Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Medicare Teen Dental Essay

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Medicare Teen Dental Plan and if you consider this to be good public health policy - Essay Example This paper shall now discuss the different advantages and disadvantages of the Medical Dental Teen Plan. It shall also discuss whether or not the policy is a good public health program. This paper is being conducted in the hope of establishing a more analytical understanding of the Medical Dental Teen Plan of Australia. The Medical Dental Teen Plan of Australia is advantageous for the teenagers because their dental health services are now more affordable – no matter their station in life. Dental benefits for teenagers in Australia are supported by the government for up to $157 per calendar year for each teenager (Department of Health and Ageing, 2010). This includes a preventative dental assessment from a dentist who is accredited by Medicare Australia. Services from dental therapists and dental hygienists can also be availed by the teenagers with the supervision of the dentist (Department of Health and Ageing, 2010). Every year, there are about 1.3 million teenage Australians who are benefitted by the Medicare Teen Dental Plan. Moreover, even if the teenagers would opt for the services of their private dentist, they can still claim the benefit from the Medicare. In another option, the dentist can also claim the benefit directly from Medicare Australia for the services he would render to the teenager (Department of Health and Ageing, 2010). The Medicare Dental Teen Plan also gives an opportunity for those who are chronically ill to be managed by their general practitioner under the Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC) (Medicare Australia, 2010). This helps ensure that those who are chronically ill can still avail of medical and dental services despite the futility of the care which may be rendered to them. The Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people can also benefit much from the Medical Dental Teen Plan. Many of those suffering from dental diseases belong to the aboriginal