Dental

[Rorschach]

Gillard's $4 billion dental fix
August 29, 2012 - 11:17AM
Mark Metherell

The federal government will pour $4 billion into a dental package to provide more than 3 million children and millions of adults on low incomes or in rural areas access to government-subsidised dental care.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek this morning announced that more than 3 million children would be eligible for the scheme, which will begin in 2014.

For adults on low incomes, a further $1.3 billion to fund an additional 1.4 million services will be available in the six-year package.

The changes have been made possible with the support of the Greens, who have insisted on big expansion as grounds for axing the current Medicare chronic disease dental scheme costing about $1 billion a year.

The funding comes on top of the $515 million announced in the 2012-13 budget.

''Labor believes we have a responsibility to ensure Australians who are least able to afford to go the dentist, and particularly children, should be given access to government-subsidised oral health care,'' Ms Plibersek said.

Greens health spokesman Richard Di Natale flanked Ms Plibersek when she made the announcement in Sydney.

Ms Plibersek said the ‘‘unprecedented’’ package would tackle increasingly poor dental health among low-income people.

Eligible children would be able to get basic dental treatment capped at $1000 a child over two years to address dental decay, which, she said, had been increasing since the 1990s in Australia.

The package includes $2.7 billion for the treatment of children.

“While Medicare and free hospital care have been a basic right for Australians for decades, millions of people in this country still go without adequate dental care,” Ms Plibersek said. Free? I thought we all paid taxes and a levy.

“Labor believes we have a responsibility to ensure Australians who are least able to afford to go the dentist, and particularly children, should be given access to government-subsidised oral health care.”

The government would also provide $1.3 billion to states and territories for expanded dental services for low-income adults but the funding would depend on their at least maintaining current levels of dental services.

There would also be $225 million for dental infrastructure and workforce expansion in outer metropolitan and regional and rural areas.

It appears the 2013 campaign is on...
Pork-barreling?
Affordable?
What do you think?

[Neferti]

Before Whitlam gave us FREE Medical, everyone had Private Health Insurance .... or they claimed their medical expenses back at Tax time.

Once Medibank/Medicare came in, everyone, whether dying or otherwise, clogged up the Doctors' Surgeries because it was FREE to do so. I've always only gone to see the GP when I was on my "deathbed" with a really bad flu or something ... as in once in every 4 years or so and I went to a GP who did NOT Bulk Bill but if I rang with a problem I could get an appointment almost immediately.

Anyway .... back to the Topic ...

I don't think that Dental was ever on the FREE Medibank/Medicare list or was it? Health Department has always had a free Dental area but the list is, apparently, years long and I think a Pension card is needed.

Once upon a time, school children had a Dentist attend Primary Schools every 6 months or so to give the kids a check up. FREE.

I have Private Health Insurance and I think everyone should have as they age!

Back on Topic .... I think the ALP is throwing this idea around to catch those who need their teeth fixed FREE since the ALP is on the nose and The Libs aren't saying anything because they aren't in Election Mode.

Where is the ALP getting the money to pay for this? We are already in the RED. Bogans will think it a great idea. They pay limited tax, if any, so ................

[Jovial Monk]

Here we go!

Labor is moving to stop another area of middleclass welfare to pay for dental, Gonski and NDIS:

http://afr.com/p/national/labor_goes_af ... J5ejmtMfJM

Labor goes after super tax breaks

Laura Tingle and Katie Walsh

The federal government is considering cutting billions in superannuation tax concessions to pay for expensive new policies in education and disability services.

Generous capital gains tax breaks for self-managed superannuation funds which invest in property are the government’s clearest target.

Good! Education raises productivity and the disabled being looked after by ageing parents need to know death of parents won’t mean they won’t be looked after. The parents need to know this too, of course.

But boy will we hear a banshee howl from these free market, stand on their own two feet types when the state stops giving them another handout!

[IQS.RLOW]

Says the sponge who never planned for his retirement and now expects the taxpayer to foot his bill.

Where's your super savings, you fucking leech?

You fucking disgust me

[Jovial Monk]

Is IQ pretending to be affected by this measure?

[IQS.RLOW]

I see Monk was lying about not reading my posts not that Monk lying is anything new

I see he avoided answering my question regarding his retirement savings...just expects the taxpayer to fund his alcoholism, drug habit and shit dribbling on the Internet

[Jovial Monk]

Whatever, wanker

[boxy]

Dental health is intimately tied to overall health and quality of life, especially in (but not confined to) the aged. I think it should be included in a medicare type system, if you're talking preventative and corrective treatments for things like cavities and infections (or other painful or debilitating type aliments), but not for cosmetic type procedures (like braces for a better look, even though I feel for some youngsters who do benefit from such, when it effects their self confidence).

[Jovial Monk]

Yup, a great idea, and the way they will fund it also very productive!

[Neferti]

Yup, a great idea, and the way they will fund it also very productive!

You would say that, wouldn't you? Have you still got teeth?

Have a read of the Department of Health and Ageing about Dental Reform. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/ ... ntalreform

The Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) starts on 1/1/2014. It will be for children age 2-17 who meet the Means Test (receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A - OR other Government Benefits i.e. Welfare).

Treatment will include check ups, x rays, fillings and extractions. Crowns, bridgework, root canal and orthodontic items are EXCLUDED. The total benefit will be capped at $1,000 per year.

This will be done in PUBLIC Dental System. You will not be able to go to your Dentist and claim back. Already the Public Dental System has a waiting list of 400,000 people.

Sounds like a terrific idea. Not! Anyone who wants to keep their teeth will still go to their usual Dentist and pay for it.