If you hold a Veteran Card through the Department of Veterans' Affairs, you may already know it covers a good deal of your dental care. But working out exactly what's included, and what the two-year limit means for bigger treatments, can be confusing. At Hocking Dental Care we bill DVA directly, so we talk through these questions with veterans and their families often. This guide explains what DVA Gold Card dental cover involves, using the card names DVA uses today.
The cards have new names
The DVA Gold Card, officially the Veteran Gold Card, is a treatment card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to eligible veterans, war widows and widowers, and certain dependants. The White Card worked alongside it for veterans with specific accepted conditions.
DVA has since renamed both cards. The old Gold Card is now called the Veteran Card – All Conditions, and the old White Card is now called the Veteran Card – Specific Conditions. You'll still hear people say "DVA Gold Card dental" or "DVA White Card dental" out of habit, and that's fine. We know exactly what you mean. This post uses the current official names, with the older names alongside them so everything is clear.
What DVA Gold Card dental entitlements actually cover
You may be able to receive dental services if you have an assessed clinical need and a Veteran Card – All Conditions, or a Veteran Card – Specific Conditions where your treatment is for an accepted service-related condition. In other words, the All Conditions card is the broader one. It covers clinically necessary dental care generally, while the Specific Conditions card only covers dental treatment connected to a condition DVA has formally accepted.
According to DVA, dental services are treatments to keep your teeth and mouth healthy, and may include regular check-ups and cleaning, prevention of tooth decay, treatments for cavities, dentures, and treatments for dental injuries or conditions. More specifically, if you're eligible, your dentist may assess the health of your mouth and teeth at regular check-ups, treat any dental injuries or conditions, repair cavities in your teeth with fillings or crowns, and provide you with dentures.
Dentures get their own rules around timing. DVA says a dentist may re-line your dentures every two years, and replace your dentures every 6 years, unless your dentures have been re-lined in the past year, or if your dentist recommends a replacement sooner. So if your dentures are uncomfortable or loose well before that six-year mark, it's worth raising it with your dentist rather than waiting.
Check-ups also follow a general pattern. DVA notes that regular check-ups are usually once every 6 months. If you need to be seen more often than that, your dentist can request approval from DVA on your behalf.
Hygienists, dental therapists and oral health therapists are part of your care team too, and their work for cleaning and prevention sits within the same cover. At Hocking Dental Care, this means your regular check-ups and cleans, fillings and other everyday dental work can usually be arranged through your Veteran Card with no payment needed from you at the time of treatment, because we bill DVA directly on your behalf.
The two-year limit on bigger items
There's one part of DVA dental gold card cover that catches people out: the Biennial Monetary Limit, often just called the BML. This is a two-year limit that applies to some higher-cost dental items, such as certain bridges and crowns.
If the cost of this kind of treatment goes above the limit within a two-year period, a co-payment may apply. The exact amount changes from time to time, so rather than guess, we always point patients to DVA's own dental services page for the current figure, and we talk you through how it applies to your specific treatment plan before anything begins.
Some veterans don't need to worry about this limit at all. DVA explains that you are exempt from the BML and don't need to make any co-payments if you are an ex-prisoner of war, the treatment is for an accepted service-related injury or condition, or the treatment is for malignant cancer that affects your teeth or jaw. If any of these apply to you, it's worth mentioning at your appointment so we can check how your cover applies.
What to bring and what to check first
Before you book, it's worth checking that the dental provider you're going to actually accepts Veteran Cards for payment. DVA itself advises that you should contact your dental provider to make an appointment, and check first that they will accept your Veteran Card – All Conditions or Veteran Card – Specific Conditions. We'd suggest the same thing here: give our team a call on (08) 9306 2755 before your first visit, just so everything runs smoothly on the day.
On the day itself, bring your physical Veteran Card, or have the digital version ready on your phone through myGov if that's how you carry it. It's the simplest way for our front desk to confirm your card type and get your treatment billed correctly.
A few other practical points worth knowing:
- If your regular dentist doesn't accept your Veteran Card, DVA notes you may need to see a different provider instead.
- Specific Conditions card holders should be ready to confirm which condition their treatment relates to, since cover only extends to accepted conditions.
- Keep any paperwork from DVA about your accepted conditions somewhere handy, in case it's needed to support a claim.
You can read more about how our practice works with DVA patients on our Veteran Affairs page, and for a wider look at how fees, funds and rebates work generally, our fees and rebates page is a good place to start. If you're newer to Hocking Dental Care altogether, our new patients page covers what to expect at your first visit.
How this fits with other cover
If you also hold private health insurance alongside your Veteran Card, it's worth knowing how the two interact for any treatment that falls outside DVA's cover. Hocking Dental Care is a preferred provider for HBF, Medibank, HCF, nib and Bupa, which generally means a smaller gap on eligible treatment claimed through HICAPS on the spot. Other funds can usually still claim too, just through a different process. None of this affects how your Veteran Card entitlements work; the two systems simply sit alongside each other.
If you ever want a clearer picture of exactly what a quote means, including the item numbers used on your treatment plan, our guide to dental item numbers walks through how to read one.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the old Gold Card and White Card?
The Gold Card is now called the Veteran Card – All Conditions, and generally covers clinically necessary dental care without needing to link it to a specific condition. The White Card is now the Veteran Card – Specific Conditions, and only covers dental treatment tied to a condition DVA has formally accepted for you.
Do I need to pay anything at the time of my appointment?
In most cases, no payment is needed when your dentist bills DVA directly for eligible treatment. A co-payment may apply for some higher-cost items once the two-year Biennial Monetary Limit is reached, unless you're exempt. We'll always talk you through this before any treatment starts, and give you written detail with item numbers so you know exactly what's being claimed.
How often can I get a check-up under my Veteran Card?
Regular check-ups are usually available once every six months. If your dentist believes you need to be seen more often, they can request approval from DVA for additional visits.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Bring your Veteran Card, either the physical card or the digital version through myGov, along with any paperwork about accepted conditions if you hold a Specific Conditions card. It's also worth calling ahead to confirm we can process your card for the treatment you need.
Where can I check the current two-year limit amount?
Because this figure is reviewed periodically, the most reliable place to check it is DVA's own dental services page. Our team can also help explain how it applies to your treatment plan once we know what's needed.
If you hold a Veteran Card and you're due for a check-up, or you'd like to talk through a treatment plan before it starts, give Hocking Dental Care a call on (08) 9306 2755 or choose a time that suits you through our online booking page. We're happy to confirm your card details and talk you through your cover before your visit.
