Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

Health Cover for studentsAs an overseas student, you and your accompanying family must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of your student visa in Australia. OSHC will help you to pay for any medical and hospital care you may need while studying in Australia.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship requires all student visa holders to have purchased Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of their student visa when they apply for their visa. OSHC covers you for doctors, hospitals, ambulance and prescription drugs.

CSU will assist you in obtaining your OSHC membership to cover your entire period of study. You will see a fee for OSHC on your letter of offer.

Your OSHC will differ depending on whether you are attending a regional campus, or you are studying in Sydney or Melbourne (CSU Study Centres)

Regional campus

A number of providers offer OSHC, however we recommend you take membership with Medibank Private, which is the University's provider of choice. Upon arrival at CSU, information on other providers of OSHC will be available from your International Student Support Officer in Student Services.

If you purchase your OSHC through Medibank Private for thirteen months or more you will receive a 6% discount on your premium.

Medibank Private Rates

Download the 2013 Medibank OSHC Rates [PDF]

What is covered?

This tells you what your Medibank Private OSHC insurance covers you for

If you need help translating the words, use the Medibank Private online dictionary

Maximum AUD$50 per prescription item

Maximum $50 per prescription item Maximum $300 per calendar year (single) Maximum $600 per calendar year (family), any one person cannot use more than $300

Service Benefits
Out-of-hospital medical services for: General Practitioners (Doctors) 100% of Medicare Benefits Schedule fee*
  Specialists, including Pathology, X-rays 85% of Medicare Benefits Schedule fee*
In-hospital medical services Doctors, Specialists, Pathology, X-rays 100% of Medicare Benefits Schedule fee*
Public hospitals Accommodation (admitted patient in a shared ward) 100% of the charge
  Surgically implanted prostheses and other items (included on Federal Government's Prostheses List) 100% of the charge
  Out-patient medical or post-operative services (fees raised by the hospital for treatment where you are not an admitted patient). For medical services and benefits see section 1 100% of the charge
Private hospitals: Members' Choice Accommodation and theatre fees 100% of the charge
  Surgically implanted prostheses and other items included on the Federal Government's Prostheses List 100% of the charge
  Other costs provided for in our agreement with the hospital (such as prescription medicines directly related to the reason for your hospital admission, and some ancillary services) 100% of the charge
  Other costs: colour TV, local calls from bedside phone (some Members' Choice Hospitals only) 100% of the charge
Private hospitals: Non Members' Choice Accommodation and theatre fees Charges and benefits may vary between hospitals*
  Surgically implanted prostheses and other items included on the Federal Government's Prostheses List 100% of the charge
Prescribed medicines Medibank Private OSHC provides benefits for prescription medicines (excluding oral contraceptives and prescriptions when prescribed for cosmetic purposes). Maximum $50 per prescription item Maximum $300 per calendar year (single) Maximum $600 per calendar year (family), any one person cannot use more than $300
  Members are required to pay a contribution towards the cost of each prescribed item
Ambulance services When medically necessary for admission to hospital or for emergency treatment 100% of the charge

* Charges may be more than the OSHC benefit - you will be responsible for paying any difference between the OSHC benefit and the charge.

What is NOT covered:

This tells you what your OSHC does not cover you for. Remember! You should always check your benefit entitlement before you are admitted to hospital.

Service

Public and private hospitals

  • accommodation that costs more than what Medibank Private will pay for a shared room, if accommodated in a single room by request
  • any services in a Members' Choice Hospital that are not covered by our agreement with the hospital
  • the difference between the charges raised by a non-Members' Choice Hospital and how much Medibank Private will pay
  • any items provided to you when you are discharged from a hospital
  • any extras services given to you in hospital that are not related to the reason of your hospital stay
  • out-patient charges raised by private hospitals
  • surgically implanted prostheses and other items not included in the Australian Federal Government Prostheses List
  • cost of newspapers, TV hire and telephone calls, except as covered in some Members' Choice hospitals

Medical services

  • treatment not considered medically necessary, e.g.: health screening and cosmetic surgery
  • any difference between what your doctor charges you and what Medibank Private will pay you
  • any medical examinations, X-rays and/or pathology required by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) as part of the student visa renewal process

Prescribed medicines

  • your prescription medicine co-payment for each prescription medicine
  • costs in excess of the benefit payable for each prescription medicine
  • costs in excess of the maximum annual benefit payable for prescription medicines
  • medicines other than prescription medicines
  • medicines prescribed for cosmetic purposes
  • oral contraceptives

Ambulance services

  • The cost of ambulance transport which is not medically necessary for admission to hospital or is not for emergency treatment

The above information was taken from the Medibank Private OSHC Summary. For more details, consult the OSHC Membership Guide, available from Medibank Private, when you arrive in Australia or visit the Medibank Private website

CSU's Study Centres in Sydney and Melbourne

Detailed information is available on the costs, services, and cover provided by Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) if you are studying at one of our CSU Study Centres.

More on CSU Study Centre health and insurance