Payment Fees & Options
Fees & Payments
All treatment is required to be paid on the day of appointment.
Our payment options are designed to suit each and every individual. At Balgownie Dental we’re always working on making things easier for you and we’re always available to discuss the best payment option for you.
We accept Visa and Mastercard credit cards as well as cash and bank/personal cheques. There are no sneaky hidden costs for processing debit cards, Mastercard, Visa.
Cash, Cheque, EFTPOS Debit & Credit cards
Health Fund members - HICAPS
Processing payments for our Health Fund members is really quick and easy. If your health fund is participating in the HICAPS electronic claims systems we can process your rebate on the spot. That means you only have to pay the outstanding gap and won’t have to process any paperwork.
If your health fund isn’t participating in HICAPS, or you don’t have a HIPCAPS compatible member card, then don’t worry – you’re still entitled to the rebate. We just ask you to pay in full on the day and contact your heath fund who will pay the rebate directly to you.
All health funds pay out a different level of rebate depending on your individual plan. If you would like to know how much your health fund will pay, we can give you an itemised treatment plan before your next appointment and in most cases, we can swipe your health fund to generate a quote. If we are unable to obtain a quote from your health fund then all you have to do is phone up your health fund, read out the list of the item numbers and they will tell you what level of rebate they will pay out.
Bulked Billed Medicare - CDBS
Medicare Schemes - Although Medicare does not cover dental treatment for the majority of patients, there is a current program available to eligible children to receive dental care.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
The Australian Government provides up to $1132 in benefits for eligible children. Service under this program include examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, extractions and partial dentures.
Which children are eligible for this dental service?
A child is eligible if they are:
-
eligible for Medicare, and
-
aged 0 - 17 years at any point in the calendar year, and
-
receive a relevant Australian government payment, such as a Family Tax Benefit Part A, at any point in the calendar year.
How long does eligibility last?
Once a child has assessed as eligible, they are eligible for that entire calendar year (even if they turn 18) or stop receiving the relevant government payment. However, they must be eligible for Medicare on the day the service is provided.
How to check eligibility.
There are a few ways to check if your child/children are eligible.
Call us on (02) 4285 3855 - Have your Medicare card details ready, and with your permission we can check the eligibility status with Medicare.
MyGov app - follow these easy steps
- Services
- Medicare. Then click on the three-horizontal white (menu) lines
- History and Statements - Child Dental Benefits Schedule
It will then state if the eligibility requirements have been met or not.
For more information regarding the CDBS, visit Child Dental Benefits Schedule - Services Australia website page or call 13 2 011.
We happily welcome the CDBS service at Balgownie Dental, and treatment provided under this service is bulk billed with a direct link to Medicare.
Veterans' Affairs
It's our privilege to provide services to all Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Gold or White card holders, including the new digital versions.
We bulk bill all treatment and process the claims with a direct link to The Department of Veterans Affairs on the patient’s behalf. There will be no private costs or surcharges to the patient.
Patients are simply required to show their Veterans' Affairs card allowing us to claim after the appointment.
Appointments can be made with us and receive dental services without requiring a referral from a doctor.
For further information please contact the
Department of Veterans' Affairs by visiting the DVA Website or call 133 254
We also offer payment plans such as ZipPay & ZipMoney
Smile now, pay later!
For patients looking for an ideal and affordable payment plan, we recommend applying online through Zip.
For more information click on the Zip logo
SuperCare
Use your super when you need it most.
SuperCare is an Australian owned Company that was established over 10 years to help all Australians eliminate the stress associated with paying for essential, yet expensive dental treatments. The SuperCare service alleviates this stress by streamlining the application process required to access superannuation for your patient to pay for dental treatment.
For more information click on the SuperCare logo
Why we are not a "Preferred Provider"
At Balgownie Dental, we are here to give you straightforward, honest answers – especially when it comes to your health fund claims. One question we often get is, “Why is there a gap after I claim on my health fund?” It is a great question, and it comes down to one important choice we have made as a practice: we have decided "we prefer not being a preferred provider” for any specific health insurance company.
What is a preferred provider?
A preferred provider is a dental practitioner, or a dental practice, who has entered into a contract with a particular health insurance company. By entering into the contract, the dental practitioner, or practice, agrees to accept a fee schedule and any associated terms and conditions as determined by the respective health fund.
This means the dentist, or dental practice, agrees to charge set fees for specific services to members of that health fund.
Dentists, or dental practices, can enter into multiple different contracts with multiple health insurance companies.
So, dentists, or dental practices, who choose to be preferred providers are actually contracted to the health fund.
The dentist, or dental practice, then become a “preferred provider” for that health fund. The health fund deems them a “preferred provider” because they have agreed to meet the fee criteria set by the health fund and have agreed to be contractually bound by the health fund. The term “preferred provider” is not a reflection of the quality of the practice, or the skills or ability of the dental service provider(s).
In return for becoming a “preferred provider”, the health insurance company ‘recommends’ the “preferred provider” dentist/practice and refers their members to that dentist/practice.
The health fund may also advertise/incentives “no out-of-pocket expenses” or “reduced out-of-pocket expenses” to their members, but only if you see one of their “preferred provider” dentists.
Some private health insurance companies actually own the practices that are “preferred providers” and employ the dental practitioners.
Why we are proudly independent
There are multiple reasons why Balgownie Dental have chosen not to become a “preferred provider”, these include:
-
We are dedicated to providing superior service and high-quality treatment to our patients, and we are not willing to compromise on the quality of our service or materials.
-
We are committed to providing personalised, thorough care. We get to know our patients, and their families, individually. Our appointments are not rushed, and we take the time to ensure our patients are feeling relaxed and comfortable before, during and after treatment, and they feel completely satisfied with their treatment direction.
-
We believe our services and treatment should only ever by influenced by our values and each patient’s individual needs, desires and situation. Not by a third party such as a health insurance company.
But what does this mean for you as a patient?
We have elected to remain a clinically and financially independent dental service provider.
Providing optimal patient care that is individually tailored to each patient’s needs is our top priority.
At Balgownie Dental you will receive uncompromised service and treatment.
The services we deliver to our patients have no constraints and cannot be influenced by any third party.
What this means for your health fund claims
Since we are not tied to any health fund agreements, there is usually a gap between what your health fund covers and what you are billed. This gap is a reflection of our commitment to quality care that is all about you – not about meeting an insurance company’s bottom line.
In the end, it is your choice
When it comes to your dental care, we believe you should be the one making the choices. We are proud to offer a level of care that puts you first – always.