When it comes to kids’ teeth, parents only want the best quality care. Children’s dentistry treatments are available in almost every dental practice in Australia, but what is a key factor for parents in understanding the cost of treatment.
There are certain instances where insurance can cover dental treatments. One of the key insurance policies spoken about is Medicare. If you want to understand whether Medicare covers medicare teen dental plans and whether your child is eligible for free dental treatments, then the answer is yes. However, certain assurances are necessary to ensure that your child is eligible.
About The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule
The Medicare Child, Dental Benefits Schedule, is a Federal Government program that offers minimal dental care to qualified kids between the ages of 2 and 17. Dental care for kids can cost up to $1,000 over two calendar years.
The schedule includes routine dental check-ups, x-rays, sealing cracked teeth, dental fillings, root canals and tooth extractions. Although, it does not cover orthodontic, cosmetic, or emergency hospital treatments.
Most services are bulk-billed. Therefore, you are not required to pay anything. Payments are available to those parents who continue to use other government benefits.
The two-year period begins at the start of the calendar year for your child to become eligible and receive their first dental treatment. The full amount of $1,000 can be used in the first year, but you would need to check if your child is eligible in the second year if you do not use the full amount in the first year. The eligibility of your child is definitive in the first year.
The remaining funds cannot be used beyond two years.
How Do I Know If My Child Is Eligible?
Your child is eligible for free dental care in the following instances:
- They are eligible for the Medicare teen dental plan (they must also be eligible for Medicare on the day the service is provided)
- They at least partially fall within the relevant age range (2–17 years) during that year.
- For at least a portion of that year, the child or parent/guardian receives a payment from the Australian Government that has been approved, such as the Family Tax Benefit Part A.
Family Tax Benefit Part A
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is available to parents who have children between the ages of 2 and 17 and receive Family Tax Benefit Part A from Centrelink (CDBS).
Therefore, for $1,013 per child for two years, you can submit your child for dental examinations, cleanings, fillings, and extractions (among other services covered by Medicare). Although, it’s important to note that this does not include orthodontic or cosmetic treatments.
Will Private Health Insurance Pay For My Dental Care?
Dental care is frequently covered by private health insurance in Australia. Most health insurance plans only cover roughly half of the cost; the remaining balance would be your responsibility to pay.
Health funds all have quite diverse policies. What they will pay for and how much they will pay to vary from one another. The amount you can claim each year might also be subject to restrictions. Before receiving dental care, it is important to understand what your insurance covers.
You will need to carefully review the policy because different funds use different phrases to indicate what they will pay for:
- Routine Checks: X-rays, exams, cleaning and polishing, fluoride treatments, tooth extractions, and fillings are all part of routine dental care.
- Extensive Dental Treatments: dentures, bridgework, implants, crowns, veneers, and veneers.
Some health insurance companies offer recommended dentists that you can visit. In this manner, there are more preventive services, bigger refunds, and lower fees but fewer dentist options.
You must research to determine if you can take out a medicare teen dental plan for your kid’s dental treatment.