Health Care Card

You may be eligible for a Health Care Card if you get specific payments or supplements from us or the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A.

Read more about eligibility

A Health Care Card entitles you to cheaper prescription medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

You may be eligible for other concessions from the Australian Government. Some of these concessions may also be available for a dependent child.

Benefits could include:

• bulk billing for doctor’s appointments, as decided by your doctor
• more refunds for medical expenses through the Medicare Safety Net
• assistance with hearing services through the Office of Hearing Services
• discounted mail redirection through Australia Post

State and territory governments and local councils may offer concessions such as:

• energy and electricity bills
• healthcare costs, including ambulance, dental and eye care
• public transport costs
• rates

Please check with your state and territory government about what concessions are available to Health Care Card holders. Concessional entitlements may vary between states and territories.

When using Medicare services, you need to present your Medicare card.

Your Health Care Card is issued for 1 year from the date you are granted the qualifying payment.

It is automatically renewed annually if you remain eligible for that payment. If you receive:

• Sickness Allowance, your Health Care Card is issued for the period of the current medical certificate up to a maximum of 13 weeks
• Carer Payment (Child) episodic or short term care, your Health Care Card is issued for a period of 26 weeks

Have your concession or health care card with you everywhere you take your phone.

Read more about the Digital Wallet

You need to tell us if your circumstances change while you hold a Health Care Card—for instance, if your income goes up, you start or return to work, or you change your address.

If you stop receiving your payment, we will automatically cancel your Health Care Card.

If you return to work, you need to ask us whether you can keep your Health Care Card for a short time.

There are concession card rules that might affect you if you leave Australia.

To remain eligible for a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card while you are outside Australia, you must continue to meet the qualification rules for your card.

Read more about Health Care Card and Pensioner Concession Card while travelling

Provides training and work experience in environment and heritage conservation for young Australians while generating environmental benefits.

Read more about the Green Army Programme