Dental Health
Grow Up Smiling
Grow Up Smiling (GUS) will commence on 1 January 2014 and will provide benefits for basic dental services to around 3.4 million children aged 2-17 years.
It will replace the existing Medicare Teen Dental Plan (MTDP) with an expanded program that increases the eligibility age range, benefit amount and the services that can be provided.
The total benefit entitlement will be capped at $1,000 per child over a two calendar year period. GUS will have a means test, which requires receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB-A) or certain other government payments.
It will provide services for essential dental treatment, such as check-ups, x-rays, fillings and extractions. High end (crowns, bridges, root canal) and orthodontic items are excluded.
If you think you or your child may be eligible
As the payment of benefits will be administered through Medicare, using details held by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs, you should ensure that your details are up to date.
- To update your details with Medicare, phone the patient helpline on 132 011.
- For FTB-A matters, phone Centrelink on 136 150.
- To contact the Department of Veterans' Affairs, phone 133 254.
If you are a FTB-A lump sum recipient you should submit your lump sum claim promptly to ensure that you will be able to receive benefits under GUS.
Key milestones
GUS was established by amending the existing legislation, the Dental Benefits Act 2008. The Dental Benefits Amendment Act 2012 was granted royal assent on 10 December 2012 and extends the age range from 12-17 to 2-17 years.
Once the schedule and program design have been finalised, the Minister for Health will make new Dental Benefit Rules to establish the operational aspects of GUS.
Public consultation
If you would like to provide feedback on the design of the program, a public consultation is currently open. To participate, visit the Department's Consultation Hub.
