An important requirement of your student visa is that you have adequate Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) while you are studying in Australia. As a full-fee paying overseas student, your original tuition fees will have included an additional charge for visa length OSHC.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have OSHC coverage for the entire time you are in Australia. Make sure you don’t let it expire!
OSHC covers you for visits to the doctor, some hospital treatment, emergency ambulance cover, as well as limited cover for medicines. You can buy more insurance to cover these extras if you wish.
If you need to go to the doctor or seek health treatment while you are here, you can visit your nearest clinic or general medical practice. Make sure you bring your OSHC card with you, and then make an insurance claim later (see more detail below). UniSA has a range of community clinics and the Magill Allied Health Clinic that you can also visit.
Check with whoever is providing your insurance for their advice on visiting the doctor, their claims procedure and what you are covered for.
The following videos will help you better understand the health system in Australia. To watch in languages other than English, visit the Bupa website.
Bupa is UniSA's preferred OSHC provider.
You can meet with a Bupa representative on campus or at one of their retail stores:
Bupa on campus support person |
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| Wednesday | 9:30am - 4:45pm | City West Campus Campus Central Level 2, Jeffrey Smart Building 217-243 Hindley Street, Adelaide |
| Thursday | 9:30am - 4:45pm | Mawson Lakes Campus Campus Central, Ground Floor Building C, Sir Eric Neal Library, Mawson Lakes |
| Friday | 9:30am - 4:30pm | City East Campus Campus Central 3rd Floor Playford Building, Frome Road, Adelaide |
You are free to choose an OSHC provider of your choice. For information about other OSHC providers see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at the Department of Health.
Note: If you enrolled before December 2015, your OSHC provider may be Allianz Global Assistance
For detail on what you are covered for and any exclusions (dental and optical treatment aren’t included, for example) visit the Bupa website.
If the University has arranged OSHC on your behalf, you will be covered from the date you arrive in Australia. You can order your OSHC card online when you are in Australia. If you need to access medical services but have not yet received your OSHC card, you can print a temporary certificate from the Bupa OSHC website.
If you have arranged your OSHC with another insurance provider, you must contact your provider directly for information regarding your membership.
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, ensure that you keep the doctor’s receipt.
To claim a refund from Bupa, speak to a Campus Support Person at your UniSA campus. Bupa also have a number of retail stores conveniently located near UniSA campuses:
There are three ways to claim a refund for Allianz Global Assistance:
If you are in Australia and hold a Student Visa from the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia, Italy or New Zealand, you are covered by Medicare. Students from Norway, Finland, Malta and the Republic of Ireland are not covered by the agreements with those countries.
Note: With the exception of students from Belgium, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden it is a condition of your Student Visa that you purchase OSHC.
Visit Medicare.
For general health information and referral to local health services contact Healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222. This is a FREE 24-hour telephone health advice line. Calls are answered by Registered Nurses who can provide expert health advice about any health issue and what you can do next.
If you are an overseas Student and have finished your studies you can join the Bupa – University of South Australia Overseas Visitor plan. This applies if you are applying for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485 or Visa 457) visit the Bupa website.
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