Health services for Veterans

The bulk of all health services dedicated to Australian Veterans over 50 are delivered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, who provide an extensive number of programs, services and concession cards, to enable the delivery of quality health services for Veterans. For all relevant health services go to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

This page provides details on the following programs:

• Quality Use of Medicines Program
• Men's Health Peer Education
• Crisis Assistance Time Out Program
• Veteran and Community Grants
• Gold Card
• White Card
• Orange Card
• Pharmaceutical Allowance
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• Repatriation Transport Scheme
• Repatriation Comprehensive Care Scheme
• Dental and Optical Services
• Allied Health Services
• Rehabilitation Appliances Program

Quality Use of Medicines Program

The rapidly ageing Veteran community typically have more health problems, more complex medical conditions and tend to be more reliant on medications.

DVA has programs in place, such as Prescriber Intervention and Feedback Program and Community Based Medication Review Program, designed to reduce medication misadventures in the Veteran community. For more information, have a look at the Quality Use of Medicines Program.

Men's Health Peer Education

The Men's Health Peer Education program aims to raise the Veteran community's awareness of men's health issues by encouraging members of the Veteran community to share the responsibility for managing their own health and well being. It is a self-help health management program run by volunteer facilitators.

The Men’s Health Peer Education Program has a website that provides easy access to information on a wide variety of health conditions and ailments such as heart and vascular health, diabetes, mental health and cancers.

Crisis Assistance Time Out Program

This program has been developed to assist Vietnam Veterans who are experiencing a crisis. It aims to reduce stress that might lead to domestic violence or family break up. It provides counselling, support and short-term emergency accommodation for up to five days.

A Crisis Information Pack is available for ex-Service Organisations, Welfare/Pension Officers and Veteran Community Volunteers.

Crisis Assistance Time Out Program.

Veteran and Community Grants

Veteran and Community Grants fund projects that address identified needs in the veteran community. They offer opportunities for both the veteran and the wider community to participate in, and benefit from, projects that:

• promote and enhance healthy lifestyles
• support quality independent living at home
• encourage involvement in community activities to reduce social isolation
• encourage supportive and safe communities
• increase access to community services
• address gaps in local services, and
• support for carers.

Veteran and Community Grants.

Gold Card

Your Gold Card (Repatriation Health Card - for all conditions) identifies you as being eligible for treatment of all your health care conditions at Repatriation Commission expense, according to your assessed clinical need.

You will not be charged for any treatment received as long as your health care provider agrees to treat you under DVA arrangements. You may be required to make a contribution toward the cost of pharmaceutical items, nursing home care and certain dental and optical services.

Only certain categories of veterans of Australia's defence force are eligible for this card.

White Card

Your White Card (Repatriation Health Card - specific conditions) identifies you as being eligible for treatment of specific conditions at Repatriation Commission expense, according to assessed clinical need.

You will not be charged for any treatment received for your specific condition as long as your health care provider agrees to treat you under DVAarrangements. You may be required to make a contribution towards the cost of pharmaceutical items, nursing home care and certain dental and optical services.

The White Card is issued to Australian veterans or mariners with:

• an accepted war or service caused injury or disease
• malignant tumour, whether war-caused or not
• pulmonary tuberculosis, whether war-caused or not
• post traumatic stress disorder, whether war-caused or not, and
• anxiety and/or depression (Vietnam veterans only), whether war-caused or not.

Orange Card

Your Orange Card (Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Card) identifies you as being eligible for pharmaceutical benefits for most conditions. It entitles you to obtain your prescribed medications at the concessional rate of $3.70 per item.

You will be issued an Orange Card if you are a Commonwealth, allied veteran, or mariner who:

• has qualifying service from World War 1 or World War 2
• is aged 70 years or more; and
• has lived in Australia for 10 years or more.

Pharmaceutical Allowance

The Pharmaceutical Allowance helps you pay for your prescription medicines available through the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

It is payable to:

• service pensioners
• age and wife pensioners
• Orange Card holders
• war widows and widowers, and
• Veterans receiving treatment only for specific disabilities.

If you use a lot of prescriptions you can apply to have your Pharmaceutical Allowance paid in advance. A maximum of seven fortnightly payments can be advanced.

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card helps reduce the cost of prescription medicines if you are of Age Pension age but do not qualify for the Age Pension.
To qualify you must be an Australian resident and be living in Australia. There are particular restrictions, depending on your annual income as a single person, couple, or couple separted due to ill health. If you have a telephone connected in your name you will also get a telephone allowance.

To find out the particular qualifications for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, visit the Centrelink web site.

Repatriation Transport Scheme

You may qualify for assistance with your travelling expenses to attend a health provider for medical treatment within Australia:

• If you have a Gold Card you are eligible for assistance with travel expenses for the treatment of all medical conditions.
• If you have a White Card you are eligible for assistance for travel expenses for the treatment of specified conditions.

To receive the full amount of travel expenses you must attend the nearest practicable health provider to your home. In some circumstances your transport will be arranged through the Booked Care with Driver service.

Repatriation Transport Scheme.

Repatriation Comprehensive Care Scheme

This is a scheme where general practitioners, called Local Medical Officers, are registered with DVA to provide medical care to eligible Veterans.

• If you have a Gold Card you are eligible for the treatment of all medical conditions.
• If you have a White Card you are eligible for the treatment of specified conditions.

The Local Medical Officer will:

• provide necessary prescriptions and referrals
• conduct regular reviews of your medication and treatment
• coordinate all of your health services, and
• under certain circumstances, prepare a health care plan, health assessment or case conference for you.

You do not pay for these services.

Repatriation Comprehensive Care Scheme.

Dental and Optical Services

Gold and White cardholders can access dental and optical services at Repatriation Commission expense, without a referral from a Local Medical Officer.
If you have a Gold Card you are eligible for dental and optical services for the treatment of all conditions.

If you have a White Card you are eligible for services for the treatment of specified conditions.

Some financial limits apply to dental and optical services. For more information, go to the Allied Health Services page of DVA.

Allied Health Services

You may get access to a range of allied health services including chiropractic, dietetics, medical grade footwear, occupational therapy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, speech pathology and social work.

• If you have a Gold Card you are eligible for services for the treatment of all medical conditions.
• If you have a White Card you are eligible for services for the treatment of specified conditions.
• The number and frequency of clinical treatments you receive for allied health services is determined by your health care provider and is based on assessed clinical need.
• If medical grade footwear is prescribed you may have two pairs of shoes in serviceable condition at any one time. If you live in a rural or remote area that is 100 kilometres from the nearest footwear prescribing podiatrist you may be prescribed three pairs of shoes. Additionally, you may also be entitled to recreational footwear and/or work boots.

You may also receive one initial and one subsequent optometric consultation in a two year period. A range of low vision aids is also available.

You do not pay for these services provided you select items listed on the DVA Pricing Schedule for visual aids: Allied Health Services.

Rehabilitation Appliances Program

You can get access to aids and appliances to meet your rehabilitation needs if you are a Gold or White Card holder and your clinical condition warrants it.
These aids and appliances include items such as adjustable beds, wheel chairs, ventilators and portable ramps. Modifications to your home that increase your safety and access are also available through this program.

To access this service your medical practitioner will refer you to a recognised DVA prescriber who will assess your clinical needs and make recommendations to DVA. You will then be advised if the recommended aids, appliances or modifications meet DVA's guidelines.
Rehabilitation Appliances Program.