My Family Dental Medicare
Child Dental Benefits Schedule, Bulk Billed
Up to $1,158 of dental care per eligible child across two calendar years, with no gap to pay, at all six of our clinics.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Medicare program that pays for basic dental care for eligible children and teenagers aged 0 to 17. We bulk bill it at every one of our clinics, so eligible treatment within the cap costs you nothing out of pocket. We check eligibility at the front desk before treatment starts.
Bulk billed
No gap for eligible care, at all six clinics
Up to $1,158
Per eligible child, across two calendar years
Ages 0 to 17
Where the family gets an eligible payment
Checked at the desk
Before treatment, not after
A great many families are entitled to this and never use it, usually because the letter from Medicare arrived, looked like admin, and went in a drawer. It is worth digging out. For an eligible child it covers most of what a child actually needs at the dentist, and we bulk bill it, so there is nothing to pay at the desk.
What It Is
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Medicare program covering basic dental services for children and teenagers aged 0 to 17. A child qualifies for a calendar year if their family receives an eligible payment at some point during it, most commonly Family Tax Benefit Part A.
Eligibility is decided by Medicare rather than by us. Medicare writes to families who qualify, and you can check in myGov. If you are not certain, bring your Medicare card and we will check it before any treatment starts.
$1,158, and It Is Not Per Year
The benefit is up to $1,158 per eligible child, across two calendar years, not per year. This trips people up. The cap is indexed each January, and the increase applies to a child whose first eligible service falls in that year.
Anything unused at the end of the two years does not carry over, which is the practical argument for using it on the six-monthly check-ups rather than saving it for something that might never happen. Prevention is what it is designed for.
What It Covers
- Examinations and check-ups
- X-rays
- Cleaning
- Fissure sealants and fluoride application
- Fillings
- Root canal treatment
- Extractions
- Partial dentures
What It Does Not Cover
Worth knowing before you plan around it, because this is where families get caught out.
- Orthodontic treatment. Braces and aligners are not covered by the scheme.
- Cosmetic dental work. Whitening and anything done for appearance rather than health.
- Any dental service provided in a hospital. If a child needs treatment under general anaesthetic in a hospital setting, that sits outside the scheme.
If your child needs something the scheme does not cover, we tell you before the appointment and give you a written quote, rather than letting you find out at the desk.
How Bulk Billing Works Here
We claim the benefit directly from Medicare. You are not charged and then reimbursed, and there is no form to lodge. For eligible treatment inside the cap, there is nothing to pay.
We check the balance as well as the eligibility, because a child part way through the two years may have some of the cap already used at another practice. Knowing that before we plan treatment is how we avoid surprising you.
If you also hold private extras cover, that is not wasted: it can cover things outside the scheme, and we claim it on the spot through HICAPS. There is more on our health funds page.
Bulk Billed at All Six Clinics
- My Family Dental Townsville (Kirwan)
- My Family Dental Bohle Plains
- My Family Dental Ingham
- My Family Dental Innisfail
- My Family Dental Bowen
- My Family Dental Emerald
There is more about how we see children, from the first visit onwards, on our children’s dentistry page.
Important: CDBS eligibility, the benefit cap and the services covered are set by Medicare and can change; the cap is indexed each January. Confirm your child’s eligibility and remaining balance with Medicare or with us before treatment. Any dental treatment carries risks and outcomes vary between individuals. Seek advice appropriate to your child’s circumstances from a qualified health practitioner.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility is set by Medicare, not by us. Broadly, children and teenagers aged 0 to 17 qualify for a calendar year if their family receives an eligible payment at some point that year, most commonly Family Tax Benefit Part A. Medicare writes to families who are eligible, and you can also check in your myGov account. If you are not sure, bring your Medicare card to the appointment and we will check it at the front desk before any treatment starts.
Up to $1,158 per eligible child, and it is not per year: the amount runs across two calendar years. The cap is indexed each January, and the increase applies to a child whose first eligible service falls in that year. Anything unused at the end of the two years does not roll over.
Not for eligible treatment within the cap. We bulk bill the CDBS at all six clinics, which means we claim the benefit directly from Medicare and you are not charged a gap. If your child needs something the scheme does not cover, or the cap has been used up, we tell you before the treatment and give you a written quote.
Basic dental services: check-ups, x-rays, cleans, fillings, root canals, extractions and partial dentures. That is most of what a child actually needs.
Orthodontic work, cosmetic work, and any dental service provided in a hospital. Worth knowing before you plan around it. Braces are not covered by the CDBS, and neither is whitening or anything done under general anaesthetic in a hospital setting.
All six. Townsville (Kirwan), Bohle Plains, Ingham, Innisfail, Bowen and Emerald.
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