How to determine if you are eligible for free* hearing services
Under the Office of Hearing Services' scheme you may be entitled to a free hearing assessment, rehabilitation and hearing aids. You need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident 21 years or older and meet one of the following:
- A Pension Concession cardholder
- Centrelink Sickness Allowance
- Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession cardholder
- White Health Repatriation Card (for hearing loss)
- Gold Health Repatriation Card
- Dependent person of one of the above categories
- A member of the Australian Defence Force
The Australian Government Hearing Services program
For eligible people (as listed above), the Government pays for the costs associated with:
- Your hearing test
- Hearing rehabilitation
- Your hearing aids fitting
- Follow up appointments
- The selected free hearing aids
- Maintenance of your hearing aids
- The cost of your batteries
If you are eligible, you can obtain the OHS application form from your doctor or a hearing care provider such as AudioClinic. You can also download the form here today - OHS Application Form.
If I’m eligible, what happens next?
Please phone 1800 057 220 or click here to make your appointment with AudioClinic.
Remember to bring your OHS Application Form with you to your appointment. Your Hearing Care clinician will then conduct a free hearing test*. Depending on your results, you may be prescribed hearing aids.
You’ll be offered a range of hearing aids covered under the scheme to meet your degree of hearing loss and to suit your lifestyle requirements. You will also be offered rehabilitation.
What if I’m eligible for free hearing aids, but would like to upgrade them?
AudioClinic provide a range of hearing aids that offer additional features to meet the clinical needs of clients. The cost of these hearing aids is usually higher than the Government subsidised hearing aids as they have built in more advanced technology.
In this case, the ‘top up’ program is offered. The Government pays AudioClinic the amount you would have paid if you had chosen free hearing aids, and you pay the outstanding amount.
Please contact your local AudioClinic Hearing Care clinician by phoning 1800 057 220 or click here to contact us regarding hearing aid top up options.
Health Funds
For information about whether the cost of your hearing aid is covered by your health fund, click here or contact your provider directly.
Seniors Groups
AudioClinic offers a discount to members of selected Seniors Organisations, such as Seniors Card and National Seniors.
Tax Benefits
The cost of hearing aids form part of your annual medical expenses for tax purposes. If you have medical expenses of more than $1,500 in one financial year, you may be eligible for a net medical expenses tax offset.
*AudioClinic is government accredited to provide free hearing aids and services to pensioners and veterans. Conditions apply to clients under the Commonwealth Hearing Services Voucher System.
