Opinion & Commentary
Should dentistry be covered by Medicare?
JUST because something is of benefit to individuals and society, such as good dental health, does that mean government should be responsible for providing it?
The federal government's intergenerational reports tell us that Medicare, in its existing form, will become financially unsustainable as the population ages in coming decades. Subsidising visits to the dentist will substantially increase the economic burdens that the ever increasing cost of healthcare will impose on future generations.
Supporters will argue that the personal suffering and disability caused by poor dental health means we cannot afford not to expand Medicare to promote social welfare.
But the ''right'' to receive certain health services for ''free'' does not automatically produce good health. Bulk billing has been available since the 1970s, yet lower-income groups are still far more likely to suffer from conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
This is because personal responsibility and lifestyle choices play a crucial role in determining health outcomes.
The best medicine for good dental health is a preventative oral-hygiene regime, including regular brushing and a healthy diet.
Of course, regular checkups are also important. So why shouldn't the government pay to ensure everyone can go to the dentist? Financial unsustainability is one reason. Government budgets are not unlimited and paying more for health means we will get less of something else, such as roads or education.
If you want better teeth, you should drink less cola. If you want to be able to see the dentist, you should spend less on cola and other things. Instead of expecting taxpayers to provide, you should save your own money and pay with that.
Instead of relying on programs like Medicare, we should set up a national system of individual health savings accounts. Similar to super, we should have to deposit an annual sum into these accounts, which could be drawn on only for medical expenses, including dentistry. To protect the poor, the government could make annual deposits into their accounts.
This system would cut out unnecessary visits. Greater personal financial responsibility will also encourage people to take greater responsibility for their lifestyles. This would be good for the nation's health and its budget.
Jeremy Sammut is a research fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies.
