Australian seniors guide to health concessions

As we grow older, taking care of our health becomes increasingly important. However, with the current cost of living on the rise, it can also put a strain on our budgets.

Thankfully, there’s a raft of health concessions available to Australian seniors designed to help with the cost of things such as glasses, dental health care and more.

Although these concessions can provide valuable discounts and benefits understanding what’s available can be confusing because the concessions vary by state.

To help make it easier for you, Starts at 60 has created the ultimate concessions resource called the ‘Seniors Concessions Guide 2023’. This free, downloadable eGuide offers a comprehensive state-by-state breakdown of available discounts for the following cardholders: 

• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card;
• Pensioner Concession Card;
• Health Care Card; and
• Seniors Card.

To give you a preview of what you can find in the eGuide, we’ve shared what health concessions you may be eligible for in Queensland and Western Australia. For the full list of health concessions that are available in other states, and to learn more about the other discounts available in areas such as transportation and utilities, download our free Seniors Concessions Guide 2023 today.

Queensland

Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card and Health Care Card holders who are permanent residents in Queensland are eligible for the Spectacle Supply Scheme. The scheme provides cardholders with access to one pair of basic, prescription spectacles, every two years. To be eligible, you must have held one of the concession cards for a minimum of 6 months before applying and clinically need spectacles, decided by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. For more information on how to apply, see here.

Free public dental care is available to Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and Health Care Card holders who are Queensland residents. Cardholders may be given vouchers for treatment in private practices. Treatment that is non-urgent may be subject to a waiting list. For more information and locations that offer free public dental services, see here.

Pensioner Concession Card holders are also eligible for hearing service vouchers, which cover the full cost of an approved hearing aid. Cardholders can also choose to purchase a partially subsidised hearing device instead. To learn more click here.

Western Australia

Pensioner Concession Card and Health Care Card holders are entitled to discounted emergency and general dental services. The WA Government offers a subsidy of up to 75% on treatment costs depending on the amount of income received in government benefits. Treatment is offered through Public Dental Clinics with waiting lists for non-urgent care. For more information, click here.

A concession on eyewear is available to Pensioner Concession Card and Seniors Card holders through the Spectacle Subsidy Scheme. The scheme provides a rebate of $54.34 every two years on the purchase of prescribes spectacles or contact lenses and is available through all WA optometrists and optical dispensers. Pensioner Concession Card holders are also eligible for hearing service vouchers, which cover the full cost of an approved hearing aid. Cardholders can also choose to purchase a partially subsidised hearing device instead. Learn more here.

Important Note: Holders of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are not entitled to any health concessions in SA.

Download the free Senior Concessions eGuide 

For a full and extensive list of concessions available to Australian Seniors in each state, download your copy of our FREE Senior Concessions eGuide here. 

Disclaimer: The information in this e-guide was gathered from websites affiliated with state and territorial governments as of January 2023. Although utmost care was taken to ensure its accuracy, it’s always best to confirm the available concessions with the relevant card provider if you have any doubts. This guide is meant to serve only as an informational reference and presents the maximum available entitlements. The results from the calculator are just estimations and should not be considered as a definite entitlement. The figures and formulas used in this guide may be subject to change without notice, as determined by state governments.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your financial or legal situation, objectives or needs. That means it’s not financial product or legal advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a financial or legal decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get independent, licensed financial services or legal advice.