The human body usually does not accept a new environment instantly. It requires time to acclimatize or to get adjusted to the new weather pattern.
Aspiring international students is the category who are most likely to face this and starts looking for the right medical attention as soon as they reach their destination country. For the land down under, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has made it mandatory for students to secure OSHC Australia (Overseas Student Health Cover) before lodging their student visa application.
Studying in Australia presents many benefits to students but also becomes the most challenging pathway to build a career if proper care is not taken when you get sick. Because it will impact your grades, and hence affect your desired work placements.
Benefits of Studying in Australia:
- ESOS (Education Service for Overseas Students) Act protects the rights of international students studying in Australia
- Meeting highest quality standard through CRICOS Code
- Quick and easy-to-follow Visa process
- Offering multifarious courses and qualifications such as Certificate I-IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, etc
- Favourable intakes, affordable tuition fees, work opportunities, pleasant weather & more
- English language courses such as IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, CAE, OET, etc.
Overseas health insurance is in place to ensure that you get the right care at the right time. To begin with, you might have secured student health insurance from the leading OSHC providers such as Bupa OSHC, Ahm OSHC, Nib OSHC, Allianz Care Australia, or Medibank OSHC.
In the initial days, a student may face minor illnesses such as cold, cough, sore throat, etc., which can be taken care of with over-the-counter medicine from a pharmacy.
However, if you feel that your situation is a bit critical, you must visit a GP.
A GP (general practitioner) is a doctor who helps you in diagnosing pain, injury, disease & other health issues. GPs can also guide you for vaccines, scans, tests, or prescribing medication as per the need.
Moreover, a majority of the information is already shared in the OSHC policy certificate. You would be able to catch hold of a GP in your area. General practitioners could be carrying their independent practice or might be working in the medical centre.
Normally, these clinics have an arrangement with the leading OSHC providers to have a direct billing facility. That in turn eliminates the need for you to make an upfront payment. However, sometimes you might have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for certain treatment. It is best to confirm such things before you head for a consultation with your local GPs.
Due to the recent pandemic, OSHC providers have also started supporting virtual consultation.
In order to avoid unnecessary complications, we urge aspiring students willing to study in Australia should secure OSHC from GetMyPolicy.Online.
Just a few clicks and it gives you a detailed comparison between Ahm OSHC, Allianz Care Australia, Medibank OSHC, Bupa OSHC, and Nib OSHC.
Moreover, students are also able to compare the various student health cover alongside other support services. Services such as,
- Mobile app
- Online membership account
- Home doctor services
- On-campus support
It also enlists services included for the out-of-hospital medical services, in-hospital medical services, accidental and emergency department facility fees. The purpose is to make sure that every student knows how the OSHC works beforehand rather than finding it complex when it is time to opt or claim for the services.
Let us understand with the two of the OSHC providers regarding benefits towards the hospital and medical costs.
What does ahm OSHC cover?
Features:
-
- Visits to General Practitioners (GPs) and specialists
- Treatment by surgeons & anesthetists in hospitals
- Pathology tests
- X-rays
- Hospital accommodation costs
- Prescription medicines
- Emergency ambulance transport
What does nib OSHC cover?
Features:
- Benefits equivalent to 100% of the MBS fee
- Benefits equivalent to 100% of the ambulance fee
- Operating theatre, intensive care, and ward fees
- Pharmaceuticals for treatment when in hospital
- Accidents
- Rehabilitation programs
What does an OSHC policy not cover?
A standard OSHC policy does not cover:
- Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Chiropractic treatments
- Dental and Orthodontics treatments
- Optical treatment – including contact lenses and eyeglass prescriptions
However, there is always an option to buy extra cover for the above-mentioned treatments.
More importantly, these are all the basics of OSHC insurance which nowhere covers the pain points of students.
Yes, these companies are quite flexible, supportive and have confirmed to cover the COVID-19 related illnesses, mainly for ‘lung and chest’, ‘kidney’, ‘dialysis for chronic kidney failure, or clinical illnesses.
Overseas student health cover ensures that student doesn’t face any trouble while pursuing his dream of studying in Australia. Last but not the least, a student can compare OSHC plans based on features such as online membership account, on-campus support, home and/or virtual doctor services, 24*7 support, etc. A list of crucial factors in choosing the right student health insurance may also require you to check direct billing, waiting periods, refund policy, accident and emergency facility fees, etc.
Wrap Up:
We hope that this post will shed light on how, to begin with, study in Australia amid travel ban lift. When it comes to choosing overseas student health cover (OSHC), you can visit GetMyPolicy.online to compare and choose the best student health insurance plan. Moreover, you could compare the plans by price, features, etc., and receive an instant health policy certificate. Visit today & get FREE 15 PTE Practice Tests. Try today!
