Teenagers urged to have free dental check-ups

Medicare Teen Dental Plan vouchers sent to households with eligible teenagers for this calendar year must be used by 31 December. Under the plan, families can claim up to $159.85 this year for eligible teenagers aged 12-17 years, towards the cost of an annual preventive dental check-up. Vouchers should be presented - along with the Medicare card – to the dentist to get a check-up. Some dentists will bulk bill for the services – others will ask for upfront payment which can be reclaimed like any other Medicare benefit, Human Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said today. More than 270,000 services worth over $42 million have been claimed in the first 10 months of this year. For more information about the plan, go to www.medicare.gov.au or call 132 011.