Overseas student health cover
It is a condition of your Student Visa that you maintain approved Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) while in Australia. To do this you simply pay the OSHC premium as prescribed in your Offer of Place directly to the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE. We will then forward your payment to Medibank Private who will provide you with your medical insurance cover.
It is strongly recommended that you pay a premium according to the length of your visa, which is called Visa Length Health Cover. By paying this amount you will be continuously insured for the period of your stay in Australia and you will not be required to pay any premium increases during the term of your cover.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) includes:
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Medical treatment by doctors, pathology (blood tests) and x-rays.
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Public hospitals. OSHC pays all hospital charges in a shared ward in any public hospital. If you use your own doctor, you will be responsible for the difference (if any) between the OSHC benefit for medical treatment by your own doctor and the actual fees charged. OSHC also covers all charges for outpatient medical treatment provided by public hospitals.
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Private hospitals. You may choose to be treated in a private hospital. OSHC provides benefits towards treatment and accommodation in a private hospital. If you choose a Members' Choice Hospital, Medibank Private will pay the full cost of charges raised by the hospital, including accommodation, theatre fees, your personal colour TV, and local phone calls.
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Emergency Ambulance Transport.
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Prescription Drugs and Medicines. Your doctor may give you a prescription for necessary drugs or medicines. You then buy these drugs or medicines from a chemist's shop or pharmacy. OSHC provides benefits for these prescriptions, except for oral contraceptives.
Services not covered by OSHC
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All pregnancy related services (including premature births and miscarriages), if the length of your stay is for 3 months or less. This applies whether or not you (or your spouse) were pregnant at the time of joining.
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Treatment for medical conditions, or disabilities, you had before you came to Australia during the first 12 months of membership.
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Assisted reproduction services, such as IVF.
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Treatment you need while travelling traveling to or from Australia.
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Treatment you arranged before you came to Australia.
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Treatment for which compensation or damages can be claimed.
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Additional charges for single room accommodation in a public hospital.
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Treatment for any children over 18 years of age.
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Other treatment not considered medically necessary, eg. Health screening services or cosmetic surgery.
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Medical examinations, x-rays and pathology, required by the Department of Immigration as part of the student visa renewal process.
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Optical, dental, physiotherapy, optical, or any other ancillary services.
This page was last updated at 19-March-2009