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The weekly list: health care card low-down

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There are a number of people out in the community at the moment who qualify for Health Care Cards for the first time in their lives. If you have applied for JobSeeker, for example, you are also eligible for a Health Care Card for up to 1 year. Note, you don’t need to apply for it separately, it comes automatically in the mail.

If you live in Victoria, there are lots of discounts and benefits that you can access with this card. Here’s a long list, but there are probably more …

  • Discounted prescription medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

  • Bulk billed medical appointments

  • Ambulance transport

  • Dental services

  • Eyecare and glasses

  • Hearing services

  • Psychologist referrals (until November)

  • Discounted kindergarten fees

  • Discounted school camps,sports and excursions (for your school kids)

  • Centre for Adult Education (CAE) fees reductions

  • Technical and Further Education (TAFE) fees discounts

  • Travel to school allowances for students that live more than 4.8km from the nearest school and do not have a free school bus service

  • Concession travel on public transport

  • A telephone allowance (through Centrelink)

  • Mail concessions (you can apply for a MyPost Concession Account)

  • Discounts on entry to the zoo, the museum, pools, gyms, movies etc.

  • Car registration discounts

  • Water, gas and electricity concessions and waivers including annual concessions and the winter gas discount

  • Hardship grants via the Utility Relief Grant Scheme for water, gas and electricity etc.

  • Bereavement assistance (to pay for funerals)

  • Access to the National Debt Helpline

  • Safe and affordable financial services through Good Money

  • Loans, such as the No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) through Good Shephard Microfinance or StepUP loans through National Australia Bank (NAB).

  • Stamp duty concession

Your local government will also be offering some concessions and financial assistance to support residents through Covid-19. You can check out Darebin Council’s Financial Hardship Policy (that enables you to defer rate payment with an interest free period) here . Yarra is offering the same arrangements here.

We hope this helps!

Leanne