Bidan Tsufuk: December 2017

IP Level 2.2

Overseas and Health

by Dewi Erita

Nowadays, a rising number of students are considering of going overseas to study for a degree.

Do you want to continue to study abroad?

What should be prepared?

Other than that, it is important for us to know general information about living abroad, such as housing, money, and health. Housing means anything to do with accommodation. Money is about setting up a bank account and transferring money. Health means registering with a doctor; vaccinations and prescriptions; and other medical advice. Commonly, all of this information are given by university. However, in my opinion, prospective students are supposed to know more about health especially health insurance. Why should we know more about health insurance?

Knowing about health insurance will give us information about how to obtain medical treatment, how to access medical care and how health care works. Actually, health insurance is vary among countries. So, finding out about this is recommended. First, I will look at the general information. Later, I plan to give brief information about health insurance for international students in several countries. Finally, I will explain about national health insurance in our country.

Health insurance is provided by public provider/ public insurance and private providers/ private insurance. Public provider is run by government, while private providers are run by company. In Australia, there is Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). OSHC is insurance for international student. OSHC is provided by private providers that is Australian Health Management, Allianz Global Assistance, BUPA Australia, Medibank Private, and nib. Students can arrange OSHC through university or purchase it online.

In Japan, international student have to subscribe National Health Insurance which is run by public provider. After registered, students will only pay 30% of the total medical bill. This mean that students still need to pay for every health care. In New Zealand, international student should get private insurance. The university will automatically register student for preferred health insurance. In England, the name of insurance is National Health Service (NHS) which is run by public provider. Students do not need to pay for NHS. It is free. However, to access the NHS, students have to pay for an Immigration Health Surcharge for getting NHS. How about our country?

Here in Indonesia, we have National Health Insurance System/ Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) which is run by Social Security Administrator for Health/ Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS Kesehatan ). The purpose of JKN is to cover all citizen and foreigner who are working for health needs.

In summary, health insurance for international student is compulsory. Students should register for private provider, such as in Australia and New Zealand, or for public provider, such as in Japan and England. Most of university will give assistance for registering in health insurance, although in Australia students can purchase it by themselves. So, I think that it is reasonable to say that before going abroad prospective students are supposed to register for national health insurance (JKN) in BPJS office or website.

Thank you

Depok, December 28^th 2017

(This draft speech has been presented in UI Toastmasters Regular Meeting on December 28^th 2017 at VIP Lounge Central Library UI)

References

1. Australian Government Department of Health. Overseas Student Health Cover.

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Overseas%20Student%20Health%20Cover%20FAQ-1 accessed November 28^th, 2017

2. Gateway to Study in Japan. Medical Insurance.

http://www.g-studyinjapan.jasso.go.jp/en/modules/pico/index.php?content_id=28 accessed December 26^th, 2017

3. New Zealand Immigration. Paying for Healthcare Services.

https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/healthcare/paying-for-healthcare-services

accessed December 26^th, 2017

4. The University of Auckland. Health and Travel Insurance.