Let us agree to the fact that Dental care costs can shake-up your budget. Despite dental payment plans, dental care costs can be a major concern for many of us. But what if we get a helping hand to pay those dental bills of our children?

Here is a government measure to make sure that general dentistry costs of your children’s dental care do not trouble you. Read on to know more.

What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a $2.7 billion government measure to provide a Commonwealth funded capped benefit entitlement for basic dental services for children. It is meant to help children aged 2-17, belonging to families meeting certain eligibility criteria. The total benefit entitlement is capped at $1000 per child for two years.

What treatments are included in CDBS?

Nearly all the basic dental treatment services are included in the CDBS plan. Some examples of these services are:

• Check-ups
• X-rays
• Cleaning
• Fillings
• Root canals
• Extractions

The dental services that are not included in CDBS include high-end services such as orthodontic treatments, cosmetic dental treatments, and any in-hospital dental services. The cost of treatments should not exceed the entitlement cap of $1000 per child for two years.

Is my child eligible for CDBS?

The Australian government wrote to inform the eligibility of children or their families in early 2014. The basic eligibility criteria that need to be fulfilled are:

• The child is eligible for Medicare
• The child’s age should fall between 2-17 years
• Families should be eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB-A) or certain other government payments

This eligibility test is hence in many ways similar to the Medicare Teen Dental Plan (MTDP).

From when does the 2-year period start?

The two-year period begins at the calendar year when a child is eligible for CDBS. You can use the entire sum of $1000 in the first year also. When the sum is not utilised in the first year itself, you can utilise it in the second calendar year of eligibility. But if the sum is not utilised within 2 years, you cannot use the remaining funds and will have to wait for the new 2-year cover period to start again.

Roles and responsibilities

You are responsible for keeping your child’s detail up to date as the payments of these benefits will be administered through Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The basic responsibilities and contact details are:

• Keep your details updated with Medicare, patient helpline 132 011
• Update FTB-A details, phone Centrelink 136 150
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs, phone 1332 254

Will I need to pay on the day of services under CDBS?

You only need to pay in front, if the dentist in Melbourne you are consulting does not bulk bill. But, if you are eligible for CDBS, you do not have to worry about paying anything on the day of services at Healthy Smiles Dental Group clinic. To ensure the convenience of eligible families, we bulk bill at our practice and relieve parents of yet one more worry of initial payments.

For more information on CDBS and to know how your child can benefit from it, visit us at our dental clinic in Blackburn or call us at 03 9877 2035. We will be delighted to guide you through.

The post All You Need to Know About Child Dental Benefits Schedule appeared first on Healthy Smiles Dental Group Blog.