Pensioner & DVA
Free Hearing Services for Pensioners and Veterans Through Office of Hearing Services Voucher Scheme
Who Is Eligible?
- Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
- Centrelink Sickness Allowance
- DVA Pensioner Concession Card
- DVA Gold Health Repatrician Card
- DVA White Health Repatriation Card (for Hearing Loss)
- Dependant of a Concession Card Holder
- Member of the Australia Defence
Benefits:
The Australian Government Hearing Services Program (the program) is managed by the Office of Hearing Services (the Office) for eligible pensioners and veterans to access a range of hearing services.
Hearing services include,
- A comprehensive hearing assessment performed by an accredited hearing services provider.
- Access to a wide range of quality free-to-client hearing devices, made by leading manufacturers.
- If you are fitted with a hearing device, you will receive all the help on how to achieve maximum benefit from your device.
- Further support and alternative listening devices, which can be accessed even if fitting a hearing device is not suitable.
- Access to an optional annual maintenance agreement where, for a small fee, you can receive repairs and batteries to support your hearing device.
All services delivered under the program are completed by accredited hearing services providers with appropriate skills like Abel Hearing Clinic.
If you believe that you may be eligible, call Abel Hearing Clinic and we can confirm your eligibility. Furthermore, we can also assist with an online application for a voucher from the Office of Hearing Services.
If your hearing assessment shows a hearing device will assist you with your hearing and communication needs, you will have three options:
- Do nothing
- Be fitted with ‘free-to-client’ hearing aids
- Contribute the cost of hearing aids in order to receive more advanced technology
All hearing devices offered by us under the program are of high quality. If your hearing assessment shows a hearing device will assist you, in the first instance, you will be offered a ‘free-to-client’ hearing device. You may choose to purchase a top-up hearing device.
Free-To-Client Hearing Devices?
Top-Up Hearing Device:
The program also allows for ‘top-up’ hearing devices which have additional features to meet your hearing goals. Your hearing services provider may offer you the option of purchasing a top-up hearing device. But what level of technology?
Additional features and benefits of top up hearing device may include:
- Richer sound quality delivered through devices that have more frequency bands (channels).
- Greater clarity and comfort in noise, through more advanced noise management technology.
- More Discreet Solutions
- Hearing aids that adjust automatically to changing listening environments.
- Ability for your hearing aids to act as wireless headsets for a range of other devices, such as TVs, mobile phones, iPods, stereos, iPads and more.
Top-up hearing devices, due to their advanced features, are only partially subsidized by the program and if you choose top-up hearing devices, you will be expected to contribute towards the cost. This additional cost will vary depending on the hearing devices you have chosen.
You may like to check with your private health insurance fund. If you have private health insurance please call them to determine what costs it may cover for you. These costs will be different for individual health funds and the level of coverage you have.
You may be able to claim a medical expenses tax offset, for your hearing devices. Further advice on medical expenses tax offsets can be found by contacting the Australian Taxation Office Individual Info Line on 132 861.
