How to take advantage of Medicare Health Insurance at Springvale Dental Clinic

What is Medicare Health Insurance?

Medicare health insurance is a universal health insurance service operated by the Australian government under the Department of Human Services. The government through Medicare provides primary health services to Australian citizens and people considered as permanent residents. Qualified residents are entitled to subsidized treatment from eligible health practitioners. Once someone is eligible for Medicare services, he or she is given a Medicare card that will be used to receive health services under Medicare. You do not need to be an Australian citizen for you to qualify for Medicare. Permanent residents are also entitled to the same benefits. Once you have received health services, the rebate will be paid directly to the health practitioner through bulk-billing services.

However, if the health practitioner does not offer bulk billing services, you will be forced to use other channels to claim for refund. The Medicare card is important since you will have to provide it to your healthcare provider for you to receive subsidized services. Medicare covers a wide range of healthcare services including dental services. However, not all dental services are covered under Medicare. Currently, the only dental program covered by Medicare is the children’s program known as the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).

What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)?

CDBS is a governmental program operated under Medicare for eligible children between the ages of 2 to 17. The program provides basic dental benefits of up to $1000* for a period of 2 years. Some of the services covered under this program include dental examination by a Medicare dentist, cleanings, fissure sealing, x-rays, root canals, and tooth extraction. Medicare dental services can either be provided in a private clinic or a public hospital. Dental benefits under Medicare are not available for cosmetic and orthodontist work. The payment of benefits under CDBS is administered through the Department of Human Services.

How to Take Advantage of Medicare Health Insurance at Springvale Dental Clinic?

Springvale Dental Clinic is a family clinic that has been operating in Springvale and the neighboring Suburbs for quite some time now. We offer a broad range of dental services using the latest technology in dentistry. Our main focus is always on the patient, and we always do anything within our limits to make sure that the patient is comfortable and relaxed. Our staff are friendly, and they will make you feel at home as soon as you step through our doors.

At Springvale Dental Clinic, we accept vouchers from public dental services including the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Also, we are great at handling children. We provide a comfortable and stress-free environment for your child. We understand that the initial visits to the dentist for your child will determine how he or she will perceive dental visits throughout his or her life. Due to this, we make sure that we have provided the best experience ever that will make your child long for dental visits. Most parents think that taking their children to the dentist is not important since the teeth will eventually fall out and pave the way for permanent teeth. While this is true, your baby’s milk teeth greatly determine how the adult teeth will grow. They act as pacesetters for permanent teeth. Lack of proper dental health for your baby’s teeth will make the permanent teeth erupt in a crooked and unhealthy way. Thus, it’s always important to take your child to visit the dentist.

To take advantage of Medicare health insurance at Springvale Dental Clinic, you need to make an appointment with one of our dentists. Make sure that you carry your Medicare card during the dental visit. Our staff will confirm for you if you are still eligible for the program and will let you know about your balance. If you are still eligible, our dentist will provide all the dental services you need that are covered by Medicare, and you will not be required to make any out-of-pocket costs.

Am I Eligible for Medicare CDBS?

The Department of Human Services assesses the eligibility of every child at the start of every calendar year. A child is eligible for CDBS if they are also eligible for Medicare and aged between 2 and 17 at any point of the calendar year. Also, the parent or guardian of the child must be receiving any other relevant payment from the government such as Family Tax Benefit Part A at any point of the calendar year.

Once the child has been confirmed eligible by the Department of Human Services, the guardian or parent will be notified via post or electronically. You can present this letter to our dentist during your next dental appointment to confirm your eligibility. The Department of Human Services conducts routine check-ups throughout the year to ascertain if there are any other eligible children.

Once I Am Eligible, How Long Will My Eligibility Last?

Once your child has been confirmed to be eligible, his or her eligibility will last for that calendar year even if they turn eighteen or stops receiving relevant payments from the government. However, the child must be eligible for Medicare services on the day that he or she receives dental services from a Medicare dentist. If you are unsure about your eligibility, don’t worry, just visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic and we will help you check your eligibility status. Our staff will do this by contacting the Department of Human Services.

How Does the $1000 Cap Work?

The $1000 worth of basic dental benefits under CDBS is capped per eligible patient for a period of two consecutive years. The cap is the maximum amount of dental benefits a child can use for two consecutive years. This period starts from the calendar year in which the child first receives an eligible dental service.

For example, if the child receives the first dental service under CDBS on 17th May 2017, the two-year period will be the whole calendar year of 2017 and if still eligible, the whole of 2018. If the child is still eligible after the relevant two-year period, he or she will have to access a new benefit cap.

The patient can use the entire benefit cap within the first year if there is a need to. However, if the cap is not used entirely during the first year, the benefits can be carried forward to the second year provided the child is still eligible. If the cap is used in totality within the first year, the patient will have to wait until the end of the relevant two-year period to access another benefit. To put this statement into perspective, consider the two scenarios below:

Scenario 1: If a child is covered and benefits to a total of $600 in 2017, then it means that the child will receive more dental services under CDBS in 2018 totaling to $400.

Scenario 2: If a child receives the coverage and receives dental services in 2017 which totals $1000, that child will have to wait for two calendar years to access more benefits. This means that the child will have to wait until 2019 to receive a new cap. If such a patient would like to receive more dental services in 2018, he or she will be forced to make the out-of-pocket cost to pay for the services.

How can I Check My Balance?

There are several methods you can use to check your CDBS balance. First, you can visit the Department of Human Services website and check your balance. You can also decide to call the Department of Human Services directly to ask about your balance. However, if you are still unable to confirm through these two methods, you can visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic, and we will help you with that.

What are Dental Services provided under CDBS?

CDBS covers quite a number of dental services. Each service covered under this program has its own item number. These item numbers provide descriptions of the service including its benefits and restrictions. For a service to be covered by CDBS, it must be considered to be clinically relevant service. A clinically relevant service is dental services that are generally accepted in dentistry as being necessary for the appropriate treatment or care for the patient the service is being offered. Some of the services under Medicare you can take advantage of from Springvale Dental Clinic include:

Diagnostic and Preventive

Diagnostic dental services are performed with the intention of identifying the underlying dental condition. These services are meant to assist the dentist in identifying if there is any dental problem that is developing. Such services include dental x-rays. Preventive dental services are dental services that aim at preventing a dental problem from becoming extensive. Such services include dental cleanings and scaling.

Restorative Services/ Fillings

A dental restoration or dental filling is a treatment meant to restore the functionality and integrity of a tooth. While this service has not yet been recognized as a specialty by the Australian Dental Association, a general dentist can be able to perform this dental service without any additional education. It all depends on how complicated the procedure is and how comfortable your dentist feels when it comes to undertaking the procedure.

Receiving dental fillings under CDBS has a few restrictions. First, for a dental filling to be covered by CDBS, the restoration material used must either be metallic or adhesive and only one can be claimed per tooth. If the dentist places multiple restorations on the same surface on the same day, the surface will only be counted as one.

Sedation

CDBS provides benefits for inhalation sedation and intravenous sedation, but these items must be used differently. For inhalation sedation, the dentist can only use nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen. CDBS will not pay benefits if any other gas is used. When it comes to intravenous sedation, it can only be claimed once within a period of twelve months.

Why Visit Your Dentist on a Regular Basis?

Before you decide on which dentist to visit, it is important that you know why you should visit a dentist. Even with these hard economic times, investing in your dental health is essential. Regular visits to the dentist will help you avoid major dental problems as well as detect the small ones before they become large. Waiting for too long between regular dental check-ups will only make your dental issues worse. By the time you go seeking help, you will need to visit a dental specialist, and it will end up costing you more. Here is why you should visit the dentist regularly.

Plaque, cavities, and tartar

Some hidden places in your mouth cannot be cleaned even with regular brushing and flossing. In such places, plaque tends to build up and become difficult to remove, which later solidifies forming tartar which can only be removed with professional help. Regular cleaning appointment is more affordable than getting your tooth filled, so if you believe in saving ensure that you do not miss out on cleanings.

Detection of oral cancer

Oral cancer manifests itself in different ways, and without knowing its early signs, it is hard to diagnose it early enough. Therefore, it can easily and quickly progress and become life-threatening. Fortunately, early-stage diagnosis of oral cancer is easily treatable.

Gum disease

Not only does plaque and tartar lead to tooth decay but also wear off the gum tissues. This often occurs when tartar buildup causes infection on the gum line leading to gum recession. This infection is commonly known as gingivitis and as it progresses the tissues attaching gums to teeth break down. Once the condition gets to this point, there will likely be bleeding, swelling, and soreness. Alongside the breaking down of gum tissues, gum disease also results in the breaking down of the jawbone. At this stage, it is common for the teeth to fall out and you will need quick treatment from a dentist. You will not only need more appointments with the dentist depending on the severity, but also you are likely to blow your wallet. Regular dental check-ups are vital in diagnosing and treating gum disease before it worsens.

Keeping bad oral habits in check

You may have some bad oral habits that you may not realize which can have a negative impact on your oral health. Some of these bad habits may include grinding teeth, eating chewy or hard candy, chewing on ice, brushing too hard, biting your nails, and smoking tobacco. Visiting the dentist regularly will help the dentist identify the damage that may be caused by the habits that you may or may not have noticed. Getting informed allows you to become more cautious and change your habits to avoid further damage.

Visiting your dentist regularly will help you keep your teeth and overall body in good shape. Make Springvale Dental Clinic your go-to source for the dental information that you may need. Get to us for help in case you need a dentist to keep your teeth healthy.

Why Visit Springvale Dental Clinic for Medicare services?

Here at Springvale Dental Clinic, our patients are our topmost priority. We always make sure that your experience in our dental clinic is the very best. Here is why you should choose us for your Medicare services

A pleasant and calm environment

We always take extra steps to ensure that our patients are relaxed and comfortable during their appointments. Our dentists treat you like family and always take ample time to know you better, review your goals, and create a treatment schedule which you are comfortable with.

High quality

Here at Springvale Dental Clinic, our dentists and technology are of the highest quality to make sure that your experience with us is the best. Our highly qualified dentists use the latest and the best dental technology to transform the appearance and health of your smile.

Prevention over cure

We are passionate about creating beautiful smiles, but also if it is not broken why fix it. Therefore, we put a lot of effort into helping you maintain your own natural beautiful smile by carefully checking your mouth for any early signs of infection or decay. In case we detect any early signs of infection or decay we take measures to prevent it from developing in the future.

Short waiting time

Our patients come first for us. We do not keep our patients waiting for weeks or even months for an appointment. We have made a calm and pleasant waiting room in which you can spend waiting time before your treatment.

Provide a personalised experience

We always strive to provide a personalized experience to all of our patients. We ensure that each patient who visits us feels comfortable and right at home, whether they are coming for a regular dental visit or an advanced procedure.

Competitive and favourable prices

We offer competitive and favourable prices so that all our patients can receive the treatment they need. We also accept most of the insurance plans and offer any insurance details you may need at any time.

We offer Medicare Bulk Billing Services

Bulk billing services are a payment option under Medicare in Australia. A dentist who offers bulk billing services accepts Medicare benefits for dental services that a patient has received. This means that when you receive Medicare services from a dentist who offers bulk billing services, you will not have to incur any out-of-pocket costs. It’s, however, vital to note that not all dentists offer bulk billing services. Therefore, before commencing with your treatment, first inquire if your dentist offers bulk billing services. If your Medicare dentist does not offer bulk billing services, it means that you will have to make the payment for the services you will receive and then ask for a rebate from Medicare

At Springvale Dental Clinic, you don’t have to go through all these hassles. We offer bulk billing services to all dental services covered by Medicare. All you will have to do when you visit our clinic is present your Medicare card, and we will do the rest.

Bottom Line

For many years, a majority of people have dreaded taking their children to the dentist saying that the dental cost is too high. However, with the Medicare program Child Dental Benefits Schedule, this does not have to be the case anymore. Take advantage of this incredible program from the Australian government and visit Springvale Dental Clinic. At Springvale Dental Clinic, we are always proud to support such a fantastic scheme. That’s why we provide bulk billing services to all eligible patients.

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