Veteran Gold Card

Last updated:

5 March 2025

The Veteran Gold Card provides treatment for all medical conditions within Australia.

What is the Veteran Gold Card

The Veteran Gold Card is a treatment card for veterans, dependants, and eligible civilians. It provides clinically needed treatment for all medical conditions within Australia.

You can access a range of services and support with this card.

Your Gold Card may also give you concessions or discounts, as well as eligibility for a Lapel Pin. If you wish to apply for a Lapel Pin, please see how veterans can apply.

If you are eligible, we send a physical Gold Card, but a digital version is available in MyService. You can also add your Gold Card to your myGov wallet, in the myGov app.

Who can receive it

There are a number of ways you may be eligible for a Gold Card.

The card is to help veterans with significant medical impacts from their service, or certain types of service, and dependants of veterans who have died due to their service.

Click on the headings below to read about who can receive the Gold Card.

Australian veterans

If you served with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) you may be eligible if you meet one of the criteria below and your service is covered by either:

Eligible Service Types

If your service included any of the below you may be eligible:

qualifying service and you are now over 70 years of age
an ex-prisoner of war
service with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan between 16 August 1945 and 28 April 1952
service as part of the British Nuclear Test program.

Eligible Compensation Payments

You may be eligible if you receive a Disability Compensation Payment and you meet one of the following:

your payment is assessed at 100% of the general rate or higher under the VEA
you get an additional amount for specific disabilities
your payment for pulmonary tuberculosis was granted before 2 November 1978
You may be eligible under the MRCA if you are either:
- getting or are eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension
- are assessed at 60 or more impairment points.

Eligible Service Pensioners

If you are under 70 years old and you receive a Service Pension you may be eligible. We will send you a card if any of the below:

permanently blind in both eyes
have a MRCA permanent impairment of at least 30 points
your Disability Compensation Payment is 50% of the general rate of higher
your income and assets are below certain limits.

If you are an ADF veteran over 70 years old, we will send you a Gold Card automatically.

Commonwealth and allied veterans

You may be an eligible Commonwealth or allied veteran if you have both:

lived in Australia before your enlistment
have qualifying service prior to 12 January 1973.

Australian civilians

You may be eligible as one of the following:

a member of Australia's Merchant Navy with Second World War qualifying service
a British subject held by the enemy in Papua or New Guinea during the Second World War
a participant in British Nuclear Tests
a member of the South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) civilian medical aid program in South Vietnam.

Dependants of veterans

You may receive a Gold Card if you are:

receiving War Widow(er)'s Pension
a wholly dependent partner, eligible young person or dependant eligible for compensation for the veteran’s death
eligible for the Orphan's Pension
a dependent child of a deceased veteran with operational service and you are not being cared for by your remaining parent

How to apply for your Gold Card

Serving full time members of the ADF will have treatment provided through existing Defence arrangements.

For former serving members, if we know you are eligible, we’ll automatically send you a Gold Card.

If you don't receive one, you can use these forms to apply:

You can also call us on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).

What you can receive

The Gold Card covers you for clinically required medical treatment in Australia for all medical conditions.

Medical treatment is usually free if your provider accepts your Gold Card. There may be some out-of-pocket expenses for high cost dental items. Treatment may be from:

a hospital or day procedure facility
an allied health professional
a general practitioner (GP) or specialist
a dental or optical professional
a community nurse
a pathology or medical imaging facility

When buying prescription items, you will need to pay $7.70 for each item until you reach your Safety Net Threshold for the calendar year.

You may also be able to receive some free or low-cost services and support, like:

counselling via Open Arms
Veterans' Home Care
aids, equipment and modifications
travel to and from medical appointments
Health care and services to help you live safely and independently in your home

Some co-payments apply if you receive help at home through our Veterans' Home Care program.

An Energy Supplement is automatically payable if you do not already receive it.

How you use it

As your Gold Card can provide you with a range of benefits and services, the way you use your card may vary.

You can show your physical card or a digital version is available via MyService. You can also add your Gold Card to your myGov wallet, in the myGov app.

When you use your Gold Card for medical treatment:

Tell your health provider that you have the Gold Card and ask them if they will accept this for your treatment.
They may ask if you have a referral.
In some cases, they may need to get prior approval from us.
Your provider will then tell you if they can accept your Gold Card.

Getting treatment

When you go to your doctor for a prescription, show them your Gold Card . This allows your doctor to give you medicine through the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS).
When you take your prescription to the pharmacy, remember to show your card to the pharmacy staff. If you do not show your card, you may be charged more, and it may not count towards your Safety Net Threshold under the RPBS.
Your Gold Card is valid anywhere in Australia, but not overseas. You may claim reimbursement for service-related conditions incurred abroad.
If you get a bill for medical treatment, do not pay it and please contact us. If you have paid for medical treatment, you may be able to apply for reimbursement.
If you choose to be treated as a Medicare or private patient, we will not pay for any out-of-pocket expenses.
We cannot cover treatment if you are entitled to compensation or damages from another party for an injury or condition.

Things you should know

Gold Cards are not transferable upon the holder's death. If eligible, dependants will receive their own card.
Eligibility can change based on income, assets, living arrangements, or other factors. If this happens you’ll receive a notification if your card is recalled
If the compensation coverage for your service is provided under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, then in most cases DVA can't issue you with a Gold Card until after you separate from the ADF. This is because medical treatment for serving members is provided through Defence arrangements.
Your Gold Card's expiry date is shown on the front of the card. You will receive a replacement card approximately 1 month before expiry.
If your Gold Card is lost, stolen or damaged you can order a new one using MyService or by calling us on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372). You should receive your replacement card within 4 weeks of your request.
A digital version of your Gold Card is available in MyService. You can also add your Gold Card to your myGov wallet, in the myGov app.

What to tell us

Eligibility can change based on income, assets, living arrangements, or other factors. So it is important to let us know if there are any changes. You should tell us about changes within 14 days (or 28 days if you receive the Remote Area Allowance or live overseas).

Let us know of changes to your:

payments
income or assets
impairment ratings
living arrangements

You should also tell us if your Gold Card is lost, stolen or if you change address.