The Australian government initiative on Child Dental Benefit for 2025 is aimed at helping families in need cover the cost for children’s dental care. For your convenience, this brochure details the eligibility criteria, services covered, and how to make the claim in a step-by-step manner. Making sure children get the dental care they need in a timely manner instills the value and importance of dental care and oral hygiene and relieves the parents of the financial burden to a great extent.
What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)?
CDBS is a federal initiative for dental benefits funded by Services Australia through Medicare. For the benefit, children qualify for up to 1,132 dollars over two consecutive calendar years and this cap is adjusted for inflation every year. The services covered encourage preventative care, such as regular checkups, cleansing, dental radiography, and fillings. Root canal treatments, extractions, and other services listed under hospital treatment and emergency services for children are also covered. Funds are not available for orthodontic treatments or cosmetic dentistry.
Eligibility Criteria for 2025
Distance and time criteria are met in the calendar year if the child is less than 18 years of age, is a holder of the Australian Medicare card, and is a child of parents or guardians who are recipients of government payments such as Family Tax Benefit Part A or Parenting Payment. Services Australia does automatic eligibility assessment each year and communicates to families if they are eligible.
Services and Exclusions
Your covered services include routine check-ups, cleaning and scaling, fluoride treatments, dental x-rays, fissure sealing, fillings root canal treatments, extractions, and partial dentures if necessary. However, parents should expect cosmetic procedures and orthodontics like braces to be out of pocket.
| Feature | Data |
|---|---|
| Age Range | 0-17 years |
| Benefit Cap | $1,132/2 years |
| Claim Pathway | Dental clinics/Medicare |
| Coverage | Check-ups, fillings |
Simple Claim Steps
Claiming is simple and easy, and you can follow these steps:
- 1. Confirm eligibility through myGov, the Express Plus Medicare mobile app, or by phone.
- 2. Book an appointment with a provider who accepts CDBS and inform them when scheduling the appointment.
- 3. The dentist will determine eligibility during the appointment and provide a consent form detailing the costs. Consent is required before treatment.
- 4. Covered services do not require an out-of-pocket payment, and the clinic directly bills Medicare for payment.
- 5. The benefit can be tracked through myGov, the mobile app, or the clinic.
Important Policy Notes
Any unused benefit funds expire by the end of the two-year cycle. However, if parents maintain eligibility, a new cap will take effect. Parents should not wait until there are urgent dental issues to take advantage of the benefit and are encouraged to spend it early. Each year, check eligibility and payment receipts, as they can change government payment amounts received.
Key Tips for Maximizing the Benefit
- Before making an appointment, make sure to check whether the dentist is registered for the CDBS in order to avoid any hidden costs.
- Be sure to use the benefit for preventive care and not only for emergencies as this tends to become the only focus.
- Keep track of your policy limits and check how much is left as well as your child’s age when the next review is due as this might provide a clue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What if my child turns 18 during the year?
Your child is still 17 for part of the calendar year and will therefore still be eligible for the current CDBS benefit cycle.
Q2: Can unused funds roll over?
No, any unused funds will not be carried into the next cycle. A new budget will be made available if they still meet the eligibility requirements.
Q3: Are orthodontic treatments covered?
CDBS does cover basic orthodontic treatments such as braces. Only general and preventive treatments are covered.
