Health Care Card. A guide to concessions in Victoria.

Transcription

1 Health Care Card A guide to concessions in Victoria

2 July 2002 %

3 In this guide Who is eligible? 2 Health 6 Household 9 Education 10 Transport 11 More information 12

4 Who is eligible? Centrelink customers who receive any of the allowances, payments or benefits listed below, automatically receive the Health Care Card as part of their entitlement. Newstart Allowance* Partner Allowance* Widow Allowance* Special Benefit* Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment Youth Allowance (Unemployed) Benefit Parenting payment (Partnered) Sickness Allowance* A card is issued for a period covered by medical certificate up to a maximum of 13 weeks. No separate claim is needed and the card is issued on a 12-weekly basis. People who receive: Newstart Allowance Sickness Allowance Partner Allowance Widow Allowance Youth Allowance (unemployed) Special Benefit or Parenting Payment (single) 2

5 for 12 months or more, and whose payment is cancelled receive the Health Care Card. (The cancellation of income support payment may occur if recipients or their partners earn additional income). No separate claim is needed and the card is valid for six months. People who receive maximum rate Family Tax Benefit Part A in fortnightly instalments through Centrelink and have family income in less than $ (excluding any Child Support) receive the Health Care Card. (If claiming Family Tax Benefit through the Tax system, you can test your eligibility for a Low Income Health Care Card, by lodging a claim with Centrelink). * With the exception of people over 60 years of age who have been receiving a payment for nine months or more. They receive a Pensioner Concession Card. People who receive Carer Allowance, in respect of a child, receive the Health Care Card. The card is to be used only for the direct benefit of the child. No separate claim is needed and the card is issued 12-monthly. People who receive Mobility Allowance (or would receive Mobility Allowance but don t because they have purchased a Goods and Services Tax exempt motor vehicle) and who are not receiving Disability Support Pension receive the Health Care Card. No separate claim is needed and the card is issued six monthly. 3

6 Eligible full time students who claim Youth Allowance or Austudy may receive the Health Care Card. Eligibility for the Health Care Card will depend upon income and be assessed as part of a claim for Youth Allowance or Austudy payment. A separate application is not required. If a student s average income reduces to less than the Health Care Card income test limit over an eight-week period, a separate claim for the Health Care Card can be made. Proof of income for the last eight weeks is required. The card is valid for six months. Eligible ABSTUDY claimants over 16 years of age may receive a Health Care Card. A separate application for the card must be lodged. Ask Centrelink for a claim form. Low income earners whose average income over an eight-week period is less than the Health Care Card income test limit are eligible for the Health Care Card. A separate claim must be lodged, with proof of income in the last eight weeks. The card is valid for six months. Foster Carers may test their eligibility to receive a Health Care Card by contacting Centrelink. 4

7 In an emergency situation a confirmation of Concession Card Entitlement is available. This card is valid for two weeks and covers the period that the Health Care Card may take to arrive by post. Dependants may also be eligible for some concessions. Please check with organisation providing the concession. Centrelink has made every effort to ensure the information in this brochure is correct. Please contact the organisation providing the particular concession or service if you have any questions. 5

8 Health Please note a Medicare Card is required for basic hospital and medical treatment. When using Medicare services the Medicare Card should be used in conjunction with a Health Care Card. Prescription Medicines: Holders of the Health Care Card are entitled to prescription medicines at the concession rate through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Upon presenting a Health Care Card and Medicare Card to pharmacists, cardholders will generally pay $3.60 per unit for most PBS medicines. If the medicine is not listed on the PBS or is only partially covered, cardholders may pay more than $3.60. Cardholders who spend more than $ in a calendar year on PBS prescription medicines and record their purchases using a Prescription Record Form, are entitled to free PBS medicines for the remainder of that year. Health Care Cardholders who have been charged the general PBS rate (generally $22.40) because they did not satisfy the pharmacy that they were concession patients, may apply for partial reimbursement at the Medicare Office. Please note that certain charges contained in the general fee are not refundable. For further information call the PBS Information Line Freecall *. Subject to change Available from the local pharmacy. 6

9 Ambulance/Air Ambulance: Free travel is available to cardholders and their dependants in an emergency or on the recommendation of a medical practitioner. For further information call the Metropolitan Ambulance Service *, or the Rural Ambulance Service (03) Hearing Services: Health Care Card payment type SA (Sickness Allowance) holders can apply to the Office of Hearing Services for a Hearing Service Voucher. This voucher entitles cardholders to some hearing assessment and hearing rehabilitation services including supply and fitting of hearing aids, free of charge. Payment of a $31.50 annual service fee provides cardholders with hearing aid maintenance and a regular supply of batteries. Application forms for the voucher are available from General Practitioners or hearing practitioners. For further information contact the Office of Hearing Services on Freecall * for eligibility enquiries. Freecall * for general enquiries. TTY Freecall *. Dental Care: Subsidised dental treatment is available through Community Dental Clinics, some Hospital Dental Clinics and the Royal Dental Hospital. A patient contribution is required for all adult dental services. Free dental care is available for school children through the School Dental Service (the child must be listed as a dependant on a parent/guardian s card or have their own card). For further information call *. 7

10 Eye Examinations and Low Cost Glasses: Eye examinations and low cost glasses are available at the Melbourne Optometry Clinic of the Victorian College of Optometry, or if you live in the country, through the Victorian Eyecare Service. The cost of an eye examination is bulk-billed to Medicare and glasses and contact lenses may be provided at very low cost. The actual charge depends on the type of glasses provided. The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital provides a similar service for people with a medical problem. Health Care Card holders must have held their cards continuously for six months. For further information call: Victorian College of Optometry (03) Victorian Eyecare Service (03) Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (03)

11 Household Post Office: Payment Type SA, Health Care Cardholders qualify to have their postal articles redirected free of charge. Redirection lasts for a maximum period of six months after which time the application must be renewed by the cardholder. Those who have a Health Care Card other than a Payment Type SA are not eligible for this concession. For further information contact the local Post Office. Gas and electricity: A 17.5 per cent discount on winter energy bills is available for gas and electricity, between May and November. When paying in person, cardholders must present their card. Contact the utility if paying by mail. Non-Mains Winter Energy: A rebate is available for people who use $ or more of LP Gas per annum and/or who are individually metered for electricity but pay a caravan park or accommodation proprietor. For further information contact the local gas supplier, local council or the Department of Human Services Freecall *. Sewage Disposal: Fifty per cent discount up to a maximum of $67.50 per annum or the unused portion of the sewerage service charges concession (whichever is lower). This concession is only applicable where a sewerage disposal charge is itemised on your water bill. Water Consumption: Fifty per cent discount up to a maximum of either $67.50 per annum or the unused portion of the water service charges concession (whichever is lower). 9

12 For further information contact the water company or authority or present the card if paying in person. Stamp Duty: Health Care Cardholders purchasing a property valued between $ and $ may be exempt from stamp duty or the stamp duty may be reduced. First homebuyers with dependent children may be eligible for full exemption, with properties valued up to $ with a sliding scale up to $ For more information call the State Revenue Office on * for application forms. Dog and Cat Registration: Concessions are provided by local councils. For further information contact the local council. Education School Expenses: Cardholders with children aged 16 years or less may be eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). Two installments are paid at the beginning of terms one and three. The annual rates of EMA are $127 for primary students and $254 for secondary students. Students turning 16 in the year of the application are paid $21 per month up to their birth date. The Health Care Card must be in the parent or guardian s name. Half of the EMA is paid to the school to be used on text books, student requisites, excursions and other higher cost curriculum materials. Child Disability Allowance card holders do not qualify for the EMA. For further information contact the relevant School Principal. 10

13 Transport Holders of Health Care Cards receiving any of the following payments are entitled to concession fares on all public transport services and privately operated bus lines: Sickness Allowance (SA) Newstart Allowance (NS) Widow Allowance (WA) Special Benefit (SL) Youth Allowance (YA Coding only) Only holders of Health Care Cards receiving benefits with the above codes are eligible to receive public transport concessions. Concessions are not available to dependents. Concession Fares: These are available on trams, trains and buses in metropolitan Melbourne and V/Line ticketed train or coach services and country bus services to eligible cardholders. For further information contact VicTrip on * or V/Line on *. Car Registration: Car registration may be waived for cardholders or their dependent spouses with a limit of one vehicle per card. For further information call VICROADS Concessional Registration *. This leaflet is a guide only. More details are available from the government body or agency providing the benefit or concession. Concessions vary from State to State. When travelling to another State, check whether a particular concession is available. The information in this guide was correct at the time of printing. 11

14 More information For further information call Centrelink. Youth and Student Services * Youth Allowance, Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement ABSTUDY * Assistance for Isolated Children * Retirement * Employment Services * Family Assistance Office * Disabilities, Sickness and Carers * Bereavement Assistance * Financial Information Service (FIS) * FIS provides information to Centrelink and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) clients. Indigenous Service Officer (ISO) * Centrelink has ISOs who help Indigenous people and organisations with Centrelink payments and services. TTY Service Freecall A free service provided for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. Access to this service is via a teletypewriter machine only. For information in languages other than English, call the Centrelink Multilingual Service on *. To make an appointment to visit a Centrelink Customer Service Centre call *. 12

15 Customer Relations Line Freecall * Available 8.30 a.m p.m. EST Monday to Friday. Call to provide comments, complaints or compliments about Centrelink s customer service. For updated information about payments and services available 24 hours a day, check out our Internet website at: * Calls to 13 numbers cost 25 cents from anywhere within Australia. Calls to 1800 numbers are free of charge. Calls from public pay phones or mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate. Important note While all care is taken in the preparation of information and material in this publication, no responsibility can be taken for any change in the personal circumstances of any person acting on information presented here. You are advised to contact your Centrelink Customer Service Centre for full details of any entitlements and services for which you may be eligible, or of how any pending changes in legislation, programs or services may affect you. 13

16 Note: The information contained in this publication: is intended as a guide only does not necessarily tell you everything you need to know about eligibility requirements or your possible entitlements is made available to you on the understanding that the Commonwealth is not providing you with professional advice, and is believed to be accurate as at July 2002, but is subject to legislative change. As most government payments are paid from, or after, the date on which you apply, it is important to apply as soon as possible to avoid any loss of payment. Disclaimer: At the time of preparing this publication for print, the Commonwealth has attempted to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate. However, the Commonwealth does not: warrant that the information is accurate, or accept responsibility for any loss suffered by any person because they rely in any way on the information. CO % a