Who is an overseas student?
For the purposes of OSHC, ‘overseas student’ means:
- A person who is applying for a student visa, subclass 500
- A person who is the holder of a student visa, subclass 500; or
- A person who:
- is an applicant for a student visa; and
- is the holder of a bridging visa; and
- was a student visa holder before being granted the bridging visa.
What is Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)?
OSHC is insurance taken by overseas students to assist in paying for the treatment they may need while studying in Australia (subject to eligibility of cover, cover, benefit limits, and waiting periods), such as:
- Out-of-hospital medical treatment
- In-hospital medical treatment
- Prescription medicines
- Emergency ambulance
- Surgically implanted medical devices and human tissue products
Who must have OSHC?
It is a condition of a student visa that overseas students must have OSHC for the duration of their student visa. This includes the student and their family members such as spouse and children under 18 years of age.
If you are a citizen of a country which has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia, you may be eligible for subsidised health care for some medical services.
To find out more, please visit The Department of Home Affairs
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas /getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500#Eligibility
When will I receive my OSHC confirmation of cover?
You are required to hold OSHC for the intended duration of the student visa. You'll need to pay for your policy upfront to cover the entire period of the student visa you are applying for.
For more information on visa grant periods, please refer to
The Department of Home Affairs website
.
Once you’ve paid for your OSHC cover, an email with your OSHC confirmation of cover letter will be immediately emailed to you. Please make sure you provide a valid email address to avoid delays.
Why do I need to have an eligible visa subclass for my chosen product?
Our OSHC product is specifically designed to provide adequate health insurance for international students studying in Australia. This is known as visa subject condition 8501.
Our OSHC product is not designed for other types of visa subclasses and therefore may not suit your health cover needs.
Only certain visa subclasses are required to hold adequate health insurance.To confirm which visas these are go to:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/supporting/files/visas-subject-condition-8501.pdf
.
What are eligible student visa subclasses?
Subclass 500 is the only eligible student visa subclass.
What you need to know before applying for single cover
Who is the primary visa holder?
The primary visa holder is the person who applied for and has been granted an eligible student visa.
Who is the secondary visa holder?
A secondary visa holder is the spouse, de facto partner or dependent child of the primary visa holder. A secondary visa holder is not eligible for single cover.
Who is eligible for single cover?
Only primary visa holders without a spouse, de facto or dependent child are eligible for single cover.
When do I need couple, family, or sole parent cover?
If you are the primary visa holder and you have secondary visa holders linked to you, then you will need a couple, family or sole parent cover.
Read the OSHC policy guide to find out more..
If you're not eligible to hold single cover, or they become ineligible for the cover at a later time, or have an ineligible visa subclass for the product, no chosen product, no benefits and/or claims will be paid.
If you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us 1300 174 538 or
oshc@cbhscorp.com.au
. We’ll be happy to help.
When does my OSHC start?
Your policy starts the day you arrive in Australia or the day that your student visa is granted – whichever is later – and ends when your student visa expires. It’s important that you contact us when you arrive in Australia or when your new student visa starts so that we can activate your cover. You are not covered for accidents and sickness until your policy is activated. Please note that you're not covered for treatment outside of Australia.
How do I pay for my OSHC?
Your OSHC can be paid for by credit card. If you need assistance, please email
oshc@cbhscorp.com.au or call 1300 174 538 if you are in Australia.
What should I do if I need to increase my OSHC length of cover?
If you need to increase your OSHC cover and your OSHC has not started, you can go online to change the dates and make any additional payment. We will email you an updated confirmation of cover.
If your policy has already commenced, you can go online to extend the dates and make any additional payment. We will email you an updated confirmation of cover.
Please email
oshc@cbhscorp.com.au or call 1300 174 538 if you are in Australia and need help to adjust your OSHC.
What are waiting periods under OSHC?
Sometimes you must wait for a period of time before you’re able to claim benefits for services under your OSHC – this is called a waiting period. The following waiting periods apply to your OSHC:
- Pre-existing medical conditions 12 months
- Pre-existing psychiatric conditions 2 months
- Obstetrics & Pregnancy related services 12 months**
**Unless a doctor or nurse confirms emergency treatment is required
This waiting period is calculated commencing from:
- The date you or your dependant arrived in Australia; or
- The date your student visa was granted whichever is the later date
What is a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is an ailment, illness or condition, and in the opinion of a Medical practitioner appointed by CBHS International Health, the signs or symptoms of the condition existed at any time up to 6 months prior to the Student or their dependant arrived in Australia and commenced their OSHC.
In forming an opinion, the Medical Practitioner must have regard to any information about the condition provided by the Medical Practitioner who treated the condition.
It is important that if you have a pre-existing ailment, you contact us as you may be eligible for programs that can help you with your condition.
Are there waiting periods for pregnancy?
There is a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy and pregnancy related services**. If you are going to have a baby it is important that you tell us as early as possible as you may be entitled to a free online birth course or other programs to help you and baby stay healthy and save you money.
**Unless a doctor or nurse confirms emergency treatment is required
What do I do if I need help and I don’t know what to do?
Here at CBHS International Health, we are more than just health insurers, we are committed to your health and happiness. Giving you quick and easy access to any medical information, or help, that you may need - any time, any day, and in any language you prefer - is one of the ways we show that our members are at the heart of everything we do.
That’s why it’s important you always call us as a first step.
This way we can let you know all your options, and any costs involved to help you have no (or low) out-of-pocket costs. We do not want you to have to pay a cent more than you should.
Need a GP or have a medical emergency? Your personal safety and wellbeing are a top priority for us, and we offer you free grief and trauma counselling and assist you to understand local laws and safety. All you need to do is call us on 1300 174 538^ and select option 2.
As an OSHC member you have access to our 24/7 medical and assistance helpline^, 365 days of the year. Our helpline includes an interpreter or translator service to ensure we will always be able to help you. We will relay messages on your behalf to family, friends, and associates on request.
^CBHS International Health may refer you to third party providers when you use the medical, interpreter and personal assistance helpline. If you decide to engage a provider, it will be on the basis that CBHS International Health will not be responsible, and you will not hold CBHS International Health responsible, for any liability that may arise from that engagement.
How do out-of-hospital services work?
Most minor medical issues can be treated by a local doctor or General Practitioner (GP) who can also prescribe medication. Usually, you will only go straight to hospital if you have an emergency or major accident.
If you have a non-urgent injury or illness that needs to be treated, you may want to consider visiting a GP at a medical centre. In Australia, doctors can be either GPs or Specialist Physicians. To visit a Specialist Physician such as a Gastroenterologist, you must first visit a GP and obtain a referral.
When you see a doctor, there is a fee set by the government for consultations called the Medical Benefits Schedule or MBS for most medical services. Doctors and health providers are allowed to charge more than the MBS.
If a doctor charges more than the MBS, then you will need to pay the difference. The difference between what a doctor charges and the benefits paid under your policy is called an out-of-pocket expense and must be paid by you. If you go to a Health Provider who is part of the CBHS International Provider network, you may reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
Phone 1300 174 538 to find a Health Provider in the CBHS International network.
How do public hospitals work for OSHC?
All public hospitals in Australia have a 24-hour emergency and casualty department where you can get help after hours and on the weekend. People waiting in emergency are assessed and treated based on the seriousness of their medical condition. The patients with the most urgent problems are seen and treated first. If you attend the emergency department with a less serious medical condition, you may need to wait a long time to be treated and you could have a large out-of-pocket expense. You should only go to a public hospital emergency department if it is a medical emergency. If you are unsure call 1300 174 538 to get help.
What is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)?
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is an Australian Government program that subsidises some prescription medicines to make them more affordable for residents. Generally, overseas visitors to Australia are not eligible for subsidised prescription medication under the PBS. Overseas visitors from countries with which Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) are also eligible to access the PBS.
What happens after I join?
It’s important that you contact us when you arrive in Australia so that we can start your cover correctly. After you arrive in Australia, you’ll receive your membership cards and detailed information about your level of cover and what it includes.
How do I make a complaint?
Your feedback is very important to us so please
contact us immediately if you have a concern so that we can help you.
If we can’t help you or you are unsatisfied with our response, you can contact the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (PHIO). The PHIO provides free independent service to help consumers with health insurance problems and enquires.
How do I contact CBHS International Health?
If you need assistance with your cover or to help navigate the Australian health system, then you can contact CBHS International Health either by email at
oshc@cbhscorp.com.au or telephone our call centre on 1300 174 538.
How do I receive my claims benefits payment?
If you have paid for the benefit and it’s claimable on services you’re covered for, we will pay directly to your Australian bank account. If you have not paid for the service, then your General Practitioner/Doctor will be reimbursed.
Issuing Refunds
If we do not have your bank account details on file, we will attempt to contact you by email twice over a period of 60 days to request your bank account details. If we do not receive a response from you within 60 days, we will hold the amount of the refund (less an administration fee), pending contact from you. We'll keep your details on file for seven years after cancelling your membership, and you may contact us to claim your refund at any point during this time.
Can I receive a refund by foreign transfer?
If you don’t have an Australian bank account, we can process the refund via foreign transfer less the bank’s foreign transaction fee of $37.00 (AUD). If the refund amount due is less than $50 (AUD), foreign transfer is not an option. In this case, CBHS International will apply the refund as an administration fee.
