Article at a glance
- Gold Card covers hearing aids for any hearing loss; White Card covers them if hearing loss is an accepted condition.
- Fully subsidised devices cost you nothing. They are provided through the Hearing Services Program.
- Premium “top-up” devices cost the gap, but there is always a free option available.
- Maintenance is covered, batteries, servicing and repairs, with an annual review.
Hearing loss is one of the most common things veterans carry out of service, and DVA covers hearing aids for it, often at no cost to you. The tricky part is the pathway: which card you hold, how the Hearing Services Program works, and what counts as a free device versus a paid upgrade.
This guide explains what DVA covers, how to get fitted, and what it costs. If your hearing loss has not been claimed yet, start with our article on tinnitus and hearing loss claims, and see the DVA medical conditions hub.
What DVA covers
Most veterans get their hearing aids through the Hearing Services Program (HSP), which offers a range of high-quality, fully subsidised devices. What you are covered for depends on your card.
- Veteran Gold Card covers hearing assessments, fittings, hearing aids and maintenance for any hearing loss.
- Veteran White Card covers the same, but only where hearing loss is a condition DVA has accepted as service-related.
Beyond the hearing aids themselves, the program also covers assistive listening devices where needed, and there is a separate Tinnitus Program for tinnitus that cannot be managed through standard devices.
How to get fitted
- See your GP. They can confirm your medical suitability for a hearing device and point you toward a hearing services provider.
- Choose a registered hearing provider. Book in with a provider that delivers the Hearing Services Program.
- Have your hearing assessed. The provider tests your hearing and talks through which devices suit your needs.
- Get fitted. If you need aids, your provider arranges the devices and seeks any approval needed from DVA. A fully subsidised device costs you nothing.
- Stay maintained. Your maintenance covers batteries, servicing and repairs, with an annual review to keep your devices right for your hearing.
Fully subsidised versus top-up devices
The Hearing Services Program includes a wide range of fully subsidised hearing aids that have no out-of-pocket cost, and for most veterans these meet their needs well. If you want a premium “top-up” device with extras like Bluetooth streaming or rechargeable batteries, you can choose one, but you pay the gap between the standard device and the upgraded one. The key thing to know is that you can always opt for a fully subsidised device at no cost, so do not feel pushed into an upgrade you do not want.
Hold a White Card and your hearing loss isn’t accepted yet? Then it is not yet covered. Hearing loss is one of the most common and most claimable veteran conditions, so if it has not been accepted, getting that claim sorted is the path to having your hearing aids fully covered. That is where our team can help.
Frequently asked questions
Hearing loss not accepted yet?
Hearing loss is one of the most claimable veteran conditions. Our expert team can help you get it accepted, so your hearing aids and treatment are fully covered.
Related from KSC Law
- Tinnitus and hearing loss claims
- Getting the right DVA diagnosis
- DVA medical conditions hub
- DVA claims and the claims process
External resources
Frequently asked questions
Not if you choose a fully subsidised device from the Hearing Services Program range, those have no out-of-pocket cost, and maintenance is covered. You only pay if you choose a premium top-up device, in which case you pay the gap.
Only if DVA has accepted your hearing loss as service-related. If it hasn’t been claimed and accepted yet, hearing aids for it aren’t covered under the White Card until they are. Getting the hearing loss claim accepted is the step that unlocks it.
Mild tinnitus can often be managed with hearing aids from the program. Where it can’t, there’s a separate Tinnitus Program, which an audiologist or ENT specialist can refer you to, with DVA approval. Our tinnitus and hearing loss article covers claiming for tinnitus itself.