BEHIND THE QUESTION
There is a growing chorus of academics and policy experts arguing that Medicare should be expanded to cover more routine dental check-ups.
In the current system, when an Aussie visits the dentist they pay a majority of the bill – if they visit at all. Research shows that 40% of adults leave more than a year between visits to avoid the cost, which ends up costing the healthcare system (and patients) more in the long term as more serious conditions develop.
Expanding the coverage of Medicare to include dental is estimated to cost an additional $7 billion a year, which could be covered by increases to the Medicare levy.
THE QUESTION
*Essentially, the question is are you willing to pay more for Medicare if it means dental coverage?*
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Source: [https://theconversation.com/why-isnt-dental-included-in-medicare-its-time-to-change-this-heres-how-239086](https://theconversation.com/why-isnt-dental-included-in-medicare-its-time-to-change-this-heres-how-239086)
[View Poll](https://www.reddit.com/poll/1fn3ssp)
Source: Voice_Drop
9 Comments
No. Take it out of my rorted NDIS contribution.
And Australians wonder why their insurance policies (all types) are on a non-stop increase path?
Definitely a poor idea. Just like poor dietary, hygiene and genetics results in needing to go to the dentist.
Where do you draw the line though? Dental now, but then every single condition will come out of the woodwork and demand funding.
Dental Plan
$7b is nothing.
[The ATO is currently chasing down $34b in unpaid company tax](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-04/ato-chasing-small-business-gst-income-tax-debts-worth-billions/103662450).
It would be easy to fund dental care for everyone, but making individuals pay more for it isn’t the best way. Cough up, companies. That said, I’m happy to pay more tax so that other people can get more help.
Doesn’t matter, dentists have nil interest being inside Medicare so it will never happen.
Assuming that $7b actually gets administered properly and doesn’t get embezzled or defrauded like other government programs.
Private health insurance companies, which the majority of Australians are with, offer dental for pretty cheap already. Probably cheaper than whatever the increase to the medicare levy would be. For example, BUPA allows you to include dental for an extra $3.47/wk – actually less than a cup of coffee.
Just stop funding the Boomer’s UBI (aka the pension) and NDIS and we will have more than enough to cover dental and optometry.Â
Do I get a corresponding decrease in my private insurance premium which is currently justified largely on the basis that it covers dental?
More to the point – are the dentists going to accept this or are they going to continue to do their best to avoid providing any services under Medicare?