High Use Health Card
The High Use Health Card gives a general practice a higher government subsidy for patients with high health needs.
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Eligibility
To be eligible for this card the patient needs to have visited a health practitioner at the general practice they are enrolled in, 12 or more times in one year, with the consultations being related to a particular condition or condition(s) which are ongoing. This card is not means tested.
The general practice will have a record of visits, and the doctor will need to make the application on the patient’s behalf for a High Use Health Card. The card lasts for one year, after which time a new application can be made (if appropriate).
Benefits
The High Use Health Card may reduce the cost of:
- fees for after-hours general practice visits
- visits to a general practice where the individual is not enrolled – check this with the practice.
Some practices may charge a lower fee to enrolled patients with a High Use Health Card – talk to your doctor or nurse about whether this is the case for you.
For patients with a Community Services Card (CSC), the subsidy for prescription fees and general practice visits for non-enrolled patients is the same. However, for patients with a HUHC, there is an advantage in also having a CSC, because the CSC enables enrolled patients to get lower cost fees and also gives subsidies to dependent family members.
There are also a range of other benefits that CSC holders and their dependents may be entitled to. For more information go to the Community Services Card section.
Application
All High Use Health Card applications must be submitted by a medical/general practitioner.
High Use Health Card information [PDF, 105 KB]