Health and Medical services outside the University of Adelaide

As an international student with current overseas health cover, you can access health and medical services outside the University.

If you visit a doctor outside the University, however, you may not be refunded for the full fee amount. In Australia, doctors are allowed to charge what they feel is reasonable for their services, and most doctors charge more than the 'scheduled' fee. The Australian Government sets a schedule of standard fees for medical services provided by doctors, pathology, and x-rays - this is usually called the 'scheduled' fee or the 'bulk billed' fee. Always ask before you make an appointment if the practice charges the scheduled fee or bulk bills. If the answer is no, you need to ask how much it will cost you to visit the doctor. All standard OSHC policies will cover 85% of the 'scheduled' fee.

You may wish to visit a doctor near where you live. In Australia, a doctor is often referred to as a GP (General Practitioner) or MP (Medical Practitioner). A list of doctors names, locations and phone numbers can be found in the Yellow Pages Telephone Directory, L-Z, under Medical Practitioners - Locality Guide for the nearest medical centre in your suburb.

Some doctors' clinics are open 7 days. However, they do NOT provide a 24-hour service. Check the Yellow Pages for details of an after-hours service near you.

For a list of doctors within the Adelaide metropolitan region who speak a second language, please contact the International Student Centre. Telephone 8303 4828.

Public Hospitals

Each public hospital has a 24-hour Emergency and Casualty department where you may seek help after hours and during weekends. Expect to wait a long time to see a doctor at a public hospital unless of course it is an emergency. You should check the details of your policy benefits regarding treatment in a public hospital with your OSHC provider.

Generally, OSHC covers the total cost of your stay and treatment as an in-patient in a shared ward of a public hospital.

In an emergency, if you do not have your health cover membership card use the ISC emergency contact details to ring an International Student Advisor to assist you to get your membership details.

In an emergency - dial 000

Private Hospitals

Pharmaceuticals / prescriptions

For details of OSHC prescription medicines benefits, visit OSHC Worldcare, or contact your insurance provider.