Pricing is based on a single individual living in the State of New South Wales on a visa and is not from a country that Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with and is not eligible for cover under Medicare. Prices are accurate for 2020 but are subject to change.
The Australian healthcare system is a hybrid model meaning citizens need both public and private healthcare in order to receive comprehensive cover. Medicare, the public healthcare system, covers most Australian's healthcare.
But Medicare doesn't cover everything. You can choose to take out private health insurance to give yourself a wider range of health care options and more comprehensive cover.
There are two types of health insurance: hospital and general treatment (also known as extras). Extras aren't covered under Medicare so it's particularly important for people to have this.
Australia also has a special system of health cover for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It'll help you pay for medical or hospital care you may need while you're studying here.
"If applicants are required to provide evidence of their health insurance arrangements, any the following may be considered acceptable, unless a particular visa subclass instruction requires other specific information:
Family members applying separately from the primary visa applicant or visa holder must produce evidence as per above, which clearly indicates that they, as dependant applicants, will be covered upon arrival in Australia by a policy with an adequate level of cover."
OSHC can cover the same hospital and out-of-hospital treatments that are covered by Medicare, including accommodation, certain prosthetic devices and a shared ward in a private hospital.
If you need surgery or treatment in hospital, OSHC can help pay towards the cost of doctor, surgeon and specialist fees.
It can pay for the costs of an ambulance in an emergency. Ambulance services aren't generally free in Australia.
OSHC contributes towards the cost of most prescription medicines (for example, $50 per script with a limit of $300 per year) and GP consultations if you need to see a doctor.
Many OSHC policies also cover a wider range of treatments, including out-of-hospital services such as optical and dental.
You're not required to have OSHC if you're a student from Belgium, Norway or Sweden thanks to a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) Australia has with these countries.
RHCA are designed to help visitors cover emergency medical costs or access medical attention that can't wait until they've returned home. Most students however, won't be covered. This means you could find yourself substantially out of pocket. Hospital fees can be over $1000.
Having reciprocal access to Medicare does not exempt you from needing to take out OSHC so you still may be required to take out cover.
Insurance can be confusing when you first arrive in Australia but only health insurance is compulsory – others can be good to have depending on your situation.
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