Which visa holders are eligible, how to register at Medicare, and what's bulk-billed free.
Medicare is Australia's public health insurance scheme. Most international students are NOT eligible — OSHC is your primary and legally required cover. However, students from 11 countries that have Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) with Australia can also register for Medicare and use bulk-billed GP visits and public hospital treatment at no extra cost. Students from India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and most other countries are not eligible.
The 11 RHCA countries are: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. If your country is not on this list, you are not eligible for Medicare as an international student visa holder. OSHC remains your only health cover. Do not attempt to enrol in Medicare if you are not from one of these 11 countries — it is a legal offence to claim Medicare benefits you are not entitled to.
You cannot register for Medicare online as a temporary visa holder — you must attend a Services Australia office in person. Bring: your original passport, your visa grant notice (printed or on your phone from ImmiAccount), proof of your Australian address (a bank statement or lease agreement), and your enrolment confirmation (CoE). Find your nearest office at findus.servicesaustralia.gov.au.
Your Medicare card will be mailed to your Australian address within 2–4 weeks of registering. You will also receive a letter confirming your registration — most GPs and hospitals accept this letter as proof while you wait for the card. Store your Medicare card safely and note your Medicare number.
Once registered, search 'bulk billing GP near me' on healthdirect.gov.au to find GPs who charge nothing out of pocket. Medicare covers the full cost of the consultation. Always confirm bulk billing applies to your visit when booking — some practices bulk bill Medicare patients but charge a gap for others.
Registering for Medicare without eligibility, or using Medicare benefits you are not entitled to, is fraud under the Health Insurance Act. It can result in penalties and affect your visa. If you are unsure, check the official RHCA list at servicesaustralia.gov.au before making any claim.
The RHCA covers medically necessary treatment, not everything OSHC covers. More importantly, OSHC is a visa condition — it must be active for the duration of your visa regardless of whether you also have Medicare. Having Medicare does not exempt you from the OSHC requirement.