With a Gold Card, DVA pays for clinically necessary physiotherapy, other allied health and dental care for all conditions. With a White Card, it pays for treatment of your accepted conditions. You usually need a GP referral for allied health, but not for dental or optical care.
Allied health services DVA covers
These include physiotherapy, exercise physiology, occupational therapy, podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathy, dietetics, speech pathology, orthotics and medical grade footwear, and optical services within DVA's limits.
DVA physiotherapy and the treatment cycle
Your usual GP refers you to an allied health provider when you have a clinical need. A specialist or hospital discharge planner can make the first referral. Each referral lasts for up to 12 sessions or one year, whichever ends first. This is called the treatment cycle.
At the start, your provider prepares a care plan with your goals. At the end, they report to your GP, who decides whether you need a new referral. You can have as many treatment cycles as your GP considers clinically necessary, including for different services at the same time. TPI Gold Card holders are exempt from the treatment cycle for physiotherapy and exercise physiology.
Providers who accept your Veteran Card are paid the DVA rate and can't charge you a gap fee. Ask whether they accept the card before you book.
Read about the allied health treatment cycle
DVA dental
If you have a clinical need, DVA pays for dental care with a Gold Card, or with a White Card for an accepted condition. Your dentist can do check-ups, treat injuries and conditions, fill cavities, fit crowns and provide dentures. Dentures can be relined every two years and replaced every six. Dental hygienists, dental therapists and oral health therapists are covered too.
In most cases you don't pay. For some high-cost items, such as certain crowns and bridges, a limit of $5,980.30 applies over two calendar years (1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027), and you may pay a share above it. The limit doesn't apply to former prisoners of war, treatment for an accepted condition, or treatment for cancer affecting your teeth or jaw. Check-ups are usually every six months.
Rehabilitation
If DVA accepts a condition, you may also be offered a rehabilitation program to help you recover and return to work or daily activities. Read about what an accepted claim gives you.
Read DVA's allied health information
Checked against DVA's website on 25 September 2026.