Medicare – Bulk Billing child dental
The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS), is a oral health scheme providing comprehensive financial support for basic dental health care treatments. The Child Dental Benefits Scheme helps approximately 3.4 million children preserve their smiles and improve their overall oral health condition. Metro Dental Lounge we are happy to be a bulk billing private dentist that cares for you and your family first.
Eligibility For The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme
The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme provides every eligible child between the ages of 2 and 17 years with a total benefits entitlement cap of $1000. CDBS eligibility is evaluated and determined at the start of every calendar year by the Department of Human Services.
Basically, those who are eligible to the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme are children between 2 to 17 years old, and whose families or guardians receive:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Parenting Payment
- Double Orphan Pension
- Abstudy
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- Special Benefit
- Youth Allowance
Financial assistance under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) and cannot be 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 cannot be included as a dependent child for the purposes of Family Tax Benefit because they are 16 years or older
Children who are CDBS eligible remain so within the period of eligibility even if they are just turning 2 or have already turned 18 within the year.
On Using The CDBS Benefits
The $1000 CDBS cap covers basic dental services including:
- regular dental checkups
- x-rays
- professional dental cleanings
- fissure sealants
- tooth fillings
- root canal treatment
- extractions
- partial dentures
Note however, that most of these dental treatments have some claiming restrictions. CDBS does not cover orthodontic and cosmetic dental treatments.
CDBS eligibility is non-transferable, which means that not even family members are allowed to make use of its total benefit cap. The benefit cap is only applicable to dental services undergone by the eligible patient. A new benefit cap is available only after the two-year calendar period has already elapsed, and on if the child remains eligible within the succeeding calendar period.
You can readily check the eligibility of your child, as well as your balance amount, by accessing your Medicare online account. You can also call the Medicare general enquiries line on 132 011.
Our friendly front office coordinators will always be here to answer any questions that you may have and make an appointment to start the process.