Health Care Card

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The Australian Health Care Card is issued by the Australian Government's Centrelink agency to certain people in the community that are deemed to be disadvantaged. This is primarily poor people.

Eligibility for the card is determined by the eligibility (and registration) for various federal government welfare payments (see Centrelink). The payment/s are clearly shown on the card. Some benefits (most notably public transport ones in some areas) are only available to receivers of certain benefits.

The card is issued once someone has successfully applied for one or more of the associated payments. It lasts for six months, after which time it is renewed if the holder is continuing to receive any payments. It is therefore possible to legally hold and use the card while earning an infinite amount of money, if only for a few months.

Advantages of holding the card can include reduced:

health care costs including PBS medicines, ambulance transportation, dental care and eye care.
public transport costs in many areas.
water rates.
gas and electricity bills.

Private groups also often give discounts to holders of this card.