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History | Entitlement | Applying | Eligibility | General Information Health Care Cards for Children and Young People in Foster Care On 1 June 2001, all children in foster care became eligible to obtain a Health Care Card (HCC) in their own name. This eligibility applies to children and young people in both formal and informal foster care. Formal foster care refers to placements of children and young people through Family Services or an agency. Informal foster care is broadly defined to include relatives other than natural parents, and significant others in the child or young persons extended networks. HCC cardholders are entitled to prescription medication under the PBS at the subsidised rate, free ambulance travel in an emergency or on doctors’ recommendation, and depending on other circumstances, other concessions. HCC cardholders can apply for the PBS Safety Net Entitlement Card once 52 PBS prescriptions have been obtained in one calendar year. As at 1 July 2002, 52 prescriptions amounted to $187.20. Once this amount has been spent, the cardholder is entitled to free PBS prescriptions for the remaining part of the year. Carers can ask their pharmacist to maintain a record of prescriptions filled to date or, where different pharmacists are used, the carer needs to keep their own records and receipts. In order to receive subsidised prescription medication under the PBS, both the HCC and Medicare Card number details are to be provided to the pharmacist. So long as the full Medicare number is known, the card is not required. Applying for a HCC for a child or young person in formal foster care For children and young people living in formal foster care, the carer or young person needs to obtain documentation showing that the child or young person is in their care and submit his to their local Family Assistance Office (Not Centrelink). This information will include one or more of the following:
Applying for a HCC for a child or young person in informal foster care For children and young people living in home based care without official involvement, the carer or young person needs to obtain documentation from professionals involved with the family stating that the child or young person is in a private or informal foster care arrangement and submit this to the Family Assistance Office (Not Centrelink). This can include a letter from a Social Worker, General Practitioner, School Principal, or similar person familiar with the case, and outlining the following information:
The documentation may also include:
Some children and young people in care may be eligible for further benefits, if their carer also qualifies for a HCC. This needs to be brought to the attention of the Family Assistance Office at the time the child’s application is made. Sometimes in these circumstances, the child may be included on future cards issued to the carer for all members of the family at that address. Children and young people in home based foster care and residing with an Australian resident are eligible to obtain a HCC. Children and young people in residential care are not eligible for a HCC under the foster child provisions. General Information
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