Griffith University

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

As a condition of your student visa, you are required to obtain and maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa. This is separate to your tuition charges.

For your convenience, Griffith University automatically arranges health insurance for all students except Norwegian and Swedish students through its preferred provider, OSHC Worldcare. (Norwegian and most Swedish students have separate health care coverage through their own Governments).

OSHC Worldcare health insurance covers up to 85% and 100% of scheduled fees for most medical services outside hospital and 100% of scheduled fees in public hospitals. It is important to know that OSHC Worldcare insurance does not cover all medical bills. It does not cover dental services, optical services (glasses and contact lenses), pre-exisiting conditions, pregnancy, inoculations and pre-existing conditions (for the first 12 months of your policy). If you wish to include optical and dental expenses in your cover, you may choose to pay a little extra for Worldcare Student Plus.

Evidence of your OSHC must be provided at the time of student visa application. All international students are offered single health insurance cover in their offer letter. However, if you wish to purchase family cover you may indicate this prior to or when you accept your offer. Details of your OSHC cover will then be stated on your Confirmation of Enrolment Form (COE) to be submitted with your student visa application.

• If your family (i.e. spouse and dependent children under 18 years of age) join you after you arrive in Australia, they will need to have OSHC cover also for the duration of their visa. If you have a single OSHC policy and you have a child born in Australia, you will need to change to a family policy prior to your family being born.

• If you wish to have alternative health insurance (ie not OSHC Worldcare) you must select an approved insurer and provide evidence of purchase and duration of cover when submitting your student visa application. See a list of OSHC insurers on:

http://www.health.gov.au/Overseas Student Health Cover - FAQ

To obtain your OSHC membership card after your arrival, you will need to have an Australian address. Follow these three easy steps to order your card online after your arrival.

1. Go to www.oshcworldcare.com.au and log into the student section using your student number, family name and date of birth. Click on “Order a membership card”
2. Enter your current Australian address or check that the existing address is correct.
3. Click on “Order a new membership card”.

Your membership card and Policy document will be posted to your mailing address within 5 working days. For more information about OSHC Worldcare health cover visit: www.oshcworldcare.com.au

Helpful OSHC Worldcare representatives are available for consultations and to process claims at the following locations and times. You are welcome to visit any of these staff on these locations even if you do not study on that campus.

Special notes:

• If you extend the length of your visa you will also need to renew your OSHC policy.
• Students on a bridging visa are also required to maintain OSHC cover.
• If you are a Swedish student who is not covered by CSN International or Kammarkollegiet, you will need to take out OSHC.