Starting your study abroad journey in Australia is a major milestone. Before students arrive, they must arrange for medical coverage during their stay in Australia. This protects them in case of an illness or injury, and is also required for their student visa. Indian international students in Australia must purchase health insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover) and should consider getting travel insurance.
The right coverage protects students from high medical bills and ensures they can focus on their studies.
This article explains the differences between travel and health insurance for Indian students in Australia, and offers guidance which can help students prepare. Remember, insurance requirements and coverage details often change. Always verify current insurance requirements with the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the insurance provider.
Intro to Travel Insurance
Travel insurance helps to protect students and their valuables while they're travelling to and from Australia. However, travel insurance isn’t required in order to study in Australia.
Many travel insurance plans include:
- Reimbursement for loss, damage, or destruction of personal belongings (if the student's laptop is damaged during their flight, this can cover repairing or replacing it)
- Medical care after an illness or accident, which can be combined with Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) coverage
- The cost of bringing someone to stay with the student if they're in the hospital
- Personal liability up to a set amount
- Compensation for trip disruption (flight delays, weather)
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation if the student must travel for medical treatment
When choosing a travel insurance plan, students should think about what they want coverage for, and look at how each plan meets their needs. Not all travel insurance plans cover the same things.
Most students will buy travel insurance from a provider in their home country. However, some OSHC providers offer optional travel insurance add-ons with their health insurance plans.
Should Students Get Travel Insurance?
While not mandatory, travel insurance is a recommended investment. It can protect international students from financial losses caused by delays, cancellations, lost belongings, or medical emergencies during their international travel. Some students may already have access to travel insurance through their credit cards, so checking these benefits beforehand is helpful.
Intro to Student Health Insurance
Health insurance, in the form of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), is mandatory for all international students. OSHC covers most basic medical expenses within Australia.
Basic OSHC coverage usually includes:
- Doctor (general or family practitioner) visits
- Hospital treatment in public hospitals or agreement private hospitals
- Emergency ambulance services nationwide
- Some prescription medications
Indian students can add dental, optical, or physiotherapy service coverage by buying either the “Extras OSHC” plan or a separate private health insurance plan.
OSHC Doesn’t Cover:
- Dental care
- Optical services (glasses, contact lenses, eye exams)
- Physiotherapy
- Chiropractic treatment
- Cosmetic surgery
- Treatment outside Australia
Purchasing OSHC
Students must apply for OSHC before applying for their visa, as they will need to show proof of OSHC during their visa application. OSHC coverage must last through the student's entire stay in Australia. If their health insurance coverage lapses, it can lead to automatic student visa cancellation.
Students may purchase OSHC through any government-approved OSHC provider registered in Australia. They include: ahm OSHC, Allianz Care Australia (Peoplecare), BUPA Australia, CBHS International Health, Medibank Private, and nib.
Any family members joining the student in Australia must have OSHC coverage for their entire stay, too. The insurance policy must list the names of all covered individuals, matching the names on their passports exactly.
After the insurance policy is activated, use the provider’s mobile app to access health services quickly. On the app, students can access digital membership cards, make quick claim submissions, and get a list of clinic locations.
Travel Tip: When arriving in Australia, students should keep their OSHC documents in their carry-on luggage for easy access at the port of entry. As a backup, they should also save a digital copy of all insurance documents locally on their phone.
Preparing for the Student Visa Health Exam
Although it's not directly tied to insurance, while on the topic of health and wellness requirements, students staying longer than six months must complete a standard health check. This includes a medical exam, a chest x-ray, and a serum creatinine/eGFR test (to check kidney function) through an approved panel doctor.
If students are studying front-line health care courses (medicine, nursing, dentistry, or paramedic studies) or childcare courses, or will be working part-time in those environments, they must complete additional tests. If they're not sure which tests are needed, they can ask their academic institution's admissions team.
In order for the medical exam results to be eligible for their visa application, the exam must be conducted by a panel doctor who has been approved by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, via the eMedical system. You can view the official list of government-approved doctors on the Australian government's Department of Home Affairs website.
Insurance Ensures Students Start their Study Journey Smoothly
Having the right insurance coverage is a crucial part of becoming an international student in Australia. Every insurance plan offers different benefits. Compare your options carefully to find the best fit. Your school’s international office can help you choose the right coverage.
With proper insurance in place, international students can begin their academic journey in Australia with greater peace of mind.
(The author is Head of Integrated Marketing, ApplyBoard)
