What is OSHC?

Overseas Student Health Cover is mandatory health insurance for international students in Australia. Required for Student Visa (Subclass 500) applications, coverage must span the entire visa duration. Insurance certificate must be submitted with visa application.

Basic Coverage

Included:

• General Practitioner (GP) consultations
• Specialist consultations (GP referral required)
• Pathology tests, X-rays, blood tests
• Public hospital admission and surgery
• Partial prescription medication costs (PBS listed)
• Ambulance services (varies by state)

Not Included:

• Dental (except emergency)
• Optical (glasses, contact lenses)
• Physiotherapy
• Pre-existing conditions (12-month waiting period)
• Pregnancy related (12-month waiting period)

Available Insurance Providers

• Medibank
• Bupa
• Allianz Care
• ahm
• nib

Required Information for Enrollment

• COE (Confirmation of Enrolment)
• Passport details
• Expected arrival date in Australia
• Course end date
• Dependent family member details (if applicable)

Complex Enrollment Process

Tasks when applying independently:

1. Visit each insurer's website individually
2. Understand policy terms and coverage in English
3. Calculate exact insurance period matching visa duration
4. Complete online application forms
5. Process payment with international transaction capable card
6. Download certificate for visa application submission

Common Issues:

• Insurance start date misalignment with visa causes visa rejection
• Insurance ending before visa expiry causes visa rejection
• Incorrect information entry leads to claim rejection
• Unexpected medical costs due to coverage misunderstanding

Settlee Agent Support Services

Enrollment Support:

• Accurate insurance period calculation based on COE
• Simultaneous quotes from 5 insurance providers
• Policy and coverage explanation in multiple languages (Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc.)
• Online application form completion assistance
• Visa-ready insurance certificate preparation

Post-Enrollment Support:

• Insurance card collection guidance
• Claim procedure explanation
• Insurance renewal reminders
• Insurance extension processing for visa extensions

Waiting Periods

• Pre-existing conditions: 12 months
• Pregnancy related: 12 months
• Mental health related: 2 months
• Other specific treatments: 2 months

Insurance Renewal and Changes

• Insurance extension required when extending visa
• Insurance provider switching possible (refund processing for existing policy)
• Upgrade from single to couple/family coverage available
• Insurance company notification required for address changes

Claim Process

1. Obtain receipt after medical service
2. Submit claim via insurer website/app
3. Upload required documents
4. Review period (2-10 business days)
5. Reimbursement to registered bank account upon approval

Required Documents:

• Original medical receipts
• Medical certificate (if required)
• Policy holder information
• Australian bank account details

Important Notes

• OSHC must commence before arrival in Australia
• Full payment required for medical services without insurance
• Gap periods may occur with delayed renewal
• Immediate insurer notification required for family composition changes

This is the essential information for OSHC services. The core value proposition is that Settlee agents handle the entire complex process from start to finish alongside the student.