Studying in Canada as an international student requires covering medical and hospital expenses apart from the university fees, accommodation, etc. Your health is as much a priority as your academic goals. However, Medicare is not provided for international students. Instead, a special health policy in Australia called OSHC or Overseas Student Health Cover has been set up for international applicants.
OSHC is an international student health cover policy that backs you up for the medical and hospital costs. The applicant must ensure to purchase this health policy to be deemed eligible for having medical expenses covered while in Canada.
The international student applicant and their dependent, if any, have to acquire a health policy that covers the academic course duration.
Students who have joined courses of three months or less can acquire a tourist visa and a private international student insurance program that covers this duration.
Best OSHC providers in Canada
International students who study in Canada are obligated to obtain health insurance. For International students, it is an essential requirement included in the cost of studying in Canada. Several Canadian provinces provide free health insurance coverage for international students who reside in their region. To determine whether the university you have been admitted to in Canada provides free health insurance, you can visit the official Canadian immigration website. If the Canadian state where you will be studying does not provide free health insurance coverage, you must obtain health insurance coverage that covers all health issues for the entire duration of your stay. Before applying for your Canadian student visa, you must have health insurance coverage and the insurance certificate that must be presented to your university before the start of your term.
The average annual cost of health insurance premiums ranges from 600 CAD to 900 CAD. This expense must be taken into account when calculating the average cost of studying in Canada.
Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC)
International applicants planning to travel to or work in Canada are expected to apply for the Overseas Visitor Health Cover or OVHC. Several visa categories fall under this policy, namely: