Entitlements under Gold Card
Section 84 VEA - Provision of treatment
Section 89 VEA - Treatment at hospitals and other institutions
Section 90 VEA - Guide to the provision of treatment
The Gold Card entitles the holder to treatment for all their health care conditions at DVA expense. DVA will not pay for treatment of a disease or injury for which the person has already received compensation or damages. The holder should present their Gold Card when they visit a:
- doctor, medical specialist, or pharmacist,
- dentist, or dental prosthetist,
- optometrist or ophthalmologist,
- any other health care professional who provides services under DVA arrangements, or
hospital.
Automatic issue of Gold Card to certain veterans and mariners
Section 53D VEA Eligibility for treatment at Departmental expense
Section 85(4A) VEA Veterans eligible to be provided with treatment
Section 85(4B) VEA Veterans eligible to be provided with treatment
A Gold Card is issued, regardless of income and assets or war caused disability, to:
- World War II returned ex-service women, who served in Australia's defence forces between 3 September 1939 and 29 October 1945 and who have qualifying service from that conflict,
- World War II veterans and mariners aged 70 years and over, who served in Australia's defence forces or merchant navy between 3 September 1939 and 29 October 1945 and have qualifying service from that conflict (commencing 1 January 1999),
- Veterans aged 70 years and over, who served in Australia's defence force and have qualifying service (commencing 1 July 2002), and
- Veterans of Australia's defence force who are ex-prisoners of war.
Disability Compensation Payment recipients eligible for a Gold Card
A Gold Card is also issued to veterans or mariners receiving [glossary::3075]:
- at or above 100% of the general rate,
- at or above 50% of the general rate and also receiving any amount of service pension,
- for pulmonary tuberculosis before 2 November 1978, and
- veterans receiving an additional amount under section 27 of VEA for specific service-related amputations or blindness in one eye.
Service pensioners eligible for a Gold Card
Veterans in receipt of an age or invalidity service pension are eligible for a Gold Card if they:
- satisfy the treatment income/assets reduction limit, or
- are permanently blind in both eyes.
Veterans in receipt of a service pension (including partner service pension) are eligible for a Gold Card if they:
receive any amount of service pension and also receive Disability Compensation Payment at 50% or above, or
Gold Card Eligibility under Gold Card Eligibility under the Income/Assets Reduction Limit
Section 7.1.3 Gold Card Eligibility under the Income/Assets Reduction Limit
receive any amount of service pension and also have 30 points assessed for permanent impairment under the MRCA.
Pension supplement is regarded as a component of service pension, when determining whether a veteran is in receipt of service pension for the purposes of establishing Gold Card eligibility.
Commonwealth and Allied Veterans
Commonwealth veterans, Allied veterans and Allied mariners may gain entitlement to medical treatment at departmental expense if they had Australian domicile at the time of enlistment.
The domicile test applies in respect of operational service performed during the world wars and also to post World War 2 operational service in operational areas. The operational areas for post World War 2 service are included in Schedule 2 of the VEA.
In very rare circumstances, Commonwealth and allied veterans who were not domiciled in Australia prior to rendering qualifying service may potentially be eligible to receive the Gold Card at age 70. This can occur when the veteran has:
- rendered qualifying service within the meaning of VEA paragraph 7A(1)(b), or (c) as a member of a Commonwealth or allied force AND
- has also rendered service as a member of the Australian Defence Force, which causes them to meet the definition of ‘Member of the Forces’ at VEA subsection 68(1). This applies to certain peacetime ADF service on and after 7 December 1972, as well as to peacekeeping service and service designated as hazardous for the purposes of the VEA. Such circumstances are extremely rare. Delegates should refer relevant cases to the Liability and Service Eligibility policy section for advice.
Dependents eligible for a Gold Card
The dependants eligible for a Gold Card are:
- a war widow or widower in receipt of the war widow(er)'s pension,
- a dependent child of a deceased veteran whose death has been accepted as war-caused who is under 16, or between the ages of 16 and 25 and undergoing full-time education,
- a child of a deceased veteran whose death was not war-caused and who had operational service, if the child is not being cared for by the remaining parent,
- an invalid child of a deceased veteran whose death has been accepted as war-caused, who had treatment entitlement before 6 June 1985,
- a widowed mother or widowed step-mother who was dependent on an unmarried deceased veteran whose death has been accepted as war-caused, who had treatment entitlement before 6 June 1985; and
a wholly dependent partner or dependent child of a member who is eligible for compensation for the member's death under the MRCA
MRCA Policy Manual
8.4.6 Treatment for eligible dependants
Members with Conditions Accepted under MRCA
Former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), cadets and reservists who have conditions for which liability has been accepted under the MRCA are eligible for a Gold Card if they:
- have permanent impairment from accepted conditions assessed at or above 60 points; or
meet the criteria for the Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) safety net payment even if they have not elected to receive that pension (but continue to receive their incapacity payments).
MRCA Policy Manual
8.2.2 When a decision under section 327 is not required
British Commonwealth Occupation Force and British Nuclear Tests
Australian members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan at the end of the Second World War and Australian participants in the British Nuclear Tests (BNT) in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s are eligible for a Gold Card.
BCOF service must be in Japan between 31 January 1946 and 28 April 1952.
A person is a BNT participant if they meet the criteria relating to being in a nuclear test area within defined dates. The full definition is contained in the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006.
South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) civilian aid program
Members of the Australian civilian surgical and medical teams who were contracted by the then Department of External Affairs to provide medical aid to civilian hospitals and training to local staff under the SEATO civilian aid program in South Vietnam between October 1964 and December 1972 are eligible for Gold Cards. This can include doctors, nurses, administration and technical personnel who were part of the teams.
Loss of Gold Card eligibility
Provided they do not have other eligibility for a Gold Card, a person loses eligibility for a Gold Card if they:
satisfy the income/assets reduction limit and at any stage they exceed that limit (subject to the period of grace), or
Gold Card Eligibility under the Income/Assets Reduction Limit
Section 7.1.3 Gold Card Eligibility under the Income/Assets Reduction Limit
- receive between 50% and 95% Disability Compensation Payment under the VEA and any rate of service pension, and their service pension ceases to be payable. Because they have accepted disabilities these pensioners would be issued with a White Card in lieu. More
- are assessed with between 30 and 59 impairment points under the MRCA and any rate of service pension, and their service pension ceases to be payable. Because they have accepted disabilities these pensioners would be issued with a White Card in lieu.
- are no longer considered a dependent child, that is, reaches the age of 16, or if in fulltime study, the age of 25. For example, cessation of the Orphan's Pension (VEA) or the Eligible Young Person's (MRCA) payment which are underlying payments for eligibility for a Gold Card.
are a dependent of a deceased member covered under the MRCA and successfully pursues common law damages related to the service death. More
All other Gold Card holders retain their eligibility irrespective of any change to their financial circumstances or their accepted disabilities.