DVA White Card
White Veteran Card
The White Card is a treatment card that can provide you with medical treatment for:
The White Card is being redesigned and will be known as the Veteran Card (White).
Who can receive it
You may be eligible for a White Card for your service-related injuries or conditions if you are:
You may be eligible for a White Card to cover treatment for any mental health condition if you:
You may be eligible for a White Card to cover treatment for cancer (malignant neoplasm) or pulmonary tuberculosis if you have:
What you can receive
The White Card covers you for clinically required medical treatment in Australia for your accepted service-related injuries or conditions. It also covers treatment for mental health conditions, cancer (malignant neoplasm) and pulmonary tuberculosis.
The medical treatment may include:
When buying prescription items for the conditions covered by your White Card, you will need to pay $6.60 for each item until you reach your Safety Net Threshold for the calendar year.
You may also be able to receive some services and support for your conditions on your White Card. Services and support can include:
If you are an Australian veteran, the home help and care services provided through Veterans' Home Care are not limited to the conditions on your White Card.
If you are a Commonwealth or Allied veteran, what you receive may be different to what Australian veterans receive.
Your White Card may also entitle you to receive concessions or discounts, and a Lapel Pin.
How you use it
As the White Card can provide you with a range of benefits and services, the way you use your White Card may vary.
Medical treatment
When you use your White Card for medical treatment:
You also need to show your White Card to pharmacy staff when you take your prescription to the counter.
If you do not show your card, you may be charged more, and the purchase may not count towards your Safety Net Threshold under RPBS.
When using your White Card, it may help you if you have a letter from us confirming what conditions you have on your White Card. You can get this letter if you:
Things you should know
- accepted service-related injuries or conditions
- all mental health conditions
- cancer (malignant neoplasm) covered under non-liability health care
- pulmonary tuberculosis covered under non-liability health care
The White Card is being redesigned and will be known as the Veteran Card (White).
Who can receive it
You may be eligible for a White Card for your service-related injuries or conditions if you are:
- a current or former Australian Defence Force (ADF) member, including reservists and cadets, with a service-related injury or condition accepted by us; or
- a Commonwealth or Allied veteran with a service-related injury or condition accepted by your country of service
You may be eligible for a White Card to cover treatment for any mental health condition if you:
- have at least one day of continuous full-time service (CFTS) with the ADF; or
- are a reservist and have completed disaster relief service, border protection service, or were involved in a serious service-related training accident
You may be eligible for a White Card to cover treatment for cancer (malignant neoplasm) or pulmonary tuberculosis if you have:
- a diagnosis of cancer (malignant neoplasm) or pulmonary tuberculosis; and
- certain types of service with the ADF
What you can receive
The White Card covers you for clinically required medical treatment in Australia for your accepted service-related injuries or conditions. It also covers treatment for mental health conditions, cancer (malignant neoplasm) and pulmonary tuberculosis.
The medical treatment may include:
- treatment at a hospital or day procedure facility
- treatment provided by an allied health professional
- treatment provided by a general practitioner (GP) or specialist
- treatment provided by a dental or optical professional
- medicines at the cheaper concession rate
- community nursing; and
- pathology and medical imaging
When buying prescription items for the conditions covered by your White Card, you will need to pay $6.60 for each item until you reach your Safety Net Threshold for the calendar year.
You may also be able to receive some services and support for your conditions on your White Card. Services and support can include:
- counselling
- home help
- aids, appliances and modifications
- travel to and from medical appointments
- care services
If you are an Australian veteran, the home help and care services provided through Veterans' Home Care are not limited to the conditions on your White Card.
If you are a Commonwealth or Allied veteran, what you receive may be different to what Australian veterans receive.
Your White Card may also entitle you to receive concessions or discounts, and a Lapel Pin.
How you use it
As the White Card can provide you with a range of benefits and services, the way you use your White Card may vary.
Medical treatment
When you use your White Card for medical treatment:
- Tell your health provider that you have a White Card and ask them if they will accept this for your treatment.
- They will ask you what conditions you have on your card, and they may ask if you have a referral.
- They may call us to confirm your conditions.
- In some cases they may need to get prior approval from us.
- Your provider will then tell you if they can provide the service on your White Card.
You also need to show your White Card to pharmacy staff when you take your prescription to the counter.
If you do not show your card, you may be charged more, and the purchase may not count towards your Safety Net Threshold under RPBS.
When using your White Card, it may help you if you have a letter from us confirming what conditions you have on your White Card. You can get this letter if you:
- log in to MyService; or
- call us on 1800 555 254
Things you should know
- If you receive a White Card after transitioning from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), you can seek treatment straight away for any mental health condition, including alcohol abuse or substance abuse.
- You can use your White Card anywhere in Australia for the conditions on your card.
- You cannot use your White Card overseas. If you incur medical expenses for an accepted service-related injury or condition while overseas, you may be able to claim reimbursement. You cannot claim reimbursement for mental health conditions, cancer (malignant neoplasm) or pulmonary tuberculosis unless they have been accepted as service-related.
- If you are entitled to compensation or damages from another party for an injury or condition, we will not cover treatment for that injury or condition.
- Always check with your medical provider that they will accept your White Card.
- If you get a bill for medical treatment for a condition covered by your card, do not pay it. Please contact us. If you have paid for medical treatment, you may be able to apply for a one-off reimbursement.
- If prior approval is required for your medical treatment, your medical provider will request the approval from us.
- If you choose to be treated as a Medicare or private patient for a condition on your White Card, we will not pay any out of pocket expenses.
- Your White Card's expiry date is shown on the front of the card. You will receive a replacement card approximately 1 month before the expiry.
- If your White Card is lost, stolen or damaged you can order a new one through MyAccount or by calling us on 1800 555 254. You should receive your replacement card within 2 weeks of ordering. You can request a White Card confirmation letter while you wait for your replacement card.