Health & dental
Staying healthy in Australia is relatively easy for international visitors. There are plenty of health facilities and professionals available to assist you during your stay. If you have special health requirements or problems remember to bring your medication and a doctor's explanatory letter if possible. Some medications may require a doctor's prescription. If you require ongoing prescriptions please discuss this with your doctor and bring any relevant records with you.
International students are required to take compulsory medical insurance. We will assist you in arranging your insurance. Overseas Student Health Cover covers you, your spouse and dependant children if they accompany you to Australia. Cover is provided for medical and hospital care within Australia from the date of your arrival until the end of your stay in Australia. For more information please visit Medibank Health Private. The current cost of health insurance is approximately AUD$493 (single) or AUD$986 (family) for 17 months. Your Overseas Student Health Cover normally covers all charges in a shared ward in any public hospital, ambulance service and a rebate of 85% of the government scheduled fee for a consultation with a general practitioner or a specialist. If you are charged more than the scheduled fee, you will be required to pay the difference. Cover also includes pathology services such as blood tests and X-rays.
In the event of illness, you will need to show your Medibank Private card to the doctor or hospital treating you. Medibank Private gives you two options for the payment of accounts: you can pay the bill and then be refunded in cash (up to certain cash limits) or by cheque from Medibank Private; or you can give Medibank Private the unpaid account and they will send you a cheque made payable to the doctor (or ambulance service). You should send this cheque to the doctor (or ambulance provider) together with your payment for any additional amount above the Medibank benefit. Some doctors (including the University of Melbourne Health Service ) have a special billing arrangement with Medibank Private; whereby the account is sent directly to Medibank Private and then the cheque is paid directly to the doctor (you don't have to do anything else).
If you get sick the University of Melbourne's Health Service offers services in general practice, occupational health, psychiatry, dentistry and emergency services. This service is located conveniently within 5 minutes walk of the business school. There are male and female doctors in the practice and you may also see a nurse. The University Health Service “Bulk-Bills” patients wherever possible, meaning no charge to the patient for the consultation in most instances. When you present your valid Medicare or Medibank Private card, these entities pay the doctor directly. Certain consultations, such as medical examinations for insurance purposes or diving medicals, are not covered under this scheme and you will need to pay by cash or credit card. For more information please refer to www.services.unimelb.edu.au/health or telephone + 61 3 8344 6904 / 6905.
Melbourne Business School is very close to a number of major hospitals including the Royal Melbourne Hospital (public), St Vincent 's Hospital (public and private) and the Royal Women's Hospital (public and private). The telephone number for an ambulance is 000.
For Dental services please visit the student union dental service at www.union.unimelb.edu.au/dental or telephone +61 3 8344 7234.
