What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)?
The Child Dental Benefits Scheme is a dental benefits program available for children aged 2-17, that provides up to $1000 in benefits to your child for basic dental services, over 2 consecutive calendar years.
Who is eligible?
From January 2014, eligible families, teenagers and approved care organisations will receive a letter to confirm eligibility.
Your child is eligible if they are aged between 2-17 years at any point in the calendar year, and receive a relevant Australian government payment, at any point during the calendar year. These payments include:
· Youth Allowance
· ABSTUDY
· Disability Support Pension
· Parenting Payment
· Special Benefit
· Carer Payment
· Double Orphan Pension
· Veteran’s Children Education Scheme, if the child is 16 or over
· Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme, if the child is 16 or over
How long does the benefit last?
Once your child has been assessed as eligible, they are eligible for that entire calendar year – even if they are turning two that year, turn 18, or stop receiving the relevant government payment.
If your child does not use all of their $1,000 benefit in the first year of eligibility, they can use it in the second year if they are still eligible. Any remaining balance will not be carried forward at the end of the second year.
You can confirm your child’s eligibility and balance amount by accessing your Medicare online account at my.gov.au or calling the Medicare general enquiries line on 132 011.
What treatments does the benefit cover?
Benefits will cover a range of services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions.
Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work (crown and bridge, whitening services) and cannot be paid for any services provided in a hospital.
How do I get started?
Please make an appointment with us at Concord Dental Practice.
At the time of the appointment, your dentist or hygiene therapist here at Concord Dental Practice will perform a thorough examination, including the use of two x-rays, to determine if any treatment is required. A scale and clean with fluoride treatment can also be carried out.
Before commencing any sort of treatment, you will be informed of any out of pocket expenses verbally, and with a detailed written treatment plan for your child.
At the end of the appointment, we ask that you sign an informed consent form, to confirm that the proposed treatment plan, including associated treatment costs, has been appropriately communicated to you.
What are the out of pocket expenses?
We do not bulk bill at Concord Dental Practice. In order to maintain the high quality and standard of our treatment, materials and services, there will be a small out of pocket fee for some treatment items.
This will all be communicated appropriately to you, so there are no surprises at the end of each appointment.
Can private health insurance be used for Child Dental Benefits Schedule services?
Unfortunately, if you have private health insurance which covers dental services, you are not able to claim a benefit from both the private health insurer and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for the same dental service.
You cannot use private health insurance to ‘top up’ the Child Dental Benefits Schedule benefit your child has received for a service. However, private health insurance can be used for any services not provided under the program (such as crowns), but these items must be billed separately.