Please note that the following changes to your OSHC Worldcare policy will take effect from 20 September 2011.

We have described below the new changes that will affect your OSHC policy:
The description of how long you need to be covered by OSHC is changed to reflect that you may purchase OSHC for the proposed duration of your Student Visa, as provided by you to us. This is on the basis that an Overseas Student will be required to provide to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) evidence of continuous coverage by OSHC for the proposed duration of the Student Visa as a condition of being granted a Student Visa for that proposed duration. A definition of 'DIAC' will also be inserted into the OSHC policy document.

The definition of who will be your ‘dependant’, for the purposes of family policies, has changed to a person who is:

(a) your spouse or de facto partner; or
(b) your child or step-child who is unmarried and has not turned 18.

The existing distinction between single and family policies will continue to apply unless you upgrade or renew your policy on or after 1 January 2012. If you do upgrade or renew your policy after this time, the three policy options are:
single – which covers only you;
dual family – which covers you, and either one adult spouse or recognised de facto partner or one or more children or step-children under the age of 18 years who are not married; or
multi family – which covers you and more than one dependant, which can only include one adult spouse or recognised de facto partner and one or more dependant children.

References to ‘treatment for a life-threatening condition’ in the general exclusions section have been removed and there is a new definition of ‘emergency treatment’ meaning the treatment of any of the following conditions:
a risk of serious morbidity or mortality and requiring urgent assessment and resuscitation; or
suspected acute organ or system failure; or
an illness or injury where the viability of function of a body part or organ is acutely threatened; or
a drug overdose, toxic substance or toxin effect; or
psychiatric disturbance whereby the health of the patient or other people is at immediate risk; or
severe pain where the viability or function of a body part or organ is suspected to be acutely threatened; or
acute haemorrhaging and requiring urgent assessment and treatment; or
a condition that requires immediate admission to avoid imminent morbidity or mortality.
No waiting periods will now apply to pre-existing conditions of a psychiatric nature.
For the purpose of determining whether a waiting period applies to a pre-existing condition (other than a pre-existing psychiatric condition), the start of the waiting period is the date you or your Dependant (as the case may be) arrived in Australia (unless your Student Visa was granted later, in which case it is the date on which the Student Visa was granted).
A pre-existing condition is defined as an ailment, illness or condition the signs or symptoms of which, in the opinion of a medical practitioner approved or appointed by us, existed in the period of six months ending on the date on which the waiting period starts (as described above). In forming this opinion, the medical practitioner must have regard to any information in relation to the ailment, illness or condition provided to that medical practitioner by the medical practitioner who treated the ailment, illness or condition. The definitions of 'ailment' and 'illness' in the policy document are deleted.
The exclusion of benefits due to compensation and damages is extended to services and treatment which are covered by compensation or damages, entitlements or payments of any kind.
OSHC Worldcare may only refund premiums for specific reasons. OSHC Worldcare cannot provide a refund if your Student Visa is not extended, is cancelled or a renewal/extension is refused, except where your premium was paid on the basis of an extended stay but the extension of authorised stay was not granted by DIAC.
OSHC Worldcare will be required to inform DIAC when you have your OSHC policy premium refunded or cancel your OSHC policy, as long as you have given us permission to do so.

The good news is that, under your policy, OSHC Worldcare will continue not to apply a waiting period for overseas students who seek benefits for pregnancy-related services, despite DoHA now allowing OSHC providers to impose a waiting period of up to 12 months on pregnancy related benefits. Pregnancy related conditions will continue not to be covered if you are on a student visa of less than three months in duration.

Unless the context requires otherwise, capitalised terms have the meaning set out in the current updated OSHC policy document.

A copy of the current OSHC policy that applies to you, which includes the changes described in this letter, is attached.