Below is the list of concessions available in this category. To view each concession, click on its name - this will expand information about that concession underneath the name. Alternatively, you can choose to expand or hide all of the information about the concessions using the link below:

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Electricity and heating

• Life support machine rebate

  

  The rebate for life support machines varies according to the type of machine installed, but is generally 50 per cent of its running costs.

  The rebate is available to people who:

  • are eligible on medical grounds and have a life support machine installed
  • live with someone who uses a life support machine.

  For more information:
  Phone: 1800 150 679

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

Health

• Patient travel assistance

  

  Financial assistance is available for Tasmanians required to:

  • travel more than 75km one way to access specialist medical services or lymphoedema treatment not available locally
  • travel more than 50km one way to access the nearest renal and oncology treatment centre
    and
  • the patient is ineligible for assistance from other sources (e.g. MAIB, Workers Compensation).

  Levels of assistance are determined by the distance, the type of travel and accommodation required.

  Client contribution towards costs are reduced for holders of a:

  • Centrelink or DVA Pensioner Concession Card (except for DVA Gold Card and in some cases White Card)
  • Centrelink Health Care Card.

  For more information contact the Patient Travel Coordinator:
  Phone:
  6222 8225 (Royal Hobart Hospital)
  6348 7249 (Launceston General Hospital)
  6434 6984 (North West Regional Hospital)
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/ptas
  Email: ptas@dhhs.tas.gov.au
  

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card; Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

• Adult dental service

  

  Free emergency services and subsidised general services and dentures are available to adults who have a:

  • Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
  • Centrelink Health Care Card.

  Note: Holders of a DVA Pensioner Concession Card are already entitled to free private dental care via the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

  For more information:
  Phone:
  6214 5411 (Hobart)
  6336 4100 (Launceston)
  6440 7104 (Burnie)
  6421 7729 (Devonport)
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card

• Children's dental service

  

  Free service is available to:

  • all children under six
  • dependent children of Centrelink Concession Card holders up to but not including 18 years of age.

  Holders of a:

  • Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
  • Centrelink Health Care Card.

  Note: DVA card holders not eligible.

  Subsidised service is available to:

  • all other children under 18.

  For more information:
  Check under Health and Human Services in the white pages for your local children’s dental clinic.
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au
  

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card; Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

• Community Equipment Scheme (CES)

  

  Financial assistance is available to eligible clients who require:

  • mobility and personal care aids and equipment
  • specialised footwear
  • basic home modifications
  • continence aids
  • appliances to enhance their safety and quality of life.

  The assistance is available to people who have been referred by an authorised prescriber and who have a:

  • Centrelink or DVA* Pensioner Concession Card
  • Centrelink Health Care Card.

  * Where DVA card holders are not eligible under another scheme.

  Terms and conditions are outlined in the CES Guidelines available from the Department of Health and Human Services.

  For more information:
  Phone:
  6222 7226 (South)
  6348 7906 (North)
  6426 2429 (North West)
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au
  

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card

• Continuous Positive Airways Pressure Program

  

  Financial assistance is available to people who have been clinically assessed as having a sleep-related breathing disorder which requires a continuous positive airways pressure machine.

  Please consult your medical specialist.

  To be eligible people must have a referral from a sleep specialist and hold a:

  • Centrelink or DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • Centrelink Health Care Card.

  For more information:
  Phone: 1300 13 55 13 (general enquiries)
  Phone: 6222 7353 (Royal Hobart Hospital Department of Respiratory Medicine)
  Phone: 6348 7708 (Launceston General Hospital Respiratory Unit)
  Email (South): rhh.respiratory@dhhs.tas.gov.au

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card

• Enteral feeds and supplements

  

  Tube feeds and oral nutrition supplements are supplied at subsidised cost to people:

  • with serious medical conditions that affect their ability to meet nutritional requirements with normal food and drink
  • are assessed by a dietitian or doctor as requiring nutrition support
  • have a Centrelink Health Care Card
  • have a Centrelink or DVA Pensioner Concession Card (excluding DVA gold cards).

  The subsidised supplements are only available to individuals who are NOT eligible for financial assistance from any other government-funded program.

  For more information:
  Phone:
  6222 8145 (Royal Hobart Hospital)
  6348 7477 (Launceston General Hospital)
  6430 6597 (North West Regional Hospital)

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card; Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

• Home Oxygen Program

  

  Free oxygen supplies are available to patients assessed by a specialist doctor as needing oxygen therapy.

  Please consult your medical specialist.

  The assessment also needs to be approved by the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Royal Hobart or Launceston General Hospitals.

  Note: Does not apply to Department of Veterans’ Affairs card holders who are eligible for DVA assistance.

  For more information:
  Phone: 1300 13 55 13 (general enquiries)
  Phone (South): 6222 7353 (Royal Hobart Hospital Department of Respiratory Medicine)
  Email (South): rhh.respiratory@dhhs.tas.gov.au
  Phone (North): 6348 7708 (Launceston General Hospital Respiratory Unit)

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

• Pharmaceuticals

  

  Concessions are available on pharmaceuticals dispensed to outpatients attending the emergency department or hospital outpatient clinics in public hospitals:

  • general patients are entitled to receive pharmaceuticals at a maximum cost of $26.30 per prescription item
  • general patients receiving a short course of therapy, for example up to five days’ supply, are charged $10.

  Holders of one of the following cards will pay a maximum of $5.30 per prescription item:

  • Centrelink Health Care Card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Card
  • Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
  • PBS Safety Net Concessions Card issued by a Pharmacy
  • Repatriation Health Care Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Holders of a PBS Safety Net Entitlement Card will not be charged.

  Note: DVA Pensioner Concession Card holders are not eligible.

  For more information:
  Phone:
  6222 8495 (Royal Hobart Hospital)
  6348 7733 (Launceston General Hospital)
  6430 6717 (North West Regional Hospital)

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card; Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

• Visual aids

  

  Subsidies of 70 per cent are available on:

  • scheduled items such as lenses and basic frames
  • low vision aids, non-cosmetic contact lenses, prostheses and intra-ocular implants (up to $284.65 per item).

  Eligible people include pre-school age children and adults post-school year 12 who are permanent Tasmanian residents (for at least three continuous months immediately prior to application) and who:

  • have a Centrelink or DVA Pensioner Concession Card (excluding Gold Card and in some cases White Card)
  • meet an assessment of current income and cash assets. Other low-income earners may be eligible for the subsidy under hardship provisions.
  • The minimum Tasmanian residential requirement does not apply to refugees.

  The subsidy does not cover wards of state or school age children for whom assistance is available through Children and Family Services and the Department of Education. See Education section.

  Note: People with private health insurance are ineligible.

  For more information:
  Phone: 1800 232 148 (free call)
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

• Wigs

  

  Financial assistance to buy wigs is available to cancer and alopecia patients who are referred by a doctor and who have a:

  • Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
  • Centrelink Health Care Card.

  Note: Holders of a DVA Pensioner Concession Card please consult the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

  For more information:
  Phone: 1300 13 55 13
  Contact your medical specialist.

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card

Specific medical conditions

• Insulin-treated diabetes

  

  Free needles and syringes are available to people with insulin-treated diabetes who are:

  • residents of Tasmania
  • accessing the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)
  • not receiving any other co-payment to cover the cost of needles and syringes under the NDSS.

  For more information:
  Phone: 1300 136 588 (Diabetes Australia - Tasmania)
  Email: mail@diabetestas.com.au
  Web: www.diabetestas.com.au

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

• Lymphoedema

  

  Financial assistance is available to people requiring compression garments to help manage lymphoedema and who have a:

  • Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
  • Centrelink Health Care Card.

  Note: For card holders of a DVA Pensioner Concession Card please consult the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

  For more information:
  Phone: 6222 8634 (Royal Hobart Hospital Physiotherapy)
  Phone: 6222 8314 (Royal Hobart Hospital Occupational Therapy)
  Phone: 6348 7216 (Launceston General Hospital Physiotherapy)
  Phone: 6430 6608 (North West Regional Hospital Physiotherapy)
  Email (South): physio.rhh@dhhs.tas.gov.au
  Email (North West): physio.burnie@dhhs.tas.gov.au

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card

• Orthotics/prosthetics

  

  A free basic orthotics and prosthetics service is provided to eligible people whose costs are not met by other organisations such as MAIB, workers’ compensation or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

  Those eligible include:

  • public hospital clients
  • Centrelink or DVA* Pensioner Concession Card holders
  • Centrelink Health Care Card holders.

  * Where DVA card holders are not eligible under another scheme.

  Clients are charged for more advanced and specialised technology.

  For more information:
  Phone:
  6222 7377 (South)
  6348 7562 (North)
  6430 6583 (North West)
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au

  Eligible cards for this concession:

  Pensioner Concession Card; Centrelink Health Care Card; Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

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