With a Veteran Card, your provider bills DVA at the DVA rate and can't charge you a gap fee. Most Medicare-listed treatment doesn't need DVA's approval, but some treatment and medicines need prior approval, and allied health and community nursing need a referral.
What each Veteran Card covers
- Gold Card: clinically necessary treatment for all conditions, including Medicare-listed treatment, allied health and PBS or RPBS medicines
- White Card: the same for your accepted conditions, plus mental health care for a diagnosed mental health condition
- Orange Card: PBS or RPBS medicines for all conditions
DVA prior approval
DVA must approve non-Medicare treatments and medicines that aren't on the PBS or RPBS before you get them. Your provider applies for approval, not you. Your dentist also contacts DVA if you need check-ups more often than every six months, and your GP or health professional contacts DVA if an aid or piece of equipment needs approval.
DVA referrals
- Allied health, such as physiotherapy: a referral from your usual GP, lasting up to 12 sessions or a year. Read about the treatment cycle.
- Specialists: referral arrangements are the same as usual.
- Dental and optical: no referral needed.
- Community nursing: a written referral to a DVA-contracted provider. Read about community nursing.
Finding a doctor who accepts your Veteran Card
Ask the practice or provider whether they accept your Veteran Card before you book. If your regular provider doesn't, you may need to see another one. White Card holders should show a new provider their list of accepted conditions from MyService at the first visit.
Read DVA's Veteran Card, prior approval and referral information
Checked against DVA's website on 25 September 2026.