Government announces Teen Dental Plan
Member for Page Janelle Saffin today announced that local families would benefit from the Rudd Government’s Teen Dental Plan.
The Teen Dental Plan will assist over one million Australian teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 with dental costs.
“Statistics show that as many as one in three Australians avoid going to the dentist because of cost,” Ms Saffin said.
“This funding will provide a welcome relief for working families struggling to cover the cost of visiting a dentist.”
The cost of a comprehensive dental check-up – comprising oral examination, clean, scale, and ex-ray – is around $290.
Under the Teen Dental Plan, eligible families will be able to claim up to $150 towards the cost of an annual dental preventative check for each of their teenage children.
By establishing a Teen Dental Plan the Rudd Government is honouring another major election commitment.
“Most primary school children receive school dental services but these services are not widely available to teenagers. This program will directly target teenagers and encourage young adults to continue to look after their teeth once they move out of home. Regular dental checks at a young age can help avoid more expensive dental procedures later on in life,” Ms Saffin said.
Under the Rudd Government’s Teen Dental Plan, over one million 12-17 year old teenagers in families eligible for Family Tax Benefit A or in receipt of Abstudy or Youth Allowance will be eligible.
A voucher will be sent to families advising them of their eligibility for a dental rebate of up to $150 per year for a preventative dental check. The Rudd Government’s Teen Dental Plan will be implemented from 1 July 2008.
