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Health
A student visa usually requires Overseas Student Health Cover for the whole stay, bought from a registered insurer. Medicare is a separate system, and a reciprocal agreement for medically necessary care does not, on its own, remove an OSHC condition. healthdirect is the public health information service, and in an emergency, call 000.
Overseas student health cover
Do student visas need Overseas Student Health Cover?
A student visa usually requires Overseas Student Health Cover for the whole stay. You buy it from a registered insurer, and the official page explains how it sits alongside Medicare.
Medicare
Does a reciprocal health agreement replace OSHC?
Some countries have a reciprocal agreement for medically necessary care, and that agreement does not, on its own, remove an OSHC condition. healthdirect is the public health information service, and in an emergency, call 000.
- Services AustraliaChecked 24 Oct 2026Enrolling in MedicareWho can enrol, including some visitors from reciprocal health care countries. Most student visas still need OSHC. (opens in a new tab)
- Services AustraliaChecked 24 Oct 2026Reciprocal health care agreementsThe country list, and what medically necessary care can mean while you are visiting. (opens in a new tab)
- healthdirectChecked 24 Oct 2026healthdirectFree health information and a symptom checker. For an emergency, call 000 instead. (opens in a new tab)
Sources
The answers above use these official pages. If a page and Life in Australia disagree, follow the official page.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (opens in a new tab) — PrivateHealth.gov.au
- Enrolling in Medicare (opens in a new tab) — Services Australia
- Reciprocal health care agreements (opens in a new tab) — Services Australia
- healthdirect (opens in a new tab) — healthdirect