You've received a Veteran Gold Card — now what?

The Veteran Card – All Conditions is the official name for the Gold Card. It covers clinically required medical treatment in Australia for all medical conditions.

• It is valid anywhere in Australia, but not overseas.
• You get a physical card. A digital version is in MyService, and you can add it to your myGov wallet.
• The card has an expiry date. A replacement is sent about 1 month before it expires.
• An Energy Supplement is paid automatically if you don't already get it.

Source: DVA – Veteran Card – All Conditions (Gold Card); DVA – Veteran Card (Veterans' Legislation Reform)

1. Check your details. Log in to MyService and look at your card under 'Your card'. Save the digital card on your phone.
2. Tell your GP. Ask your usual GP clinic to record you as a DVA Gold Card patient and confirm they accept the card. See GP and specialist services.
3. Tell your specialists, dentist, optometrist and pharmacy. Ask each one: 'Will you accept my Veteran Card – All Conditions?'
4. Review existing referrals. Allied health (physio, psychology, podiatry and so on) needs a GP referral under the treatment cycle.
5. Book a health check. If you're eligible, book a 45-minute Veterans’ Health Check with your GP.
6. Set up transport. Learn how travel for treatment works and whether you can use the Booked Car with Driver service.
7. Think about help at home. Call Veterans' Home Care on 1300 550 450 if you need help with cleaning, personal care or the garden.
8. Save key numbers. DVA 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372). Open Arms 24/7: 1800 011 046.

Source: DVA – GP and medical specialist services; DVA – Allied health treatment cycle; DVA – Veterans' Home Care (VHC); Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling

When a provider accepts your card, they bill DVA directly. You normally pay nothing for the treatment.

• Tell the provider you hold the card and ask if they accept it. They may ask for a referral, and some treatments need DVA prior approval.
• Not every provider accepts the card. If yours doesn't, you may need to find one who does.
• If you choose to be treated as a Medicare or private patient, DVA won't pay any out-of-pocket costs.
• If you get a bill, don't pay it — contact DVA. If you've already paid, you may be able to apply for reimbursement.
• DVA can't cover treatment if you're entitled to compensation or damages from someone else for that injury.

Source: DVA – Veteran Card – All Conditions (Gold Card); DVA – GP and medical specialist services

You can see the Medicare and DVA items claimed under your name in your My Health Record. It's a simple way to check that what was billed matches the treatment you actually had.

1. Sign in to myGov.
2. Open My Health Record (not Medicare).
3. Click your name.
4. Choose Documents from the top menu.
5. Open Medicare Overview.
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page to Medicare Services – MBS & DVA items.

Menu names can change a little as myGov is updated. Medicare information only shows if it's being added to your My Health Record, which you control in your record settings.

Steps shared by a veteran (October 2026). Sources: Australian Digital Health Agency – Accessing the Medicare Overview (PDF); DVA – Provider integrity

Allied health referrals

Your GP (or a specialist or hospital discharge planner) refers you to allied health. Under the treatment cycle, a referral lasts for 12 sessions or 1 year, whichever ends first. You can have as many cycles as your GP decides you clinically need, and separate cycles for different services at once. TPI Gold Card holders (including SRDP recipients) are exempt from the cycle for physiotherapy and exercise physiology.

Medicines (RPBS)

Show your card to your doctor and the pharmacy every time. You pay $7.70 per item until you reach the concessional Safety Net threshold ($277.20 in 2026, per Services Australia). After that, eligible items are usually free for the rest of the calendar year. If you don't show your card, you may pay more and it may not count towards the Safety Net.

Source: DVA – Allied health treatment cycle; DVA – Veteran Card – All Conditions (Gold Card); Services Australia – PBS Safety Net thresholds

• Dental: check-ups usually every 6 months. A two-year cap of $5,980.30 applies to high-cost items like some crowns and bridges (1 Jan 2026–31 Dec 2027). Dental services
• Eyes: an eye test every 3 years (under 65) or every year (65+), and glasses every 2 years. Optical services
• Hearing: mostly through the Hearing Services Program. Don't pay for a device before approval. Hearing services
• Travel to treatment: private car 68 cents/km from 1 July 2026, plus parking and tolls. Travel under the improved MRCA
• Help at home: Veterans’ Home Care, community nursing and aids and home modifications (RAP).
• Counselling: Open Arms — free and confidential.

See the full Gold Card benefits table for limits.

Source: DVA – Dental services; DVA – Optical services; DVA – Hearing services; DVA – Claim travel expenses under the improved MRCA

• Treatment outside Australia (you may be able to claim back costs for service-related conditions abroad).
• Out-of-pocket costs if you choose to be a Medicare or private patient.
• Treatment where someone else is liable to compensate you.
• Extras above DVA limits — for example frames outside the funded range, or high-cost dental items above the cap.
• Hearing devices you bought before getting approval.
• The card can't be transferred when the holder dies. Eligible dependants get their own card.

Source: DVA – Veteran Card – All Conditions (Gold Card); DVA – Optical services; DVA – Hearing services

• Lost, stolen or damaged card: order a new one in MyService ('Cards' page, 'Order replacement') or call 1800 838 372. It should arrive within 4 weeks. Use the digital card in the meantime.
• Tell DVA about changes within 14 days (28 days if you get Remote Area Allowance or live overseas). This includes payments, income, assets, impairment ratings, living arrangements and address.
• Private health insurance: DVA doesn't give advice on keeping or dropping cover. What it does say is that if you choose to be treated as a private or Medicare patient, it won't pay the gaps. Talk to your insurer or a financial adviser before you change anything.

Source: DVA – Veteran Card – All Conditions (Gold Card); DVA – GP and medical specialist services

• When you book, say 'I have a DVA Gold Card — do you bulk-bill DVA?' Don't wait until you're at the counter.
• Keep your DVA receipts and letters in one folder or one phone album.
• If you're unsure whether a provider is the nearest suitable one for travel claims, call DVA before you travel.
• You can register with one practice for MyMedicare using your Veteran Card or your Medicare card.
• Add a nominated representative in MyService if a family member helps manage your affairs.

Source: DVA – MyMedicare for DVA patients; DVA – Claim travel expenses under the improved MRCA

If DVA refuses something, such as a RAP item or a travel claim, contact DVA first and ask for the reasons. Under the single review pathway, you can ask for most decisions to be reviewed.

Source: DVA – Single review pathway; DVA – Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP)

Experiences collected October 2026. Got a correction? Use the feedback form.

• dva.gov.auDVA – Veteran Card – All Conditions (Gold Card)
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Veteran Card (Veterans' Legislation Reform)
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• dva.gov.auDVA – GP and medical specialist services
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Allied health treatment cycle
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Safety Net Scheme
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• servicesaustralia.gov.auServices Australia – PBS Safety Net thresholds
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Dental services
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Optical services
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Hearing services
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• health.gov.auDepartment of Health – Hearing Services Program
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Claim travel expenses under the improved MRCA
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Booked Car with Driver (BCWD)
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Veterans' Home Care (VHC)
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Nursing help at home
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP)
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• openarms.gov.auOpen Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Veterans' Health Check
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• dva.gov.auDVA – About MyService
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• dva.gov.auDVA – MyMedicare for DVA patients
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Single review pathway
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• dva.gov.auDVA – Provider integrity (report a billing concern)
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All links opened and checked 2026-10-02.