Dental in Medicare: one step forward, but a long way to the top
Key takeaways
- Labor has adopted a platform commitment to work toward universal dental care, prioritising children and the elderly.
- Dental is already the number one treatment Australians skip because of cost, according to Finder's 2026 Health Report.
- What's next: A bill would need to be drafted and passed before anything changes. For now, comparing extras cover is a great way to keep dental costs down.
Australians could one day get dental care through Medicare, after Labor committed to a road map for universal access, but with no bill and no funding is officially locked in.
Under the plan, those with the greatest need, such as children and the elderly, would be prioritised first.
However, for anything to actually change, the government would still need to draft a bill and pass it through parliament.
Calls to include dental in Medicare began back in 1974 and ultimately collapsed due to disagreements over cost.
Want cheaper dental care?
Compare extras cover
What it means for your hip pocket
Medicare doesn't cover general dental for adults, which means most adult dental care in Australia is still paid for privately, either out of pocket or through extras cover.
And cost is exactly why this healthcare shift could open doors for the average Aussie household.
Finder's 2026 Health Report found dental was the single most common treatment Australians put off because of cost, with 60% of those cutting back on healthcare delaying a trip to the dentist, ahead of GP visits and physio.
Shockingly, almost a quarter of Australians (23%) went without some form of medical care in the past year because of cost.
So while it might be a while until we see major legislative change, taking out an extras policy in the meantime can reduce how much you pay out of pocket for dental treatment.
Ask a question