Treasurer Jim Chalmers has hinted dentist appointments could be covered by Medicare “in some future budget” after hopes for bulk-billed dental were dashed in yesterday’s 2025 Federal Budget.
The federal government said it was investing $7.9 billion in Medicare to improve bulk-billing and make most doctor visits free – but dentist visits remain a costly experience.
An average trip to the dentist for a check-up costs an average of $67 and it’s even more expensive for procedures and treatments.
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Chalmers today said it was a “crucial question” over how long it might take for dental to be bulk-billed for those who can’t afford the out-of-pocket expenses.
He stopped short of pledging dental in the next budget but said it was on the cards.
“We’ve got to make sure that we can afford it and make sure there’s room for it in the budget,” Chalmers said.
“In this budget, the priority is incentivising bulk billing and women’s health, but that’s not to say that in some future budget under a government of either persuasion that we might find room from this.”
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Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said last week dental care needed to be put on the back burner as the federal government pushed funding to bulk-billing doctor visits.
“Our party would love to bring dental into Medicare at some stage. We’ve got that as part of our platform commitment,” Butler said.
“But I’ve also tried to be honest with people in saying that right now our focus is on strengthening the Medicare we currently have.”
A parliamentary report issued last year found universal free dental care would cost almost $12 billion every year.
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Is dental bulk-billed at all in Australia?
There are some bulk-billing private dentists in Australia, mostly for children, but it can be rare and you need to meet certain requirements under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).
States and territories provide public dental services for children and adults but you need a Health Care card or a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card in order to be eligible.
Waiting lists for this can be up to a year-long, according to the government website Health Direct.
Most people use private health insurance to help pay for dentist appointments.
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