The Macquarie University Medical Service provides a comprehensive general practitioner service to all members of the University community through University Counselling and Health Services (UCHS), located on Level 2 of the Lincoln Student Services Building. For more information please visit the UCHS website: www.sss.mq.edu.au/medical.
You will need your Macquarie University ID card as well as your Worldcare card to verify you have Overseas Student Health Cover when visiting a Medical Service on or off campus.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) helps international students cover the medical costs.
OSHC Worldcare is Macquarie University's chosen provider of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). All international students must take out OSHC as a condition of their student visa and Macquarie University arranges payment of OSHC to Worldcare when you pay your fees and before you are issued with your Confirmation of Enrolment.
For the latest pricing please visit the OSHC Worldcare website: www.oshcworldcare.com.au
Note: If your family is accompanying you to Australia, you must take out the family rate of cover. Note these fees may change, please confirm the costs on the following website: www.oshcworldcare.com.au under "Information" toolbar.
Pay your OSHC fee to Macquarie International. This is usually paid with your tuition fees. Your OSHC membership card will be available within four weeks for you to register on the website: www.oshcworldcare.com.au.
All international students are covered from the date they arrive in Australia. However, you will not be able to be reimbursed for any medical expenses until you have actually received your Worldcare card and membership number. Remember to retain any receipts for medical treatment so that you can be refunded when you receive your card.
OSHC covers treatment by a doctor, either in a public hospital or in a doctor's surgery. It also covers pathology and radiology services (x-rays and blood tests), eyesight testing performed by an optometrist, transport by ambulance to a hospital in an emergency, and a limited amount towards the cost of prescription medication.
In a public hospital, OSHC provides 100% cover for treatment by a hospital-appointed doctor and full cover in a shared ward. You will only need to make a payment if the doctor or any of the medical services charge a rate above the government scheduled fee.
For further details please visit http://www.oshcworldcare.com.au.
Directly pay the doctor straight after the consultation, and be sure you receive a receipt.
If the claim amount is less than $75, you can claim it on-campus with vouchers redeemable for cash at Australia Post outlets. Otherwise claim the receipt from OSHC Worldcare by their website: www.oshcworldcare.com.au or by mail. You will need to mail your receipt for medical treatment when making your claim. Your claim will refunded either by direct deposit into your bank account or by cheque.
It is essential to maintain your health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. Payment can be made for three, six, or twelve months, or the duration of your visa. After the first year in Australia, it is your responsibility to renew your health insurance with OSHC Worldcare, or take out insurance with another OSHC provider. We advise you to begin the process of renewal several weeks before the expiry date of your OSHC (printed on your card).
To renew your OSHC with Worldcare, visit the miShop on Level 1, Building E3A or renew online on www.oshcworldcare.com.au by credit card.
Students from Norway and Sweden are not required to have OSHC. The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) began issuing new and subsequent student visas on this basis to Norwegians from 12 March 1999 and to Swedes from 1 June 1999.
Macquarie’s preferred OSHC provider, OSHC Worldcare does not insure Swedish or Norwegian students under OSHC, unless they can provide proof that they are not eligible for their own country’s cover.
While in Australia, students from Norway and Sweden may choose to be insured through institutions nominated by their respective governments. These are comprehensive worldwide insurance policies offered by the Norwegian and Swedish Governments as part of their foreign study programs: Norway - National Insurance Scheme, Sweden - CSN International.
All claims must be made directly to the insurer. Students must make payment for medical services up front at the time the service is received. Students who are unable to pay up front may be able to arrange payment from the insurer. Insurance documents issued to the students contain claiming details and addresses. Students receive no benefits through Medicare or other OSHC providers when covered in this manner. Norwegians may also contact their Embassy or Consulate for assistance in claiming.
Most Swedes studying abroad apply for financial assistance from CSN International, the Swedish International Board of Student Aid. Part of this grant, plus loan is for health insurance and is repaid in a similar way to HECS. Those enrolled only for English language courses, however, do not qualify for CSN assistance.
For health insurance, CSN uses international brokers, AON, to supply policies from contracted insurers – Folksam and Skandia. Claims for medical costs are made directly to the individual insurers, or to a central claims office at SOS International in Denmark. While this insurance is not compulsory, most Swedish students purchase it as a matter of course. They meet certain minimum benefit levels for medical treatment required by CSN, which are regarded as adequate for a stay in Australia.
| Name: | Skandia Insurance Co Ltd |
|---|---|
| Address: | SE-103 50 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Tel: | 46 8788 3660 |
| E-mail: | csn.g683169@skandia.se |
| Name: | SOS International A/S |
|---|---|
| Address: | Nitivej 6 DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark |
| Tel: | 45 7010 5050 |
| Fax: | 45 7010 5056 |
| Telephone: | within Australia: 13 14 84 for sales and enquiries free phone within Australia: 1800 651 349 for claims free phone within Australia: 1800 814 781 for emergencies outside Australia: 61 7 3371 8928 |
|---|---|
| Email: | oshc@worldcare.com.au |
| Web Address: | http://www.oshcworldcare.com.au/ |
If Your OSHC membership has expired:
A student fell down a set of stairs. The student was taken to a public hospital. The hospital requested their OSHC membership. The student did not have one. The student was liable for the $5,000 medical cost charged by the hospital.
If the student had kept their cover valid there would have been no charge to the student.
1. What happens if I do not renew my policy?
It is a condition of your student visa to maintain your OSHC. If your cover expires and you do not renew, your details can be sent to DIAC, and your student visa may be cancelled. OSHC Worldcare provides discounts to students who purchase cover for longer than 12 months to avoid your cover expiring. This can be a saving of approximately $105 for a 3 year cover.
2. Can you supply a comprehensive schedule of premium costs?
This is readily available in our brochures and on our website – http://www.oshcworldcare.com.au
How to Change Your Provider to Worldcare
If You currently have cover with Medibank or another OSHC provider and you want to change to Worldcare OSHC, you need to:
A student has 6 months cover, before their current OSHC with Medibank expires. The student wishes to transfer to Worldcare. The student changes providers by, buying a Worldcare OSHC membership. They then advise Medibank of their current cover with Worldcare and show evidence of their existing cover. They are then able to request and obtain a refund from Medibank for the remaining 6 months.
1. How long after my cover has lapsed, can I pay to continue cover?
You will have to pay the money owing for the lapsed period premiums to ensure the continuous OSHC and not be in breach of your visa conditions.
2. Do I need to serve any waiting periods?
As long as you have been in Australia and had OSHC for 12 months or more, you will not need to serve any waiting periods.
3. Are there any exceptions?
There are certain specific exceptions which is applicable to all OSHC providers. Please refer to the Policy document for further information.
If you have not received your membership card, or if you have changed your address, or if you lost or misplaced your current membership card, you need to immediately:
A student arrived to study in Australia during the educational institutions orientation period. The student has a receipt that clearly indicates that OSHC was allocated. The student uses the on-line facility to request a new membership card.
1. What happens if I enter my name & date of birth and my policy is not found?
There may be a few reasons why your policy is not found. The institution may:
Contact your institution or on-site Worldcare representative to investigate your situation further.
2. I requested a new membership card and have not yet received it?
Cards are reproduced and sent within 5 working days. If it has been more than 5 working days, contact Worldcare via email (through the web site) or telephone 13 67 42 to investigate further.
3. I am having difficulty using the on-line registration facility, who can help?
You can contact Worldcare via telephone 13 67 42 and obtain assistance in using the update your details facility. They are able to use interpreter services in your language to explain the facility. Alternatively you can use the support facilities available at your institution.
1. A student currently holds a 2 year policy and leaves Australia in December 2005, for a period of two (2) months during the policy period. The current expiry date is November 2006. Once the student has confirmation of eligibility, the cover is extended to January 2007.
2. A student has valid OSHC Worldcare with an expiry date of December 2005. The student returns home for the period November 2005 to January 2006. The student did not renew their cover before they left Australia. Before the student applies for "Holiday Credit", they must renew and backdate their original policy to December 05. The Holiday Credit will then be added to the end of the student renewed policy.
1. Can I obtain a refund of unused cover?
A refund can only be received when you leave Australia permanently and have ceased study in Australia. You cannot obtain a refund for the "holiday credit", during your course of study.
2. How will I know my new expiry date?
Once the information has been sent to OSHC Worldcare, a new card will be sent to you. Alternatively if you have not received your card, you can order a membership card online (www.oshcworldcare.com.au) at no cost. Your new membership card will reflect the change in expiry date.
3. Can I receive an extension if I was away for 25 days?
No, your return date to Australia must be day 30.
