Free Child Dental Care (Child Dental Benefit)
Free child dental care, or the Child Dental benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a program run by Medicare, offers up to $1,000 in dental services for eligible children from aged 2-17 over two calendar years. The 2 year cap period starts when a child or teenager first gets an eligible dental service. It targets families who have already received other benefits, such as Family Tax Benefit A payments.
Who is eligible
CDBS apply to children ages 2 to 17 who are eligible for medicare and receive at least one of the following benefits:
Family Tax Benefit Part A
Carer Payment
Disability Support Pension
Parenting Payment
Special Benefit
Youth Allowance
Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) if the child is 16 years or older
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme if the child is 16 or older
In some cases, CDBS payments are made to parents, guardians or approved organisations.
Eligibility is assessed at the beginning of the calendar year. You or your child must meet these requirements at least one day a year. If you or your child qualifies in the calendar year (for example, if your child turns 2 years old in that year), they will receive a full year's payment. The money you don't spend in year 1 will carry over to year 2.
You can also check the eligibility on the CBDS website.
what is next
If your child is eligible, CDBS will cover the fees for dental services, including examination, daily cleaning, repair of cracked teeth, fillings and root canals.It does not include orthodontic treatment (such as braces to correct bent teeth), any dental work that requires a hospital visit, or cosmetic procedures (such as replacing missing teeth).
Come along as a family with your child today!
Learn more about Child Dental Benefits here or contact us
Veteran Affairs
Who is eligible
If you have a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Health Card - All Conditions (Gold) or Totally & Permanently Incapacitated (Gold), DVA will fund most clinically required dental services, provided under DVA arrangements. We will provide dental services for you through the Medicare Benefits Scheme, free of charge. For information about the Gold Card, please refer to DVA website.
What will you get
Gold card holders will normally receive all dental treatment subsidy provided, which our dentist will determine the clinical need for dental treatment. Depending on the type of treatment you need, our dentist can do this immediately without DVA approval or seek approval from the department before continuing treatment.
Procedures such as dental exams, x-rays and temporary crowns, for example, can be done without delay, while some surgeries, dental implants and artificial tooth replacements (A.K.A. dentures) must wait until the DVA approves them.
The good news is that many general dental procedures do not require approval.
Annual Treatment Limits
Keep in mind that while many standard treatments don't have an annual monetary limit, some do. Our dentist will tell you what falls into this category and how much money you can spend each year on medical services.
If you have further inquiries or questions, please contact DVA directly.
How do I access dental services
Currently, we only accept Gold card members to perform the treatment.
You do not need a referral from your doctor to make an appointment with us.
Come today with family members!
Who is eligible? The CDBS is for children aged 2 to 17 who are eligible for Medicare and who also receive at least one of the following benefits: Family Tax Benefit Carer Payment Disability Support Pension Parenting Payment Special Benefit Youth Allowance help under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) if the child is 16 years or older help under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme if the child is 16 or older In some cases, CDBS payments are made to parents, guardians or approved care organisations.Eligibility is assessed at the beginning of the calendar year. You or your child have to meet the requirements for at least one day of the year. If you or your child become eligible during the calendar year (for example, if your child turns 2 during the year), they will receive a payment for the whole year. Any money you don’t spend in the first year will be carried over to the second year. You can check on the Child Dental Benefits Schedule website whether your child is eligible. Public vs private dentists Children who receive CDBS payments can receive treatment in any public dental clinic. The claim will be bulk-billed and there will be no out-of-pocket costs. You can also use CDBS payments to pay for some or all of the treatment at a private dentist. You can use all of the $1,000 at once, or spread it out over the 2 calendar years. You may still need to pay some out-of-pocket costs if you choose a private dentist. Make sure you understand how much the procedure is likely to cost and whether there is likely to be any additional work needed. Your dentist should explain all the expenses to you before they start treatment. Your dentist can check whether your child is eligible to receive CDBS payments and how much is remaining in their balance. If you have private health insurance, you cannot claim a payment from your health fund and for a CDBS payment for the same treatment.
Learn more about Veteran Affairs here or contact us