Consultation paper: Improving the Overseas Student Health Cover Program - February 2022

Overview

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is health insurance specifically for overseas students and their dependents whilst they are in Australia. It includes coverage for medical and hospital care, ambulance services, and some pharmaceutical items.

The Department of Health administers the Deed for the Provision of Overseas Student Health Cover. The Deed sets out the conditions in which registered Australian private health insurers signed to the Deed must comply with to offer OSHC products and policies. 

Why your views matter

The Department of Health is requesting input from stakeholders to assist with improving the Overseas Student Health Cover program. Two consultation areas are outlined in the Issues Paper: 

1. Revise the Deed clauses and ensure that it is clear and consistent in setting out the requirements of OSHC insurers signed to the Deed.
2. Adopt the terminology and definitions of the established clinical categories for hospital treatment. 

The Issues Paper contains questions for consideration at the end of each section. These questions are intended as a guide. Submissions should not be limited to responses to these questions.

The Department welcomes all feedback, including additional measures to address issues detailed in this paper.

Please email your responses to OSHC@health.gov.au by 1 April 2022.