dental fees for student

[Mattk]

My son turned 19 last month and attends college 3 days per week.
When he visited the dentist last week he was told he would have to pay but he wasnt told until he was in the chair.

If he is a student should he have to pay?

Thx for any help.

[bednobs]

Yes he should have to pay. Full time students under 19 are exempt from NHS charges. Your son does not fulfil ths criteria. Is he with an NHS dentist? It is not up to the dentist to inform him if he is exempt or not, it's up to your son to check his exemption. How would they konw he didnt know he wasn't still exempt?
anyway, if it is an nhs dentist, and they have given him a treatment plan he dosent want to go along with, the most he will have lost is the approx 16 pound fee for a check up

[Mattk]

thanks for the prompt response.

[nvqwomen]

hi there, my daughter had the same problem, she is nearly 20 and goes to college and has no income coming in, but what you have to do is ask your dentist for a form called hc1 which is to claim for help with health costs, fill that form in and if your son is entittled he will receive a certificate which will allow him to get his treatment free this is for a nhs dentist, hope this helps

[bednobs]

hmmm but you can only get that if you are on certain benefits, or are the dependant of someone on those benefits.

If you only are at college for 3 days, i guess there is nothing stoping you getting a job in your free time, . I have no idea whether mattk's son is on benefits though, so look into that

[Mattk]

thanks again.

[bushbaby_de]

I'm pretty sure HC1 also applies on low income, not just on benefits