Labor's dental plan for teenagers

A Federal Labor Government would invest up to $510 million over three years to help Australian teenagers with dental costs, according to a media release issued on 11 November.

Under the plan families will be able to claim up to $150 towards the cost of an annual dental preventive check for each of their children aged 12 to 17 years through Medicare. This proposal would affect up to one million teenagers.

To operate from 1 July 2008, the benefit would be paid using a voucher for eligible families. Labor claims that this plan brings its dental health program to $800 million.