Health Care Card and Concession Cards Explained
What each Centrelink concession card gives you, who qualifies, and how these cards can save you thousands of dollars per year on prescriptions, utilities, and transport.
General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with Services Australia.
Step 1.Types of Concession Cards
There are four main concession cards issued by Services Australia: the Health Care Card (HCC), the Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), and the Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card. The PCC is the most valuable and is automatically issued to recipients of Age Pension, DSP, Carer Payment, and some other pensions. The HCC is issued to recipients of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, and some other allowances. You can also qualify for a Low Income Health Care Card based solely on your income, even if you do not receive a Centrelink payment. The CSHC is for self-funded retirees over Age Pension age who do not qualify for the pension. Each card provides slightly different benefits, but all give you access to cheaper medications and various discounts.
Step 2.What the Cards Give You — Prescriptions and Health
All concession cards reduce the cost of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions from the general rate of $31.60 per script to the concessional rate of $7.70 per script. For someone on multiple medications, this saves hundreds or thousands of dollars per year. The PBS Safety Net is also lower for concession card holders — once you reach approximately $262.80 in out-of-pocket PBS costs in a calendar year (compared to $1,563.50 for general patients), your scripts become free for the rest of the year. Concession card holders are also more likely to be bulk-billed by GPs and specialists, meaning no out-of-pocket costs for medical visits. Some dental, optical, and hearing services are available at reduced rates or free for concession card holders through public health programs.
Step 3.What the Cards Give You — Utilities and Transport
The value of concession cards extends well beyond health care. In most states and territories, concession card holders receive discounts on electricity, gas, and water bills — these can be worth $200-$700 per year depending on your state. Council rates are often reduced by 25-50% for PCC holders (check with your local council). Public transport concessions are significant: in most states, concession fares are roughly half the full adult fare, and some states offer free travel on certain days or routes for seniors. Vehicle registration is discounted in most states for PCC holders. Some states also offer discounted driver's licence renewals. Telephone and internet services through Telstra's Access for Everyone program offer discounts for eligible concession card holders. The total annual value of a PCC can easily exceed $2,000-$4,000 depending on your usage and state.
Step 4.The Low Income Health Care Card
Even if you do not receive a Centrelink payment, you can apply for a Low Income Health Care Card if your income is below certain thresholds. As of March 2026, the income limits are approximately: single person — $681 per week ($35,412 per year); couple combined — $1,176 per week ($61,152 per year); with one child add approximately $34 per week; with additional children add approximately $34 per week each. Income is assessed over an 8-week period. This card provides the same PBS concessions and many of the same utility and transport discounts as a standard HCC. It is particularly valuable for low-income workers, self-employed people with fluctuating income, and people between jobs who do not qualify for JobSeeker. Apply through myGov or at a Services Australia centre. You will need to provide evidence of your income for the past 8 weeks.
Step 5.Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
The CSHC is specifically for self-funded retirees who are over Age Pension age (67) but do not qualify for the Age Pension due to the income or assets tests. There is no assets test for the CSHC — eligibility is based on your adjusted taxable income only. The income limit as of March 2026 is approximately $95,400 for a single person or $152,640 for a couple combined. Adjusted taxable income includes your taxable income, reportable superannuation contributions, net investment losses, tax-free government pensions, and total net investment losses. The CSHC gives you access to concessional PBS prescriptions ($7.70 per script), the lower PBS Safety Net threshold, bulk-billing incentives for GPs, and various state-based concessions. It does not provide the same level of discounts as the PCC, but it is still worth significant savings annually.
Step 6.How to Get a Concession Card
If you receive a qualifying Centrelink payment, your concession card is issued automatically. You will receive it in the mail shortly after your claim is approved, and it is also available as a digital card in your myGov wallet and the Express Plus app. If you are applying for a Low Income Health Care Card (without a Centrelink payment), apply through myGov by selecting 'Make a Claim' and choosing 'Low Income Health Care Card'. You will need to provide: proof of identity, your Tax File Number, 8 weeks of income evidence (payslips, bank statements), and details of any assets. For the CSHC, apply through myGov or at a Services Australia centre — you will need your latest tax return (Notice of Assessment) as proof of income. If your card is lost or stolen, you can request a replacement through myGov or by calling Centrelink. Always carry your card (physical or digital) — many discounts require you to show it at the point of purchase.
Step 7.Making the Most of Your Concession Card
Many concession card holders do not realise the full range of discounts available to them. Beyond the standard benefits, check for: free or discounted entry to museums, galleries, zoos, and national parks, discounted movie tickets, discounts at participating retailers (many hardware stores, auto parts stores, and other businesses offer concession card discounts — ask at the register), reduced fees for government services (passport photos, court fees in some states), discounts on insurance premiums (some insurers offer lower rates), and free financial counselling services. Each state and territory has different concession card benefits, so check your state government website for a full list. If you receive a PCC, apply for every possible rebate — many require a separate application rather than being automatic. The effort of applying once can save you hundreds of dollars every year.
Useful Tools
- Benefits Eligibility Check
- Age Pension Calculator
- Income Test Calculator
- Centrelink Payment Rates
Resources
- Services Australia — Concession Cards (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
- Services Australia — Low Income Health Care Card (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
- Services Australia — Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
- PBS — Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (pbs.gov.au)