Care For Young Teeth: Child Dental Benefits Extended For 2017!
In the news
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has applauded announcement by the Turnbull Government and its Health Minister, Greg Hunt, to reinstate the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) cap to $1,000.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is returning for 2017! The CDBS is a government funded health program, which provides $1,000 to cover basic dental services over a two year period for about 3 million Australian children between the ages of 2 and 17.
If your children are eligible you should not let them miss out on the CDBS’s benefit for basic dental services. Oral health is always important, and developing good dental and oral health habits in your children is one way to ensure a healthy life in the future.
For more information regarding the CDBS, contact our friendly staff at Main Beach Dental and we will be happy to book an appointment or answer your questions!
Key Features of the CDBS
The program’s key features are:
- Child dental benefits for children aged two to 17 years.
- Benefits that focus on basic dental services including prevention and basic treatment with high end and orthodontic items excluded.
- Benefit entitlement is capped at $1,000 per eligible child over a two year period.
- Benefits can be used in the public or private system.
- Benefits are available from the beginning of each two-year period.
- If benefits are depleted before the two year period concludes, access to another $1,000 benefits will not occur until the new cycle.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility is assessed at the beginning of each calendar year and is valid for the entire year. If you become eligible part way through a calendar year, you only get benefits under the CDBS from the date of Medicare eligibility.
A child is eligible if they are aged 2–17 years, eligible for Medicare, and they or their family receives any of the benefits listed below for at least one day in this calendar year:
Your children are eligible if the child’s parent, carer, or guardian receives:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Double Orphan Pension
- Parenting Payment, or
- ABSTUDY
A child is eligible if they receive:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- Youth Allowance
- Parenting Payment
- Special Benefit
- Financial assistance under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) and NOT included as a dependent child for the purposes of Family Tax Benefit because they are 16 years or older, or
- Financial assistance under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS) and NOT included as a dependent child for the purposes of Family Tax Benefit because they are 16 years or older
You’ll get a letter to confirm the eligibility of your child for the CDBS if you’re a:
- Parent or guardian
- Approved care organisation
Older children getting payments under their own name may also receive a letter.
To ensure that all eligible children can use their CDBS entitled benefits, make sure that your details are up to date with Medicare and Centrelink.
Medicare can be contacted on 132 011.
Centrelink can be contacted on 136 150.
What Services are Benefitted?
- Dental check-ups
- Teeth Cleaning
- Fissure sealants
- Fillings
- Dental X-rays
- Extractions
- Root canals
Child Dental Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work and will not be paid for any services provided in a hospital operating theatre.
Dental Care at Main Beach Dental
At Main Beach Dental your oral health is important to us. We provide gentle, specialist care for all conditions and work to prevent disease, decay, and too many dentist appointments in the future. Our commitment is to our patients, their friend, and their families!
For information about Child Dental Benefits Schedule, contact your Main Beach dentist on (07) 5503 1177 or book your appointment online.