medibank travel insurance oshc

Medibank Overseas Student Health Cover

Compare the oshc available from medibank for international students..

In this guide

Who's it for?

What are the different cover options, medibank overseas student health cover, how to find a medibank oshc provider, how to make a claim.

Overseas Health

Overseas funds

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health cover for overseas students who are studying in Australia. It is part of your student visa requirements and pays for your medical treatment if you fall ill or have an accident while you are in Australia.

The Australian Government requires all overseas students here on a student visa (subclass 500) to have adequate hospital and medical cover (OSHC) for the duration of their stay in Australia. This applies regardless of whether you are applying for a student visa, already have one or are on a bridging visa while waiting to extend your student visa.

Any family members staying with you in Australia, including your spouse and any children under 18 years of age, must also have adequate health cover while they are here. Note that overseas student health cover is not quite the same as overseas visitors health cover , which is a broader category. Medibank offers some OVHC policies as well.

Medibank OSHC meets your student visa health insurance requirements and helps towards the cost of your hospital and medical treatment if you are ill or injured. It provides cover for all types of student situations including Singles, Couples, Families and Single Parents.

These covers are flexible, allowing you to change from one to another as your situation changes. For example, if you want to add your partner to your cover, Medibank OSHC allows you to do so easily by switching from a Single to a Couples policy. Similarly, if you wish to add a dependent child, you can switch to a Family or Single Parent policy any time within two months, without having to serve any additional waiting periods.

Medibank OSHC offers a choice of Essentials and Comprehensive cover. Both levels of cover include Hospital, Medical, Pharmacy and Ambulance services, but Comprehensive cover also provides a higher Pharmacy limit than any other OSHC product.

• Essentials OSHC. Meets student visa requirements plus delivers an important level of cover and a range of additional benefits.
• Comprehensive OSHC. A specialised level of cover only available through certain schools and universities. Contact your educational institution to learn more.

When you take out health cover , you can expect to find the following treatments covered by Medibank. You should always check for limits and waiting periods:

• Ambulance services
• Psychiatric treatment
• Obstetrics and pregnancy related services
• Appendicitis treatment
• Tonsils and adenoids removal
• Surgical removal of wisdom teeth (hospital charges only)
• Joint reconstruction
• Heart related admissions
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Hip and knee joint replacement surgery
• Renal dialysis
• Eye surgery
• Rehabilitation treatment
• Palliative care
• All other in-hospital services covered by Medicare.
• Outpatient treatment by a GP (outside of hospital)
• Outpatient treatment by a specialist (outside of hospital).
• Medication prescribed by a GP or specialist (outside of hospital)
• Access to health support services such as a registered nurse, counselling services, interpreter services, emergency legal advice, travel document assistance and family and friends message service.

Limitations

There are a few Limitations and exclusions that apply to Medibank OSHC. These include;

• Certain students may not need OSHC (e.g. Norwegian students can be covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, Swedish students by Kammarkollegiet and Belgian students by the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) between Belgium and Australia).
• Comprehensive Medibank OSHC is only available through selected schools and universities.
• Cover does not include extended family such as parents, grandparents, siblings and uncles and aunts.
• Fertility treatment is not covered by Essentials or Comprehensive cover.
• Waiting periods apply in some cases (starting from the date you arrive in Australia or become a member, whichever occurs later).
• No cover for cosmetic surgery, services not covered by Medicare, dental or podiatry surgical procedures, treatment for a child over 18 years old or medical treatments performed outside of Australia.
• If you take out a policy and then decide to cancel, you will only receive a refund if it is within the 30-day cooling off period and only if you have not made any claims on your policy.

A Medibank OSHC direct billing provider is a medical practitioner who has an agreement with Medibank and sends the bill directly to them, meaning little or no upfront payment for you at the time of your appointment.

To find your nearest OSHC provider, follow this link and enter your address or location in the box provided.

Claiming is easy with Medibank OSHC and your options include:

Medibank OSHC members have the following claims options:

• Online. Medibank Online Member Services
• App. Medibank OSHC App
• Phone. 134 148
• In-store. Medibank store locations
• On campus. Selected universities
• Direct Billing. Members choice network

Tim Bennett

Tim Bennett is a Finder insurance expert. For over 10 years he's reported on news, politics, finance and other topics as a journalist and radio presenter. Tim's roles have included radio news reader and breakfast at the ABC, news producer for SBS and producer for Fairfax Media. Tim regularly appears as a health insurance expert on programs like Sunrise and SBS news, as well as in the Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more. See full profile

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Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

As an international student in Australia, you are required to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of your study in Australia.

International students undertaking formal studies in Australia and their dependents (including spouses and children under 18) must have OSHC.

What does oshc cover .

OSHC insurers provide a range of different OSHC plans.

The compulsory minimum (basic) OSHC plan will usually cover: 

• visits to the doctor (GP)
• some hospital treatments
• ambulance, and
• limited pharmaceuticals (medicines). 

OSHC doesn’t cover treatments such as dental, optical or physiotherapy. You can purchase Extras OSHC from an OSHC provider if you want cover for these. 

Another option is to buy private health insurance along with your OSHC to cover items that OSHC does not cover. Benefits and costs vary between funds and insurance policies.

You can also purchase travel insurance in addition to your OSHC, which can cover various health treatments. . 

Where can I buy OSHC?

There are only a few registered health insurers that offer OSHC. You can compare plans and prices by visiting the following websites: 

• Allianz Care Australia (Peoplecare)
• BUPA Australia
• CBHS International Health
• Medibank Private

Maintaining your OSHC 

The Department of Home Affairs requires overseas students to maintain OSHC for their duration in Australia. 

For further information, please visit the Private Health website .

Need more help?

Plan your move  

Your first week in Australia 

Handy tips will help you get set up and settle into your new life in Australia as an international student.   

Preparing to travel 

Use our pre-departure checklist to plan for travelling to Australia

Life in Australia   

Accommodation  

Australia has a wide range of short-term, rental, on campus and homestay accommodation options for students.  

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Join Medibank OSHC Now

Is the primary student visa holder currently located in Australia (Y/N) ?

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#1 your product & price details, what you need.

• Credit Card

We estimate it will take you 15 minutes to complete your application

For information on waiting periods, limits and restrictions, go to Medibank OSHC Member Guide . Your premium will be confirmed on Step 2 of this form.

I am looking for Single Couple Single parent Family

As you have chosen a single policy please confirm you are the primary student visa applicant.

Visa end date: DD-MM-YYYY

The below is a guideline to the OSHC duration you may require for your course based on the course end date and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) student visa grant periods . It's your responsibility to ensure the policy you purchase suits your individual circumstances.

Note : Postgraduate research students should add an additional 6 months to the above end dates.

#2 Your personal details

Your details, your home postal address (non-australian):, your australian address, australian postal address, your australian home address, your contact details, password ❔, #3 your cover details, student details, how did you find us.

Please note: all fields are compulsory

You can purchase OSHC with your college or university. Please check your letter of offer for more details.

#4 Verify your details

Join medibank oshc today, personal details, your new cover, more personal details, student details, family details, #5 make payment.

For information on waiting periods, limits and restrictions, go to Medibank OSHC Member Guide .

Your application has been processed successfully.

An email will be sent to you shortly with your certificate, tax invoice and information on how to activate your membership when you arrive in Australia.

You will need your certificate for your visa application.

Membership Card: Once you have arrived in Australia, you will need to activate your Medibank OSHC membership and download a copy of your OSHC policy document. Once you have activated your membership we will post you your membership card. Certificate: Click here to download and print your Medibank OSHC certificate.

Your new Certificate Number is 78140848

Declaration

You are applying for a Medibank OSHC policy with Medibank Private Limited ABN 47 080 890 259 under its Health Benefits Fund and agree to be bound by the Rules of the Fund. You confirm that your visa status allows you to apply for this cover. You declare that all of the statements made in this application are true and complete and understand we may refuse payment of benefits if any statements are false in any respect. We reserve the right to vary our premiums, our OSHC products or benefits payable, subject to the requirements imposed by the Department of Health and Ageing. If you have paid premiums in advance, you will not be exempt from such changes. You consent to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with the Medibank OSHC Privacy Policy . You warrant that each named beneficiary has also given that consent. This includes consent to collect any personal information about a named beneficiary from you, any other named beneficiary, medical practitioner or health insurer. You understand that the information you provide to Medibank OSHC may be disclosed to other organisations for the purpose of providing you or your family with the services to which you are entitled to as a policy holder. You authorise Medibank OSHC to confirm or disclose relevant information to or with your educational institution and/or any relevant government department including the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. You completely indemnify us, related parties, our officers, employees and agents for any losses, damages or expenses that arise from any allegation by any named beneficiary that their conduct, in acting in accordance with the Medibank OSHC Privacy Policy , is without consent or otherwise amounts to an interference with privacy.

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Secure membership application

Medibank OSHC is committed to ensuring the security of the information you provide us via the online registration application.

Updating your account details

If you need to update your account information, we request that you do so by  updating them online  or calling us on  134 148 .

Medibank OSHC will  NEVER :

• call or email you asking you for your Online Member Services login ID or password.
• send you an email asking you to verify your online member details. Any email asking you to verify or confirm your account details or using a similar form of words, is most likely a phishing scam.

We take Online Fraud very seriously. If you think you may have revealed your security details in any way please contact us immediately on  134 148 .

What is 'Phishing'?

Phishing is the act of attempting to gain information such as usernames, passwords, and other personal or sensitive information by acting as a trustworthy organisation via electronic communication. Phishing often directs users to enter details on a fake website which looks and feels almost identical to the legitimate one.

If you think you may have received a phishing email, please forward the entire email with full header information (some email clients allow this with an option of sending as an attachment) to  [email protected] .

Security tips

You can help make your online experience more secure by following some basic steps:

• Make sure you are using the most recent version of your web browser with the latest security patches applied.
• Install all security updates for your operating system supplied by its maker.
• Ensure that you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed and working on your computer.
• Make sure that you log out properly and close the browser window when you have finished.
• For more simple steps to protect your personal details, visit the Australian government website at  http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/ .

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Join ahm OSHC Now

Is the primary student visa holder currently located in Australia (Y/N) ?

There's more to ahm OSHC than just great Overseas Student Health Cover.

As a ahm OSHC member, you're eligible for discounted Pet and Travel Insurance with our parent brand, Medibank. Plus, you can take advantage of exclusive offers on student brands and more.

Download the ahm OSHC app to access Student Rewards today

As a ahm OSHC member, you have exclusive access to Student Rewards, a program designed to support you to save money on big brands and everyday purchases. T&Cs apply.

Access great discounts on Pet and Travel Insurance

Save on Pet Insurance

When you have ahm OSHC you can enjoy 10% off pet insurance with our parent brand, Medibank.

Save on Travel Insurance

ahm OSHC is backed by Medibank, so you can also enjoy 15% off Medibank travel insurance.

Treat yourself by snapping up a great deal today

15% off at Sunglass Hut

Save 15% on selected sunnies as an ahm OSHC member.

Enjoy $12.50 screenings every Thursday

ahm OSHC members get a discount on tickets every Thursday at Palace Cinemas.

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Welcome to OSHC Online Member Services

Please submit your claim below.

• Terms and Conditions

Your membership number identifies your OSHC policy. It is located on the front of your membership card or on your Policy Certificate.

Please note Medibank will only pay benefits for claims lodged within two (2) years of the date of service, and your membership must be current at date of service. Benefit payments will be made by your preferred method (EFT/Chq). If you wish to update your details, simply visit us online.

If your claim relates to an injury or illness caused by the negligence of a third party (e.g motor vehicle accident, workers' compensation, common law), you may be entitled to compensation. If you think you may be entitled to compensation from a third party (i.e from an entity other than Medibank), please contact our Compensation Team before lodging this form. Please call 1300 880 276

Please ensure the receipts and/or accounts for each claim are attached, and that they are original, itemised in full, written in English, and on the provider's official stationery, or have the provider's official stamp.

If you indicate that your account is paid in full, please provide any receipts as evidence, otherwise Medibank may:

• be unable to pay benefits for the claim; or
• pay any benefits for the claim directly to the service provider.

*Benefits are not payable where you have, or may have, an entitlement to receive compensation or damages. In such circumstances, we expect that you will pursue that entitlement. We may make provisional benefit payments on application, subject to our Fund Rules and policies, but you must agree to repay such payments, in full, from your final settlement.

All information supplied in connection with this claim is true and correct. I consent to the handling of my personal information provided with this claim in accordance with the Medibank Private Privacy Policy. I authorise any hospital or health service provider to give Medibank Private any information as may be necessary to assess this claim. The expenses detailed in this claim are not, and will not be, subject to a compensation or damages claim.* If I am lodging this claim for another person, I declare that I have their consent to lodge this claim and to make the above declarations and acknowledgements on their behalf.

We’re here to help

If you have any questions or require help completing this form, call us on  134 148

Download the Medibank OSHC App

Our app makes it easy to view your cover details, make contact with a health advice line and find a health provider.

Join Medibank OSHC Now

Is the primary student visa holder currently located in Australia (Y/N) ?

Travel outside the U.S.

Medicare usually doesn’t cover health care while you’re traveling outside the U.S. There are some exceptions, including some cases where Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) may pay for services that you get on board a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the U.S. 

Medicare may pay for inpatient hospital , doctor , and  ambulance services  you get in a foreign country in these rare cases:

• You're in the U.S. when a medical emergency occurs, and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.
• You're traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another U.S state when a medical emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.
• You live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists.

Medicare may cover medically necessary ambulance transportation to a foreign hospital only with admission for medically necessary covered inpatient hospital services.

Medicare drug coverage (Part D) covers all vaccines that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends, including certain vaccines you might need to get before you travel outside the U.S. (like yellow fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis). Your Part D plan won't charge you a copayment or apply a deductible for vaccines ACIP recommends. Contact your Medicare drug plan for details and talk to your provider about which ones are right for you.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay 100% of the costs, in most cases. In the situations described above, you pay the part of the charge you would normally pay for covered services. This includes any medically necessary doctor and ambulance services you get in a foreign country as a part of a covered inpatient hospital stay. You also pay the coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles you'd normally pay if got these same services or supplies inside the U.S.

In the situations above, Medicare pays only for services covered under Original Medicare : Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers hospital care (care you get when you've been formally admitted with a doctor's order to the foreign hospital as an inpatient).

• Medicare didn't cover your hospital stay.
• You got ambulance and doctor services outside the hospital after your covered hospital stay ended.

Foreign hospitals aren’t required to file Medicare claims for your travel medical costs. You need to  submit an itemized bill  to Medicare for your doctor, inpatient, and ambulance services if both of these apply:

• You're admitted to a foreign hospital under one of the situations above
• The foreign hospital doesn't submit Medicare claims for you

Find out cost

To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like:

• Other insurance you may have
• How much your doctor charges
• If your doctor accepts assignment
• The type of facility
• Where you get your test, item, or service

Things to know

The 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are considered part of the U.S. Anywhere else is considered outside the U.S. 

Medicare drug plans don't cover prescription drugs you buy outside the U.S.

Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) policies may cover emergency care when you travel outside the U.S.

Because Medicare has limited travel medical coverage outside the U.S., you may choose to buy a travel insurance policy to get more coverage. An insurance agent or travel agent can give you more information about the cost of travel medical insurance. Travel insurance doesn’t necessarily include health insurance, so it’s important to read the conditions or restrictions carefully.

Related resources

• Medicare & You: traveling abroad (video)

Is my test, item, or service covered?

Laser eye surgery: 10 things you might not know

Think you know all about laser eye surgery? An opthamologist shares 10 facts that may surprise you.

2 March 2015 • 4 min read

Laser vision correction – more popularly known as laser eye surgery – has been performed for well over two decades now. It’s so common that most people know someone who has undergone a laser eye surgery procedure.

But for ophthalmologists such as myself, and for the majority of my patients, laser vision correction continues to be truly amazing. The journey of laser technology and the advancements in the procedures taken over many decades has reached the point where millions of people all around the world have been able to throw away their glasses and contact lenses.

So, you think you know all about laser eye surgery and vision correction surgery? Here are 10 facts that may surprise you.

1. Vision correction surgery has been around since the 1930s.

Before laser technology, Dr Sato in Japan used a scalpel to make incisions inside the cornea that would radiate out, similar to slicing a pizza. In the 1970s, Dr Fyederov in Moscow did the same thing on the surface of the cornea and called it ‘radial keratotomy’. This allowed the steep myopic cornea to flatten and reshape in the centre.

2. Laser eye surgery technology was first used to create microchips.

In 1980, operating an excimer laser while making microscopic circuits in microchips for informatics equipment, an IBM scientist surmised (correctly, fortunately) that it could also accurately cut organic tissues without substantial damage to the surrounding tissue.

3. The first laser eye surgery procedure was performed in 1985.

A New York ophthalmologist, Dr Steven Trokel, discovered in 1983 the ability of the excimer laser to reshape the cornea, thus correcting vision. He experimented with the technology and by 1985 Dr Theo Seiler performed the first excimer laser procedure (PRK) on a human patient in Dresden. Since 1985, there have been numerous generations of laser systems introduced and 30-plus platform upgrades.

4. There are actually three types of laser eye surgery.

ASLA (also called PRK or LASEK), LASIK and, recently, a new procedure called SMILE LASER.

5. The majority of people who have LASIK or SMILE are able to drive the next day.

Most people will find during the follow-up consultation that their vision is now the same or better than the legal minimum for driving.

6. Laser eye surgery is recommended for people who want to become fighter pilots or police officers.

Glasses and contact lenses can pose logistical problems in the line of duty.

7. Laser eye surgery can treat astigmatism.

Many people think that only long-sightedness and short-sightedness can be treated. But astigmatism, whether alone or in conjunction with long or short-sightedness, can also be corrected with laser eye surgery.

8. Laser eye surgery isn’t just about vanity.

Most people have laser eye surgery for practical reasons such as their profession – for example, sports players, chefs or IT professionals. New parents also find motivation to have surgery when trying to find their glasses during night-time feeds.

9. Laser eye surgery isn’t as expensive as you think.

The cost of replacing prescription glasses or contact lenses over the decades very often exceeds the cost of laser eye surgery. Plus, most clinics have financial payment plans, making it more convenient to pay for treatment over a period of time.

10. Blinking, sneezing or coughing during treatment won’t affect your outcome.

Modern eye tracking technology allows the laser to lock on and follow your eye, as no one can keep their eye truly still. Your surgeon can override the system at any time.

The world of laser eye surgery continues to be full of surprises. For example, the newest technology, SMILE LASER, now means that short-sighted people who were previously told that they weren’t suitable for laser eye surgery may now qualify. Laser eye surgeons such as myself continue to marvel at what laser eye surgery can do for our patients. It fundamentally changes how people see the world.

Learn more at visioneyeinstitute.com.au

Dr Michael Lawless is one of Australia’s most experienced vision correction surgeons, with decades of experience in laser eye surgery.

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