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Treatment & your Veteran Card (White Card)

The White Card pays for treatment of your accepted service-related conditions. Depending on your service, it can also cover all mental health conditions, cancer and pulmonary TB, with no need to prove they were caused by service.

Official information checked 2 Oct 2026 · Links tested
Guide 3 of 9 · Gold & White Cards

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You've received a Veteran Gold Card — now what? Gold Card & additional benefits Find a practitioner who accepts DVA What could I be eligible for? Back to the journey
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Quick answer

Editorial

What it covers

Official

Clinically required treatment in Australia for accepted service-related conditions, plus Non-Liability Health Care (NLHC) for mental health, cancer or pulmonary TB where eligible.

Mental health without a claim

Official

Anyone with at least 1 day of continuous full-time ADF service can get fully funded treatment for any mental health condition. You don't need to prove service caused it.

Often automatic

Official

DVA usually sends a White Card when you discharge with 1+ day of continuous full-time service, or when it accepts a service-related condition.

What the White Card covers

Official

The Veteran Card – Specific Conditions covers clinically required treatment in Australia for your eligible conditions only. This can include GP and specialist care, hospital, allied health, dental and optical (for accepted conditions), community nursing, pathology and imaging. Medicines cost $7.70 per item under the RPBS (Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) until you reach the Safety Net.

It can also give access to Open Arms, Veterans’ Home Care, aids and modifications and travel for treatment. For Australian veterans, a Veterans' Home Care assessment isn't limited to your accepted conditions.

Source: DVA – Veteran Card – Specific Conditions (White Card); DVA – Veterans' Home Care (VHC)

Non-Liability Health Care: mental health, cancer and TB

Official

NLHC (Non-Liability Health Care) means DVA pays for treatment without you having to prove your service caused the condition.

  • Mental health: current and former ADF members with at least 1 day of continuous full-time service (CFTS), including reservists with CFTS. Reservists without CFTS may qualify through disaster relief service, border protection service or a serious service-related training accident. Treatment is covered for as long as it's needed. This includes GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, hospital admissions, medicines, alcohol and drug programs and Open Arms. See NLHC mental health.
  • Cancer and pulmonary TB: veterans with certain types of service may be covered even if the condition isn't service-related. See Cancer & pulmonary TB care.

Source: DVA – Non-Liability Health Care (mental health); DVA – Cancer & pulmonary TB care; DVA – Veteran Card – Specific Conditions (White Card)

How to get one

Official
  1. Check whether you already have one. Many veterans get it automatically on discharge, or when a claim is accepted.
  2. Apply online in MyService: choose 'Mental Health Treatment' or 'Veteran Covenant'.
  3. Or use a paper form: D9213 (mental health) or D9215 (cancer or TB).
  4. Or make a claim for a service-caused condition. From 1 July 2026, new claims are assessed under the MRCA.
  5. Need help? Call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) or email NLHC@dva.gov.au.

You may need to provide proof of identity.

Source: DVA – Veteran Card – Specific Conditions (White Card); DVA – Non-Liability Health Care (mental health); DVA – D9213 form page; DVA – Veteran Card (Veterans' Legislation Reform)

Using your White Card

Official
  • Ask each provider if they accept the Veteran Card. Show them your accepted conditions at least once per provider. They may call DVA to check.
  • Check which conditions are listed in MyService ('Your card', then 'View card details', then 'Conditions listed'). For mental health, look for 'All mental health conditions – treatment only'.
  • The card is valid only in Australia.
  • If you get a bill, don't pay it — contact DVA.
  • Want to see what's been billed to DVA under your name? Here's how to check provider charges in My Health Record.
  • If you choose to be a private or Medicare patient, DVA won't pay the out-of-pocket costs.
  • Lost card? Order a replacement in MyService. It should arrive within 4 weeks.

Source: DVA – Veteran Card – Specific Conditions (White Card); DVA – Non-Liability Health Care (mental health)

White vs Gold vs Orange

Official
White (Specific Conditions)Gold (All Conditions)Orange (Pharmaceuticals Only)
CoversAccepted conditions plus NLHC (mental health, cancer, TB)All medical conditionsMedicines, wound care and nutritional supplements only — no treatment
WhoVeterans with accepted conditions or NLHC eligibilityFor example 70+ with qualifying service, SRDP or ADA, 60+ impairment points, some dependantsCommonwealth and allied WWII veterans and mariners with 10+ years living in Australia
Medicines$7.70 per item for eligible conditions$7.70 per item, all conditions$7.70 per item
After 1 July 2026Same eligibility for MRCA veteransNew claims assessed under the MRCA; existing VEA holders unchangedNot available under the MRCA; may continue under the VEA

More: Gold Card · Orange Card

Source: DVA – Veteran Card – Specific Conditions (White Card); DVA – Veteran Card – All Conditions (Gold Card); DVA – Veteran Card – Pharmaceuticals Only (Orange Card); DVA – Veteran Card (Veterans' Legislation Reform)

Tips and pitfalls

Guidance
  • NLHC mental health is the fastest way to get help. You can get treatment while a compensation claim is still being decided.
  • If your approval letter has arrived but the card hasn't, show the provider the letter. DVA can reimburse eligible costs from up to 3 months before it received your application (per DVA's NLHC provider guidance).
  • Bring a printout or screenshot of your accepted conditions to new providers.
  • If a condition gets worse, you may be eligible for more support. Ask about a claim under the MRCA.

Source: DVA – Non-Liability Health Care (mental health); DVA – Cancer & pulmonary TB care

Common situations & what helps

Guidance

Common situations veterans run into, and practical steps that may help. This is general guidance, not a promise of an outcome. Always check the official rule linked under each one.

You need mental health help now

The situation: You're struggling and haven't made a claim, or don't know if your service caused it.

What helps: Non-Liability Health Care pays for treatment of any mental health condition without proving a link to service. You don't need a diagnosis to apply. You can still lodge a compensation claim later or at the same time.

Official rule: DVA – Non-Liability Health Care (mental health)

Waiting on a claim for a common injury

The situation: You've lodged a claim for something like a knee, back, shoulder or hearing condition and the decision may take months.

What helps: If it is one of the 20 PAMT conditions, DVA may pay for treatment while you wait. DVA sends a Treatment confirmation form for your GP after you lodge. Claims need to be lodged by 30 June 2027.

Official rule: DVA – Get treatment while you wait on a claim (PAMT)

A cancer or TB diagnosis

The situation: You've been diagnosed with cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis and wonder if DVA can help with treatment.

What helps: Depending on your service, DVA may pay for treatment of cancer or pulmonary TB even if it isn't linked to service. Apply on form D9215 or contact DVA to check eligibility.

Official rule: DVA – Free treatment for cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis

Veteran experiences (4)

Experience
These are real experiences, not rules. Each one is an anonymised summary of a post and the replies in a veterans' community group. Details that could identify anyone have been removed. Outcomes vary, and none of this is DVA policy or advice about your claim. Always check the official rule linked under each one, and talk to a free advocate about your own situation.

Higher-level hearing aids refused

Refused

What happened: A veteran with DVA-accepted hearing loss had repeatedly paid extra for hearing aids they felt were suitable for their needs. A recent request for higher-level hearing aids was refused, so they changed providers in the hope of finding a more appropriate treatment option.

What other veterans said: Comments disagreed about hearing-aid funding limits, but several veterans described asking an audiologist to seek approval for a different device where standard options did not adequately meet their hearing needs.

Check the official rule: DVA – Hearing services

Repeat tinnitus testing and a CBT recommendation

Question

What happened: A veteran with accepted hearing loss and tinnitus lodged a further tinnitus compensation claim after legislative changes. Updated testing showed no significant change, and Hearing Australia recommended CBT while also indicating a final report could be prepared without completing the CBT appointments, leaving the veteran unsure what DVA would require.

What other veterans said: The discussion showed recurring confusion about when repeat hearing or tinnitus assessment is required and which legislation applies. That uncertainty is better resolved against the veteran's determination and current DVA rules than by comparing another veteran's claim.

Check the official rule: DVA – Hearing services

Starting hearing treatment after acceptance

Approved

What happened: A veteran had hearing loss accepted by DVA after an audiology assessment found moderate hearing loss requiring hearing aids, along with significant tinnitus and hyperacusis. They later began the treatment process through Hearing Australia and were trying to understand how the treatment stage would proceed after acceptance.

What other veterans said: Some commenters suggested obtaining another audiology opinion where a provider's recommendation did not appear consistent with the veteran's accepted hearing condition or earlier testing.

Check the official rule: DVA – Hearing services

Using the White Card for the first time

Question

What happened: A White Card holder needed treatment for an accepted condition but had never used the card for that condition before. They were unsure whether they needed to contact DVA first or could proceed through the normal referral process with a treating practitioner. Other veterans described using a GP referral to access specialist treatment for an accepted White Card condition, with the specialist or provider then dealing with DVA approval and billing.

What other veterans said: The comments suggest that the treating provider often handles the DVA authorisation process for treatment linked to an accepted condition. Veterans should still confirm that the provider accepts DVA arrangements before treatment.

Check the official rule: DVA – Veteran White Card

Experiences collected October 2026. Got a correction? Use the feedback form.

Official sources

Official
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Veteran Card – Specific Conditions (White Card)
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Non-Liability Health Care (mental health)
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Cancer & pulmonary TB care
    View source
  • dva.gov.auD9213 Application for Health Care for Mental Health Condition(s) (PDF)
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – D9213 form page
    View source
  • dva.gov.auD9215 Application for Health Care for Cancer or Tuberculosis (PDF)
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Veteran Card – All Conditions (Gold Card)
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Veteran Card – Pharmaceuticals Only (Orange Card)
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Veteran Card (Veterans' Legislation Reform)
    View source
  • openarms.gov.auOpen Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Veterans' Home Care (VHC)
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP)
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Claim travel expenses under the improved MRCA
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – About MyService
    View source
  • dva.gov.auDVA – Single review pathway
    View source

All links opened and checked 2026-10-02.

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