Learning Connection
It is an important requirement of your student visa that you have adequate health cover while you are studying in Australia. This information site provides answers to questions that International Students often ask about health cover. It also provides you with other sources of information about health cover.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship requires all international students on student visas and their families (on ‘dependent’ visas) to pay for health insurance during their stay in Australia. This insurance is called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
Department of Immigration and Citizenship website
Overseas Student Health Cover is provided by a number of different health care agencies. OSHC Worldcare is currently the University’s preferred provider.
OSHC Worldcare website: www.oshcworldcare.com.au
Students are not obliged to purchase OSHC from OSHC Worldcare. For information about other OSHC providers please refer to the Department of Health and Ageing website.
If you are a full-fee paying overseas student (FPOS), the fees that you pay to the University through UniSA International includes an additional charge for an OSHC payment.
For further information contact UniSA International, 101 Currie St, Adelaide. Telephone: 8302 0114 or email.
Program length cover is OSHC that covers you for the duration of your program of study in Australia. By having PLC, you will not have to renew your OSHC each year. PLC will also ensure that you maintain the OSHC requirements of your student visa.
OSHC Worldcare offer discounts for program length cover for all policies over 12 months duration. As an OSHC Woldcare member, you will be protected from future OSHC premium increases and ultimately you will pay less for OSHC for the whole of your program of study.
If you already have health cover from previous study in Australia, you need to advise staff at Learning Connection on any campus.
For further information contact staff at Learning Connection, City West Campus. Telephone: 8302 0630. Email: healthcover@unisa.edu.au
When you need to renew your health cover, you can go to Campus Central on any campus and make a payment to renew your Overseas Student Health Cover.
Your payment will then be forwarded by staff at Learning Connection, to OSHC Worldcare. You will receive an email to advise when your new OSHC card is available for collection from Learning Connection on your home campus.
Please note that Campus Central will only take payments for the University's preferred provider - OSHC Worldcare. If you wish to purchase health cover with another provider you will need to contact them directly yourself.
Please remember: It is your responsibility to renew your health cover before the expiry date shown on your OSHC card.
As of 1 January 2006 it is an Australian Government requirement that you maintain overseas student health cover throughout the duration of your stay in Australia under a student visa. If your OSHC policy has expired you must make a renewal payment to cover the lapsed period. For example, if your OSHC expiry date was 14 Feb 2006 and, on 10 Feb 2007, you want to renew for another 6 months you will have to pay 18 months OSHC. This includes 12 months back pay plus 6 months renewal. You will not be required to re-serve waiting periods to receive future benefits but will be liable for any medical costs incurred during the period of lapsed cover.
If you are a new student, your card may be available for collection during orientation to UniSA for International Students. If not, you will be sent an email advising you that your OSHC card is ready for collection from Learning Connection on your campus.
You need to take your OSHC card with you whenever you see a doctor. The doctor may ask you to pay for the full cost of the visit. If this happens, you should ensure that you keep the doctor’s receipt.
There are three ways to make a claim for a refund from OSHC Worldcare. You can either:
Sales and Enquires: 13 14 84
OSHC Worldcare claims hotline: 1800 651 349 (free call)
Direct billing is an arrangement between a health insurance provider and a doctor (or other medical facility), where the doctor sends bills for services directly to your health insurance company. This means that you do not have to put in a separate claim with your insurance company.
For a list of clinics who are direct billing contact Learning Connection.
Health cover email: healthcover@unisa.edu.au
If you need to see a doctor before you receive your card, you will still be covered. Your health cover is valid from the date you arrive in Australia. If this happens, you will need to pay the doctor, keep your receipt and claim a refund once you receive your card.
There is a 12 month waiting period for pre-existing conditions. OSHC benefits are not payable in the first 12 months after arrival in Australia where the treatment is for a medical condition in existence prior to that arrival . Please consult your policy document or OSHC Worldcare for further details.
Overseas Student Health Cover Worldcare provides for basic medical treatment at public hospitals and for part of the treatment at private hospitals. It will cover you for 100% of the Australian Government's recommended fee for doctor’s visits as well as a 24 hour emergency telephone assistance service.
There are some limitations to the coverage. For more details, consult the OSHC Worldcare Policy document which you will have received with your OSHC card. Additional copies of the Policy document are available from Learning Connection on your campus.
OSHC Worldcare 24 hour telephone assistance number: 1800 814 781
Yes. If you need to take a leave of absence from your program, you may apply for your OSHC to be suspended for the duration of time that you are out of Australia. You can ONLY apply for suspension of your overseas student health cover once you return to Australia. You MUST apply within 30 days of your return to Australia.
Please bring a copy of your passport, with proof of your departure and arrival dates, to Learning Connection on any campus. You will need to show a copy of your passport to the Administration Officer at Learning Connection. Once this information is sighted, the Administration Officer will ensure that your details are forwarded to OSHC Worldcare. You can expect to receive a new OSHC Worldcare card with an extended expiry date.
For further information, please visit Learning Connection on your home campus.
If you are a Worldcare member and you will be leaving Australia for a period of one month (30 days) or greater you can apply for an extension to your OSHC card expiry date. Within one month (30days) of your return to Adelaide take your passport, boarding passes or travel ticket to the Administration Officer at Learning Connection on your home campus. Your departure and arrival dates will then be confirmed and forwarded to Worldcare OSHC Administration.
Your policy will be extended for the period that you are out of Australia. A new OSHC card with a new expiry date will be issued to you.
You must have current valid membership to be eligible for this extension.
Questions about holiday credit may be directed to staff at Learning Connection, City West Campus. Telephone: 8302 0630. Email: healthcover@unisa.edu.au
You will not need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) if you provide evidence that you are a:
If you are a Swedish or Norwegian student you may choose to use OSHC instead of your national scheme.
If you complete your program of study early, please be aware that UniSA has a legal obligation to notify the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of your completion date. From your completion date, you will then have 28 days to either leave the country or change your visa type. As Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is linked to your student visa you will need to cancel your OSHC and take out another form of health cover, such as Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC).
If you would like more information or advice on OVHC please contact the Overseas Health Cover email: healthcover@unisa.edu.au
Students who have applied for a permanent resident visa may be eligible for health cover with Medicare. For further information please visit any Medicare office or the Medicare website.
Any questions about Overseas Student Health Cover can be directed to staff at Learning Connection, City West Campus. Telephone: 8302 0630. Email: healthcover@unisa.edu.au
More information about Overseas Student Health Cover
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