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A DENTAL scheme, funded by increased taxes and costing up to $5 billion annually, would be set up to allow every Australian for the first time to access affordable preventive and restorative treatment, including the provision of dentures.

The Medicare levy would rise by 0.75 percentage points to pay for the scheme, called Denticare Australia, which would aim to end growing concerns over the inequities of the present system in which many poorer people cannot afford dental treatment.

The proposed levy increase — one of the boldest elements of the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission’s 386-page report — would take the existing levy from 1.5 per cent of taxable income to 2.25 per cent.

With average ordinary time earnings for full-time workers now at $1145 a week, that rise represents an average tax increase of about $442 annually.

NHHRC chairwoman Christine Bennett said last night the numbers were “less important than the concept” and the need to fix dental services was apparent on several fronts.

“About one-third of Australians are unable to access oral healthcare, and at least half of those, we believe, need to,” Dr Bennett said.

“Second, we have 650,000 people on public dental waiting lists, with average waiting times of 27 months. And third, children’s oral health is deteriorating, although that is partly due to changes in lifestyle such as (greater consumption of) sugary drinks.”

Under the plan, patients would elect coverage either within the private or the public system.

If patients chose private cover, Denticare Australia would pay their premiums direct to the insurer, drawing on the funds created by the increased levy. Unlike the current community-rated private health insurance system, the premium would be weighted to reflect patient risks, considering age, weight, smoking status and other factors.

The private cover would entitle patients to see a private dentist, and unlike the present system — where even patients with private cover are left to pay large out-of-pocket costs — they would be covered for about 85 per cent of the dentist’s charges.

Patients could avoid these out-of-pocket costs by choosing the public Denticare system, which would entitle them to treatment in a public dental service.

Article from The Australian

More: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25065328-23289,00.html