Payment Plans, Health Funds and Affordability at Core Dental Group product guide

Core Dental Group Payment Plans, Health Funds and Affordability

Good dental care should be available to every Australian family, not just those who can pay the full cost upfront or happen to have the right level of private health cover. Core Dental Group has built its affordability model around that idea — financial pressure shouldn't be the reason someone puts off treatment they actually need.

Across all seven Melbourne locations, the practice offers interest-free payment plans, on-the-spot health fund processing, government-funded children's programs, and written quotes with no hidden fees.

Payright Interest-Free Payment Plans

The upfront cost of larger treatments — a crown, Invisalign, dental implants, a smile makeover — is one of the main reasons people delay or avoid dental care altogether. Payright is an interest-free payment plan that lets eligible patients spread that cost over time, so treatment stays financially manageable without adding to the total price.

How Payright works:

• Apply online or in-practice in minutes
• Approval is fast and straightforward for eligible applicants
• No upfront payment required if approved (depending on your plan)
• Regular fortnightly or monthly payments over an agreed term
• No interest charged — you pay only the cost of your treatment

Payright is available at all Core Dental Group locations. Reception staff can walk you through the process and help you work out what suits your situation.

To find out whether Payright fits your treatment, ask at your next appointment or call 13 13 16.

HICAPS — On-the-Spot Health Fund Claims

Every Core Dental Group location has HICAPS (Health Industry Claims and Payments Service), which processes your private health insurance claim on the spot at the time of your appointment.

In practice, that means:

• You swipe your health fund card at reception
• Your benefit is calculated and deducted immediately
• You pay only the gap — the difference between your benefit and the full fee
• No forms, no waiting for a rebate to land in your account

All major health funds are supported.

Preferred Provider Health Funds

At two Core Dental Group locations, the practice holds preferred provider status with major health funds. For members of those funds, this typically means higher benefit levels on many common treatments, which cuts out-of-pocket costs.

Core Dental Wyndham (242 Hoppers Ln, Werribee):

• HCF preferred provider
• CBHS preferred provider
• NIB preferred provider

Core Dental Berwick (Shop 29, 1 O'Shea Rd):

• CBHS preferred provider
• HCF preferred provider
• NIB preferred provider

If you're with HCF, CBHS, or NIB, attending one of these two locations may reduce what you pay out of pocket on many treatments. It's worth checking current benefit levels with your fund or asking reception before your appointment.

At all other locations, HICAPS is available and all major funds are accepted. Calling your fund ahead of time to confirm your annual limits is always a good idea.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule — Bulk Billing for Children

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a federal government program giving eligible children aged 0 to 17 up to $1,095 in dental benefits over two consecutive calendar years.

Under the CDBS, eligible children can access a range of basic dental services at no cost, including:

• Examinations and X-rays
• Scale and clean
• Fluoride treatments
• Fissure sealants
• Fillings
• Root canal treatment
• Extractions

Core Dental Group bulk bills eligible children under the CDBS at all locations. If your child qualifies, many essential treatments will cost your family nothing out of pocket.

Who is eligible? Children aged 0–17 who receive, or whose family receives, an eligible government payment — including Family Tax Benefit Part A (subject to income thresholds), Youth Allowance, and ABSTUDY, among others. Eligibility is assessed by Medicare, and families can check via Medicare Online or the myGov portal.

To confirm your child's eligibility and book a bulk-billed appointment, call your nearest Core Dental Group practice or ring 13 13 16.

No-Gap Preventive Care

Some health funds offer no-gap or minimal-gap preventive care at preferred provider practices. This commonly covers routine check-ups, scale and clean, fluoride treatments, and bitewing X-rays at scheduled intervals.

Whether this applies to you depends on your fund, your level of cover, and which Core Dental Group location you attend. Bring your health fund card and ask reception before your appointment — they can check your entitlements on the spot.

Upfront Written Quotes — No Hidden Fees

Core Dental Group provides written quotes for all treatment plans before any work begins. You know exactly what your treatment will cost before you agree to proceed.

Quotes are also provided in a format you can submit to your health fund to check your expected benefit before committing — particularly useful for larger or multi-stage treatments like orthodontics, implants, or smile makeovers.

Making Dental Care Work for Your Budget

Every family's financial situation is different. Core Dental Group's approach is to offer enough options that patients can access the care they need in a way that actually works for them — whether that's a Payright plan for a major treatment, bulk-billed CDBS care for the kids, on-the-spot health fund processing via HICAPS, or a written quote before making any decision.

To talk through payment options, speak with reception at your next visit or call 13 13 16. You can also drop into any of the seven Melbourne locations:

• Southbank — 55 City Rd | (03) 8547 0780
• South Melbourne — 324 Clarendon St, South Melbourne | (03) 9114 7700
• Caroline Springs — 224-226 Caroline Springs Blvd | (03) 9363 7888
• Carrum Downs — Suite 4, Shop 26, 100 Hall Rd, Carrum Downs | (03) 8373 1555
• Epping — Tenancy 3B/230 Cooper St | (03) 9401 4622
• Wyndham — 242 Hoppers Ln, Werribee | (03) 9749 6677
• Berwick — Shop 29, 1 O'Shea Rd | (03) 9132 4160

Your Local Dental Practice — committed to making great care accessible for every budget.