Overseas Student Health Cover
It is a condition of your student visa that you, and any dependent family members, maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your studies. Your health cover provides access to health services and public hospitals in Australia. CQUniversity’s preferred OSHC provider is Bupa.
For the University to arrange your OSHC policy with our preferred provider (Bupa), you will need to pay the amount listed on your Offer of Admission. We will list your OSHC policy information on your Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) which you will use when you apply for your student visa.
If you wish to arrange your own OSHC, you must select an approved insurer and provide evidence of purchase and duration of cover before we will issue you with a COE. You will also need to provide this documentation when submitting your student visa application. The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman website provides a list of approved insurers.
OSHC exemptions
Please note the following students are considered to have adequate health insurance and do not need to purchase OSHC:
- Norwegian students covered by the National Insurance Scheme
- Swedish students who have insurance provided by Kammarkkllegiet and
- Belgian students
For the University to arrange your OSHC policy with our preferred provider (Bupa), you will need to pay the amount listed on your Offer of Admission. We will list your OSHC policy information on your Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) which you will use when you apply for your student visa.
If you wish to arrange your own OSHC, you must select an approved insurer and provide evidence of purchase and duration of cover before we will issue you with a COE. You will also need to provide this documentation when submitting your student visa application. The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman website provides a list of approved insurers.
Once you’ve updated your address in myBupa and have arrived in Australia, you will need to order your OSHC membership card which is necessary to use your health cover. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Login to myBupa
- Click the 'cover' option in the menu on the home page
- Then select 'order a membership card'
- Check your contact details are correct
- Then select 'order'
All OSHC insurers must provide a minimum level of cover that is equivalent to the coverage provided by Medicare to Australian citizens. Some providers may offer extra services.
Find out more about what is covered by Bupa’s OSHC.
There are some costs that are not covered by OSHC insurers. These may include treatment for pre-existing conditions or pregnancy-related treatment. Please check your policy to learn more about what your OSHC insurer does/does not cover.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, you should visit a hospital or dial 000. You should not visit a hospital for general medical questions or concerns. If you need to visit a doctor, you will need to call to make an appointment. To find a doctor or clinic, check the Yellow Pages directory under Doctors or Medical Practitioners.
Bupa members can access Blua, a 24/7 virtual doctors service with 100% of costs covered for Bupa International members.
If you are covered by another OSHC provider, check their website to see whether they have similar arrangements with local doctors. Medical Centres not aligned with your OSHC provider will charge you the doctor's fee and the government fee component. In these situations, you will need to pay the total amount, keep the receipt and claim the government fee back from your OSHC provider.
