What is a Student Health Cover?
Most universities overseas require students to hold some form of health insurance. For some countries, like Australia, getting insurance is a necessary requirement for your student visa.
Why is health insurance so important for international students? Especially as a student living in a foreign country, away from home, a student health cover gives you a measure of security by covering medical expenses, such as:
- Hospital stays
- Doctor visits
- Medical emergencies (such as ambulance services)
- Prescription medicine bills
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) – Australia
The Australian government mandates the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) as a requirement for your student visa application. At minimum, the OSHC must cover:
- Doctor visits
- Some treatments at a hospital
- Ambulance costs
- Prescription medicine bills for certain medicines
National Health Services (NHS) – UK
As an international student in the UK, you don’t need to apply for private health insurance. You are eligible for free healthcare services under the National Health Service (NHS), the UK’s state provider for healthcare.
Students who are applying for visas to study in the UK for six months or longer pay an immigration health surcharge of £470 annually. This entitles you to NHS services at no additional cost. These services cover doctor visits and medical treatments. Be sure to register with a GP as soon as you can after arriving in the UK.
To understand your healthcare rights under your UK student visa, get in touch with us today.
Student Health Insurance in Canada
In Canada, the public healthcare system is administered at the provincial level. As such, how you access healthcare as an international student will depend on the province you are studying in. Some provinces extend access to public healthcare services by issuing international students the relevant health card.
In other provinces, students must arrange their own private health insurance. Universities in these provinces may have specific requirements for international students to access healthcare insurance. For example, in Manitoba, students at the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, and Brandon University can access the Manitoba International Student Health Plan (MISHP).
Student Health Insurance in the USA
International students don’t have access to universal healthcare in the USA. As a result, universities often require students to arrange their own health insurance.
In some cases, universities may offer group plans for international students to purchase basic private healthcare coverage.
