Medicare is meant to help all Australians access affordable healthcare
Medicare is Australia’s universal health insurance scheme, guaranteeing all Australians access to a wide range of health and hospital services at low or no cost.
Except if you have a dental problem. Because according to the government, the mouth isn’t part of the body, and dental care is not health care.
It’s time for that to change.
It’s time to Give Medicare Teeth
We can’t afford to put it off any longer if we want to ensure all Australians can access timely and affordable dental care.
Nearly 80% of Australians support including dental and oral health care in Medicare.
Are you one of them?
Poor oral health is one of the strongest indicators of poverty and disadvantage in Australia. Years of neglect have seen public dental waiting lists explode, and a lack of federal funding means that dental care is difficult to access for many Australians.
GIVE MEDICARE TEETH
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TAKE ACTION NOW
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GIVE MEDICARE TEETH • TAKE ACTION NOW •
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
There are significant barriers for many people accessing dental care, including high costs, trauma and fear, long waiting times and inaccessible services.
Poor oral health is the leading cause of preventable hospitalisation in Australia.
There are service gaps, including a lack of special needs dentists, limited mobile services, very few Aboriginal dentists and sparse services in regional areas.
There are significant impacts of poor oral health, including pain and suffering, shame and low self-esteem, poor nutrition and poorer general health.
There are benefits to good oral health, including the ability to smile, eat and talk, improved confidence, increased productivity and being more employable.
Research continues to show that cost is a major barrier to accessing dental care.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
Build on the successful Child Dental Benefits Scheme by expanding eligibility to other population groups at need.
This should initially extend to all adults aged 18+ years with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.
A staged approach provides an opportunity to build and strengthen the oral health workforce.
An Adult Dental Benefits Scheme would allow eligible patient to access capped benefits for essential dental treatment in both public and private dental practices.
Only 50% of Australians visit the dentist each year, contributing to poor oral health outcomes. Giving Medicare More Teeth can change that.
Cost is a major barrier to people accessing dental care. Giving Medicare More Teeth can help make dental care more accessible and affordable.
Give Medicare Teeth
You can make a difference. Contact your local Member of Parliament or candidates in the upcoming election to let them know that it’s time to put the mouth back in the body, and Give Medicare Teeth.