HEALTH INSURANCE

Let us find the right health cover for you

With access to exclusive deals for GT Western students, we’ll get the medical & hospital cover you need for peace of mind while you’re here

Did you know that maintaining health cover is a compulsory requirement?

Deciding to study overseas is exhilarating. You can hardly wait to meet new people, learn about a different culture and take in all these international institutions have to offer. For your parents, it tends to be a bit more nerve-wracking. They want to make sure you’re safe and sound. Overseas insurance is one way to ensure peace of mind. A comprehensive policy – or set of policies – ensures that you and your personal possessions are protected should something happen while abroad. We know securing insurance doesn’t sound as fun as planning out your overseas study adventure or making a bucket list of destinations to visit whilst abroad, but trust us – it’s one of the most important pre-planning tasks standing before you. In fact, many universities make travel insurance mandatory. In Australia, most international student visas require overseas student health cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of study. According to the Australian government there are only three exceptions to this. If you are a:

  • Norwegian student covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
  • Swedish student covered by Kammarkollegiet.
  • Belgian student covered under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia.

General Travel Insurance

It’s advisable to purchase your travel insurance policy as soon as you’ve put down any money for your trip.

General travel insurance often has some level of medical coverage but is more focused on personal belongings, travel plans and accommodation costs. It’s advisable to purchase your travel insurance policy as soon as you’ve put down any money for your trip. That way, you’ll be protected if something goes wrong. There are loads of different options when it comes to general travel insurance and your education agent can almost certainly help you find a suitable policy. As a rule of thumb, look for policies that include coverage of these three basic scenarios:

  • Lost or stolen possessions: Things get lost, valuables get stolen and if they do, your travel insurance can help towards the cost of replacement.
  • Cancellations: If something happens that causes you to cancel your trip or return home early, you can claim back any prepaid fees. Make sure the cancellation cover limit matches the total costs you’re paying for travel.
  • 24/7 assistance:Most policies come with access to an emergency helpline that’s available 24-hours a day. This means that no matter what happens, you’ll have someone on hand to help.

Overseas Student Health Cover

Forgetting to secure your overseas student health cover is no small mistake. As we mentioned earlier, OSHC is required for international students as a core visa requirement (with a few exceptions). Standard OSHC policies provide coverage or partial payment when you:

  • Visit the hospital (including the care of doctors, surgeons or anaesthetists).
  • Schedule a GP or specialist visit.
  • Need to purchase prescription medication.

Having OSHC is the difference between a hefty medical bill and a manageable expense. Without health cover, any kind of professional treatment can get expensive fast. It’s not just about saving money either – if something does go wrong; it will give your family at home peace of mind. They’ll know that someone will be there ready to take care of you without the worry of hefty hospital fees. When travelling overseas you want to make sure you’re covered in case of a medical emergency.

YOUR HEALTH COVER, IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS

Step 1 - We’ll work out which cover is right for you

There are usually a range of options to suit your type of study, location and budget

Step 2 - We’ll get the best price for you

We’ve built strong relationships with industry leading insurers, and can offer exclusive rates for our students, that you’d be unlikely to find anywhere else

Step 3 - When you’re ready, we’ll apply for you

If everything is ok with your visa and course applications, we’ll help you to apply for a health cover policy and make sure it’s ready to go when you get there

Don't risk your visa because of health cover

Without the right health cover your visa could be cancelled, but we’ll make sure you have the right medical & hospital cover for your visa class and that you do everything you need to maintain it while you’re there. If health cover isn’t mandatory for your visa, it’s still a good idea to get comprehensive cover so that you don’t end up significantly out of pocket if something goes wrong. That way, you can relax knowing you’re covered and can enjoy your stay.

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