OSHCstudents – As an international student in Australia, you are required to have health insurance for the full duration of that visa. In this article, we have answered some of the most common questions about Oversea Student Health Cover (OSHC) which is an essential part of the student visa process.
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What are Policy Start Date and End Date?
- Policy Start Date
You must hold a valid OSHC policy from the date your student visa is granted. This may require that your policy begins before you travel to Australia to commence your course.
If you are overseas, when you purchase your insurance policy and pay, the insurer will ask you to nominate a date of arrival. This date will be the date that your policy will begin. If your arrival date changes or is delayed, you can ask your insurer to change the start date of your policy.
If you are already in Australia with a student visa and are changing insurance providers, then your start date of the policy will be the day after your current OSHC policy expires.
If you are in Australia with another visa type such as a visitor visa or work and holiday then the start date of your policy should be the date that you lodge your student visa application.
- End Date
As an international student, you must ensure that your OSHC does not expire while in Australia. If your OSHC policy expires you will breach your student visa conditions and risk having your student visa canceled by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
Your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) must cover the entire duration of your student visa. The last day of your student visa will depend on the duration of your course and on the time of the year that your course will finish. If your course is less than ten months your visa will usually expire one month after the course finishes. If it is more than ten months it may expire either 2 months later or on 15 March the following year.
Is vaccination covered by OSHC?
Some diseases listed in the Government funded program will be covered. Before getting any vaccinations, you need to call to check with your doctor or OSHC providers for advice
Does an international student get a refund if he/she is out of Australia for a period of 30 days or more?
If the student is out of Australia for a period of 30 days or more, the student can request a refund for unused period, the insurance will be extended in cases:
- You must have a valid OSHC when you apply for Holiday Credit
- You must apply for Holiday Credit within 30 days of your return to Australia
- You must be out of Australia for a period of 30 days or more
Can I buy a single policy for my dependent?
No, you can not buy a single policy for your dependent. If you have a dependent, you have to buy Family policy. Any adult dependents must be included in your OSHC policy. If you purchase an additional single OSHC policy for an adult dependant instead of a couples policy and your dependant needs to make a claim on the additional policy the insurer may refuse to cover your dependant on the basis that your dependant is not a primary visa applicant, enrolled in an Australian course and that you should have taken out a couples policy.
When I can get OSHC refund?
The reasons to get the refund:
1. Get a refusal of application for a Student visa
2. You are leaving Australia earlier than expected
3. You no longer hold a student visa
4. You have a simultaneous OSHC policy with another provider
5. Your OSHC policy is longer than your student visa
If you are international students, foreigners arriving to Australia, or Australian citizens traveling abroad looking for OSHC, OVHC, travel insurance, please contact OSHCstudents Team at email: info@oshcstudents.com and our partners for further information and assistance.
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