Health funds · Claimed on the spot
Health funds and on-the-spot claiming
Park Road Dental accepts all major Australian health funds and claims your rebate on the spot through our terminal, so you pay only the gap on the day rather than paying in full and claiming it back yourself. Bring your fund card to 155 Park Road, Cheltenham. Call (03) 9584 4949.
Claiming on the spot
On-the-spot claiming means we send the claim to your fund from the practice while you are still at the desk. The fund responds within seconds with the rebate it will pay, that amount comes off your bill, and you pay whatever is left — the gap.
You do not need to fill in a form, keep the receipt or lodge anything yourself. Bring your health fund card to the appointment; without it we cannot send the claim, and you would need to pay in full and claim afterwards.
Funds we accept
We accept all major Australian health funds, including Bupa, Medibank, HCF, nib, HBF, GMHBA, Australian Unity, Teachers Health, Defence Health, ahm, CBHS, Frank, Health Partners, Peoplecare, Latrobe Health, Westfund, St.LukesHealth and Police Health.
If your fund is not listed, it does not necessarily mean we cannot claim — most Australian funds work through the same claiming network. Call us with the name of your fund and we will tell you before you come in.
What "the gap" actually means
The gap is the difference between the fee for the treatment and the rebate your fund pays. It is not a fixed number and it is not the same for every patient having the same treatment, because rebates differ between funds and between levels of cover within the same fund.
Two people can have the same filling on the same day and pay different gaps. That is a function of their cover, not of the practice charging differently.
What your rebate depends on
Four things mostly determine what comes back: whether your policy includes dental extras at all, what level of extras you hold, how much of your annual limit you have already used, and whether any waiting period on your policy has been served.
Annual limits reset — for most funds on 1 January, though some use a financial year — and unused limit generally does not carry over. If you have treatment planned and limit remaining, it can be worth asking us about timing. We will tell you what we can, but your fund is the authority on your own policy and a quick call to them gives the most reliable answer.
Knowing the cost before you agree to it
For anything beyond a routine visit we provide a written, itemised treatment plan and quote before starting. For larger treatment you can take that quote to your fund and ask for a pre-assessment, which tells you what they will contribute before you commit.
We would rather you did that than be surprised afterwards. Ask at the appointment and we will give you the item numbers your fund needs.
If you do not have extras cover
You are welcome regardless. Without extras cover you simply pay the fee, and you will know what it is before treatment starts.
Two other things may apply. Eligible children can be bulk billed under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which is a government programme separate from private insurance. And our current offers page lists the practice's set-price options, including the $250 new patient visit.
Health funds FAQs
Do you accept my health fund?
We accept all major Australian health funds, including Bupa, Medibank, HCF, nib, HBF, GMHBA, Australian Unity, Teachers Health, Defence Health, ahm, CBHS and others. If you are unsure, call us with the name of your fund before your appointment.
How does claiming on the spot work?
We send the claim to your fund from the practice at the end of your appointment. The rebate is applied immediately and you pay only the gap. Bring your health fund card — without it the claim cannot be sent.
Will I know what I have to pay before treatment?
For anything beyond a routine visit we provide a written, itemised quote before starting. You can take that to your fund for a pre-assessment if you want their contribution confirmed in advance.
Why is my gap different from someone else's?
Rebates vary between funds, between levels of cover within the same fund, and according to how much of your annual limit you have already used. The fee is the same; what your policy returns is not.
What if I don't have extras cover?
You are still welcome. You pay the fee and will know it before treatment begins. Eligible children may be covered under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which is separate from private health insurance.
Book an appointment in Cheltenham
New patients are welcome and no referral is needed. We are open six days, including Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, with on-site parking.
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