Dental services, provided to qualified contributors under the department's dental benefit scheme, are paid for monthly on an arrears basis, based on the contracted dentist submitting a claim for the treatment they provided to the qualified person.
The vast majority of such claims, over 97%, are submitted on line via the department's WelfarePartners portal, following confirmation of the customers eligibility, also obtained using this on-line facility. This effective and efficient process allows for the customers eligibility to be checked, treatment provided, fee request to be submitted and payment issued within the shortest possible timeframe. In short, payment for treatments provided in the month is lodged to the dentist's nominated account on the second Friday of the following month.
Any changes to Treatment Benefits would need to be considered in the overall budgetary and policy context.
Any question relating to payment for dental treatments on the medical card scheme should be addressed to the Minister for health.