Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a government program that helps cover the costs of dental care for children.
How does the Medicare CDBS work?
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a government program that helps cover the costs of dental care for children. The program is available to all Australian children and provides benefits for preventive, diagnostic and basic treatment services.
Eligible teenagers or caregivers will have received a letter confirming their eligibility. If you have lost your letter, call the Human Services team and they can look it up for you!
Is my child eligible for these benefits?
To be eligible for the CDBS, your child must:
- Be aged between 2-17 years old on any day of the one-year calendar.
- Receive, or their family, guardian or carer receives, certain government benefits such as Family Tax Benefit Part A for at least part of the calendar year.
- Be eligible for Medicare.
What can my child claim?
Under the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule, basic dental services are capped at $1,000 per child over a 2-year consecutive calendar year. If you do not use the entirety of the $1,000 benefits in the first year, you can use these benefits in the following year if you are still eligible. Any remaining benefits do not roll over to the next calendar year so it’s important to ensure you utilise these benefits to their fullest potential.
Some examples of basic dental services that can be covered include oral examinations and necessary x-rays, check-ups and cleans, fissure sealants, root canal treatment and tooth extractions.
It’s also important to note that:
- Benefits are not available to cover orthodontic treatment or cosmetic dental services, nor any dental service performed in a hospital.
- Medicare Child Dental Benefit Scheme services will not count towards the Medicare Safety Net or the Extended Medicare Safety Net thresholds.
- You cannot claim a benefit under the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme and from your private health insurer for the same dental service.
How do I claim CDBS?
To claim your child’s benefits, present your Medicare card (that includes your child’s name) to our receptionist upon arrival. We’ll be able to check your child’s eligibility on the spot. If your child is eligible and has benefits still to claim, our team will deduct the amount to pay for your child’s dental fees from your benefits.
Alternatively, you can pay in full in our practice on the day of your child’s dental visit and then claim your 100% refund from Medicare. To submit your claim to Medicare, you can:
- Call 132 011
- Visit your nearest Medicare Service Centre
- Download the Medicare Claim Form and post it to:
- The Department of Human Services, GPO Box 9822 in your capital city
- Or, place it in the drop-box at one of the Medicare Services Centres
If you’d like to request more information on the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, you can visit the Human Services website or call our team today to check your child’s eligibility on the spot.
CDBS Dentist in Macquarie
If you’ve been looking for a new, reliable family dentist or are ready to book your family in for a routine visit with us, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
We can’t wait to welcome you into our state-of-the-art Macquarie practice.
CDBS FAQs
No, not all children are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. The eligibility criteria for this coverage are as follows.
- Your child must be aged between 2-17 years old on any day of the one-year calendar.
- Your child or their family, guardian or carer, have received certain government benefits such as Family Tax Benefit Part A for at least part of the calendar year.
- Your child must be eligible for Medicare.
No, braces nor any cosmetic dental services are covered under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. If you are unsure if a treatment you’re considering for your child is covered, feel free to contact our team today.
Parents can easily access their online Medicare account at my.gov.au to confirm their child’s eligibility and balance amount. Alternatively, you can give our team a call and we will check over the phone for you.
General dentistry involves diagnostic and preventative services for your teeth and overall oral health. Our philosophy is that prevention is better than a cure.
Our aim is to provide our patients with the best cosmetic dental results possible. We utilise the latest modern technological advances in dentistry to ensure that our patients receive unparalleled care.
The Macquarie Dental team ensures patients with existing or arising dental issues are given a thorough treatment plan to achieve the best possible results for their long term oral health.
The Macquarie Dental team takes an educational approach when catering to children, to ensure the whole family feels fully informed about any dental issues that we’ve expressed concern about.