Wednesday, February 18, 2009
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Dental costs bite
Free dental care considered
BY ANELIA BLACKIE
Email: anelia@tbw.com.au
MOUNT Gambier people
expressed mixed views
yesterday on a possible free
dental health scheme.
A new national health
system “with teeth” was pro-
posed on Monday, potentially
giving Australians universal
access to dental care, regard-
less of their ability to pay.
The National Health and
Hospitals Reform Commission
chair, Dr Christine Bennett,
announced Denticare
Australia as part of the com-
mission’s Healthier Future
for all Australians interim
report as a work in progress,
calling for public response
and comments before the
final report is due for release
in June.
While explaining Denticare
Australia would be funded by
an increase in the Medicare
levy, Dr Bennett added
“many people would pay no
more than they currently pay
for dental care”.
“People could choose a
dental health plan with a
private health insurer paid
for by the levy, or they could
opt to rely on public dental
health services, for which
increased funding would be
provided,” she said.
The report claimed despite
the 0.75pc taxable income
Medicare levy increase,
it would be smaller than
existing out-of-pocket costs
for dental services for many
people.
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But Mount Gambier
residents were unsure if
the proposed system would
work.
“Medicare should cover
dental care because bad teeth
affect your health and can
even cause heart problems,”
Charlie Scott said.
“Why do we need a whole
different system?”
Some residents expressed
concern over added pressure
on local dentists, already
stretched with long waiting
times to get an appoint-
ment.
“Waiting times are already
very long. With Denticare
more people are going to pA new national health scheme “with teeth” has been proposed.
access dental services and we
are going to wait even longer,”
Louise Ladlow said.
“Do we have enough
dentists to cope with extra
patients? They are going to
have to look at attracting
more dentists to the South
East.”
But Jenny Fogarty wel-
comed the new system after
she was recently told she
would have to find $2000 to
pay for dental treatment.
“I grind my teeth in my
sleep and as a result I will
have to get fillings done,
which will cost $1500, and
fork out another $500 for a
mouth guard to wear when
‘
I go to bed,” Ms Fogarty
‘ ‘
said.
“I would love it if we had It won’t shorten the
this system because I don’t Medicare should I would love it if we
’ ’
have private health insur- long waiting times to
’
ance and I am going to have cover dental care had Denticare
to pay off the money over the see a dentist
next few months, and with
my dad’s help.” -Louise Ladlow -Charlie Scott -Jenny Fogarty
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