Veterans
14. Repatriation Health Cards
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 27 Aug 2015
- There are three repatriation health cards that may be issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to eligible veterans, widows and widowers. The cards entitle the cardholder to health care paid for by DVA.
- The gold card entitles you to the full range of treatment and health services for any condition.
- The white card entitles you to treatment and health services for specific service-related disabilities or illnesses. However this card may be issued for the treatment of some non-service-related conditions such as cancer, depression or anxiety disorders if based on a medically diagnosed condition.
- The orange card entitles you to pharmaceutical benefits only.
- If you have been deemed eligible for the service pension you might also be eligible for a gold card if you:
- only have a service pension and your income and assets fall within certain thresholds;
- receive the service pension and an additional disability pension of 50% or more of the general rate;
- are permanently blind; or
- have a severe impairment resulting from service-related injuries or diseases.
- In some situations you might have an entitlement to a gold card whether you are receiving a service pension or not for example if you are an ex-prisoner of war.
- The reasonable costs of treatment are paid by DVA either directly or by way of reimbursement. Limits and restrictions apply to some treatments and services such as those that are subject to the requirements of the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS). Others require pre-approval by the DVA.
- The DVA will not pay for some alternative health services such as naturopathy and homeopathy. If you are unsure whether a particular service or treatment will be paid for by DVA you should make contact with one of their officers prior to having the treatment.
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