Former deputy chief medical officer Dr. Nick Coatsworth has pushed back on a Greens proposal to absorb dental care into Medicare so all Australians can go to the dentist for free. Australia’s universal healthcare system Medicare provides free or subsidised doctor visits and emergency care, but generally doesn’t cover trips to the dentist. Dr. Coatsworth expressed concern that only a rare genius or someone who doesn’t understand health funding could think that using the Medicare model for a universal dental program was a good idea. He also cautioned against repeating past mistakes, emphasizing preventative health and avoiding incentives to over-service.
Queensland Greens member Max Chandler-Mather is a proponent of free dental care, arguing that even those earning more than $200,000 would support such a measure. A report by the parliamentary budget office found that a universal dental care plan would cost the government nearly $12 billion a year. This brings the debate in Australia back to a model: whether universal dental services will be subsidized for all or means tested depending on income or offered only for certain age groups. Dr. Coatsworth raised concerns that government funding might increase service costs.
The Greens are in favor of including dental care under Medicare since many individuals cannot afford dental care. These efforts have come under scrutiny from medical and governmental authorities. While universal health care covers medical costs, dental services are often left out. Current public dental clinics and child benefit benefits are in place, but wait lists for services can often be lengthy. Other countries like the UK and New Zealand provide dental services for those under a certain age and for those with low income, illness or disability. In the US, dental care is primarily self-funded or through insurance plans. Given that Australia’s Medicare system was introduced over 40 years ago, any changes to the system would impact the Australian healthcare system heavily.