Child Dental Benefit Schedule FAQ’s

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What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)?

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a dental benefits program for eligible children aged 2-17 years that provides up to $1,000 in benefits to the child for basic dental services. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule replaces the Medicare Teen Dental Plan from 1 January 2014.

Who is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

To be eligible a child must be:

aged between 2 and 17 years for at least 1 day of the calendar year AND
eligible for Medicare AND
for at least 1 day of the calendar year the:

child’s parent, carer, or guardian receives any of the below

Family Tax Benefit Part A
Parenting payment
Double Orphan Pension

child receives any of the below

Family Tax Benefit Part A
Abstudy
Carer Payment
Disability Support Pension
Parenting Payment
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

teenager’s partner receives any of the below

Family Tax Benefit Part A or
Parenting payment

How will I know if we’re eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

Eligible families will receive written notification from the Australian Government either in the form of a letter or electronically. The Government will routinely check throughout the year to determine newly eligible children. Your dentist will check eligibility before commencement of any treatment or you can call your Dentist to check prior to making an appointment.

How long does eligibility last?

Patients will be eligible for the scheme throughout the entire calendar year, however they must be eligible for Medicare on the day of service.

What is covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

Dental services covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule include

Dental check-ups
Teeth cleaning
X-rays
Fillings
Fissure seals
Extractions
Root canal treatment
Partial dentures

High end dental services such as Orthodontics or Cosmetic Dentistry are not included.

Will my Dentist be able to check if my children are eligible?

Yes, Dentists will be able to check patient eligibility by contacting Department of Human Services.

When does the 2 year period commence?

Patients have $1000 to use on dental treatment over a two year period. The 2 year period commences at the start of the calendar year, not from the first appointment date. The two year period starts from the calendar year in which the patient first receives an eligible dental service under CDBS.

Can my child use the full $1000 in the first year?

Yes, patients can use their full benefits within the first year of eligibility if required. If this is the case, additional benefits will not be made available in the following year. If this is the case, and the child is first eligible for benefits in 2014 would then need to wait until 2016 before they can access a new $1000 depending on eligibility.

What happens if my child doesn’t use the $1000 in the first year?

The $1000 benefit is available for the full 2 calendar years, so remaining benefits will be carried over to the second year for future use.

What happens if my child doesn’t use the $1000 within two years?

If the full $1000 is not used within the two calendar year period, remaining benefits cannot be used in the future.

What happens if my child reaches the $1000 benefit limit?

After a patient reaches their $1000 benefit limit, no further benefits under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule will be available within the 2 calendar year period of time. If the child is still eligible in 2016, a new $1000 benefit will be granted

What if my child needs more treatment which will extend past the $1000 benefit limit?

Patients will need to pay the balance for any treatment over $1000. It is best to talk to your Dentist to understand if this may occur.

Can I use my private health insurance with Child Dental Benefits Schedule services?

No, patients with private health insurance are unable to claim benefits from both their health fund and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for the same treatment.

Can my child still use private health insurance for other services not covered by Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

Yes, private health insurance can be used for additional treatment not covered by Child Dental Benefits Schedule

I’ve been advised that my children are eligible for Child Dental Benefits Schedule, what do I do now?

All you need to do now is contact your local Dental Centre, check whether they are accepting Child Dental Benefits Schedule patients and if so, book an appointment.

Royal Park Dental is accepting Child Dental Benefits Schedule patients. To make an appointment, call 8347 1199 or request an appointment online.

My Dentist said that he/she is not bulk billing patients but will bill them privately. What does this mean?

Dentists may request that patients pay in full on the day of treatment and claim back eligible benefits from Medicare. Prior to any treatment occurring you will be informed of the treatment that will be provided on this day under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, the likely cost of this treatment, including any out-of-pocket costs and the billing and payment arrangements for the services.

Do I need to pay a dentist after treatment?

At the time of booking you will be informed as to whether the dentist you are booking with is bulk billing for this service or will require you to pay on the day and then claim back eligible benefits from Medicare.

Our dentists at Royal Park Dental are bulkbilling for eligible services under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. In other words, they will not pay out of pocket costs for these services, subject to sufficient funds being available under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule benefit cap. Prior to treatment commencing you will be informed of the likely cost of this bulk billed treatment and any other out of pocket costs.