments. The system is divided into two parts: the public health system and the private health system. When you need healthcare, you can access it through one of these two systems or a mix of both.
Public health system
Public healthcare in Australia is delivered through several different channels, including public hospitals, community-based services, and affiliated health organisations. Australian residents can access healthcare within the public system for free or at a reduced cost through Medicare. Health care in Australia has been provided by Medicare, a universal health care scheme, since 1984. The scheme provides access to medical services, public hospitals and medicines.
Private health system
Many health service providers, such as private hospitals, specialist medical and allied health clinics, and pharmacies, are privately owned and managed. These services may be funded by a combination of government and private entities.
What is OSHC, And What are its Benefits?
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a health cover the Australian government designed to help international students cover their medical and hospital care while studying in Australia. This health cover is provided for international students who don't have access to the Australian Public Health Care - Medicare.
Basic OSHC provides coverage for doctor's visits, hospital treatments, limited pharmaceuticals, ambulance service, prosthetic devices, and access to private hospitals and day surgeries. Dental care, optical services and physiotherapy are not typically included in basic OSHC plans but may be available as part of more comprehensive coverage from some providers.
It is highly beneficial for international students to have health insurance in the long run. Hospital and medical expenses can be expensive; without health insurance, these costs can be challenging. Health insurance covers will make it more affordable and convenient for students without putting a strain on their finances. They will also provide a sense of security and safety for students.
Why is Health Cover Required?
As an international student in Australia, you are required to have health insurance for the duration of your stay. This is in accordance with visa condition 8501 and to ensure that you are covered in case of any medical emergencies that may occur. There are a few different options available to you regarding health insurance, so be sure to do your research before deciding.
Once you have chosen a plan, make sure that it is valid for the entirety of your stay in Australia. If you are extending your stay in Australia to continue your studies, you will need to purchase a new OSHC policy and ensure no lapse in coverage between the two policies.
Cost of Health Insurance in Australia
The cost of OSHC will depend on the duration of your study in Australia, your visa and the number of people included in your policy. The Department of Health in Australia has approved the following health funds to offer OSHC:
Before taking out an OSHC policy, you must research the various providers to ensure that the level of cover meets your needs. It can be helpful to compare policies from different providers to get the best benefits for the lowest cost.
Age of Students
As an international student, you will need to have an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your studies. This also applies to your family members, such as partners and children under 18. The only exceptions are Belgian, Norwegian, and Swedish students.
Length and Level of Coverage
Certain requirements must be met to obtain a student visa for Australia. One of these is having continuous health insurance (OSHC) for your stay. When you purchase OSHC, you will need to pay the policy premium in full upfront, which will cover you for the length of your student visa.
If you are an international student without adequate health insurance, you risk your visa getting cancelled. You will need to obtain OSHC insurance for the duration of your student visa and renew your policy if you extend your stay. Be sure to ask about any waiting periods, exclusions, or other limitations on the plan.
The health insurance can be for singles that cover only the international student who is the primary student visa holder. The dual family option offers coverage for the international student, an adult partner, or one or more children under the age of 18. In the multi-family option, the insurance covers the international student and more than one dependent, including a partner and one or more dependent children.
Ways to Apply for Health Insurance in Australia
There are two ways to get OSHC insurance while studying in Australia
- Your education provider can purchase it for you. The university will schedule your first payment to the health fund provider, but you will be personally responsible for any future renewals.
- You can choose your own OSHC-approved provider and pay for the insurance yourself.
Either way, you must maintain continuous coverage throughout your stay in Australia. This is especially important for students studying at two different institutions, as each may purchase insurance on the student's behalf.
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Student Testimonials
AECC is a wonderful agency and I had an excellent experience with them. Be it applying to the university or for the visa, the staff there helped me immensely in every step thoroughly. I would like to specially thank my counsellor for the expert guidance and support she had rendered throughout the entire process. She was of great help whenever I had doubts regarding any of the processes and was someone I could call on anytime. I would gladly recommend the agency to my peers. Thank you, AECC Global!
Absolutely one of the best! Received excellent service and guidance and very accommodating! Thank you AECC Global for fulfilling my study abroad dream.
All the information provided by my counsellor is excellent and process of visa file was very fast as compared to my other friends. Excellent services of AECC Global. It is a great place to visit for student visa service.
I would like to thank the whole AECC Global team because the experience here was altogether very lively and friendly. They gave every information to me starting from the selection of course till my documentation process. I would really recommend AECC for overseas education consultation.
At AECC Global, I was allotted with a counselor who accompanied and explained the whole application process. Special thanks to the counselors and the other advisors. I would highly recommend AECC Global to everyone.
The overall process was very smooth and the counsellor at AECC Global was very polite and guided me throughout the application in a simple, understandable way. I am very happy with the service and I got my visa granted after one day of application. I’ll be recommending AECC Global to my friends, whosoever plans to study abroad.
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