Changes to DVA Cards

All Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Repatriation Health Cards (DVA Cards) are due to expire during 2010. From May 2010 DVA will begin reissuing all cards, as part of this reissue there will be some improvements made to DVA cards. All eligible veterans, war widows/widowers and dependants will be issued with a new card.
Changes to DVA Cards will not reduce eligibility for current DVA card holders.
The changes being made to the cards are to increase:

  • veteran access to services;
  • provider satisfaction; and
  • security of the cards.

Specialised descriptions on DVA Gold Cards will remain unchanged, these descriptions include but are not limited to:

  • Totally and Permanently Incapacitated;
  • War Widow/Widower; and
  • PoW.

Cards expiring between now and June 2010

Temporary DVA cards will be issued between now and June 2010 with a short expiry date. These cards will work the same as current DVA cards and offer DVA clients the same access to services. DVA clients who are issued a temporary card will be issued a new look card before their card expires.

Veteran Access to Services

The magnetic stripe on the cards will contain the following information:

  • full name;
  • file number;
  • card type; and
  • expiry date.

This change is expected to improve provider satisfaction, as this will enable providers to swipe DVA cards in the same way Medicare or Private Health Fund Cards are currently utilised. By improving the claiming experience for the providers it will increase the likelihood of providers accepting DVA cards.

All eligible clients living overseas will, for the first time, be issued with a DVA card. This will remove the need for veterans to contact DVA to receive a “letter of authority” when receiving medical treatment within Australia.

Entitlement to treatment overseas is limited to veterans that have an accepted disability/disabilities and DVA funds treatment of those accepted disabilities only. This process for receiving treatment while overseas will not change.

Security Upgrade

All DVA cards will have microprinting and a DVA registered hologram added as security features. The microprinting and hologram are added security features to ensure non entitled persons cannot reproduce a card.

Expected Arrival Date

The reissue of all cards is due to commence in May 2010. This process is expected to take 10 - 15 weeks to complete.

For any questions or feedback please email us