Fee for visiting a GP

[donnashuggy]

What people really think: 

[**meep**]

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@punch*drunk wrote:

If we stick to exclusively children under 16 for a minute, then I'd assume they will still be bulk billed until their 12 visits (per family) are up or unless they hold a concession card.

Its the "per family" bit that makes it confusing I think. Probably will be incredibly confusing for the clinics especially with so many split familes nowdays. How would they decide which family a child belonged to under 50/50 shared care arrangements? Especially if both parents had new partners and more children....lol could become a nightmare.

I guess they'd take that into account though and have a formula in place.

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I agree.  It is all very confusing.......nothing has been finalised, pointless in speculating, i guess.

"We won't be commenting on speculation around what the Commission of Audit may or may not recommend," Mr Dutton said in a statement.

Initial reports at the weekend suggested the co-payment should be $5 and families would be allowed up to 12 bulk-billed visits before having to pay the fee.

However, the report, obtained by Fairfax Media, shows the recommended co-payment is $6 and patients will not get 12 free visits a year. Instead, once they visit their GP more than 12 times in a year the government will start to pay the fee for them. It also says GPs may use their discretion to waive the co-payment on compassionate or financial grounds.

????????????????????????

[punch*drunk]

I paid for my children to see a dentist until they were old enough for the Teen Dental Plan. Up until this year that only allowed for check ups and fissure sealing I think. The plan has now changed to include xrays, extractions and fillings and is $1000 that can be spent over a 2 year period.

You have to be eligible for FTB A to receive it.

[purple_haize]

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@punch*drunk wrote:

I paid for my children to see a dentist until they were old enough for the Teen Dental Plan. Up until this year that only allowed for check ups and fissure sealing I think. The plan has now changed to include xrays, extractions and fillings and is $1000 that can be spent over a 2 year period.

You have to be eligible for FTB A to receive it.

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Primary school children dont have to pay to see the dentist at the Knox Community Dental Service.

[punch*drunk]

PH I just checked and concession card holders are free there but other children are not. they are far cheaper than a private dentist though. My sister takes her kids to the public dentist in Pakenham and I believe thats the same, she gets it free being a HCC holder, but I would have to pay a small fee.

[punch*drunk]

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@punch*drunk wrote:

PH I just checked and concession card holders are free there but other children are not. they are far cheaper than a private dentist though. My sister takes her kids to the public dentist in Pakenham and I believe thats the same, she gets it free being a HCC holder, but I would have to pay a small fee.

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They are a teaching clinic though, so all children would be able to see the students for free.

[**meep**]

For a child or young person to be eligible for free public oral health service, they must:

Be normally resident within the boundary of the providing Area Health Service

and

be eligible for Medicare

and

be less than 18 years of age.

from NSW Health

[purple_haize]

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@punch*drunk wrote:

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@punch*drunk wrote:

PH I just checked and concession card holders are free there but other children are not. they are far cheaper than a private dentist though. My sister takes her kids to the public dentist in Pakenham and I believe thats the same, she gets it free being a HCC holder, but I would have to pay a small fee.

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They are a teaching clinic though, so all children would be able to see the students for free.

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Because it is a teaching clinic kids are free, When I have been down there, no parents pay for the kids...........even though they are a teaching clinic, the dentists are really good, and that is coming from someone who loathes the dentist.....

[**meep**]

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@punch*drunk wrote:

I paid for my children to see a dentist until they were old enough for the Teen Dental Plan. Up until this year that only allowed for check ups and fissure sealing I think. The plan has now changed to include xrays, extractions and fillings and is $1000 that can be spent over a 2 year period.

You have to be eligible for FTB A to receive it.

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That is actually great news. The old Teen Dental Plan only covered preventative care,  as you mentioned check-ups and fissure sealing.  If your child required fillings or extractions and if you lived in Sth West Sydney, the waiting time to see a free, public dentist could take literally, years.  The new $1000 Child Dental Benefit Schedule makes so much more sense than $150 Teen Dental Plan.

[punch*drunk]

I agree, and I'm pleased my dentist knew it was changing. My daughter needs 2 extractions and he booked them in for next month because I should have the voucher by then. Shame it wasnt in last year when my son needed 4 extractions!