Press Releases

Community Care Fund subsidises more elders for removable dentures

The following is issued on behalf of the Community Care Fund Secretariat:

The Community Care Fund (CCF) will launch the second phase of the Elderly Dental Assistance Expanded Programme next Monday (October 3) to cover elderly people who are Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) recipients aged 75 or above. This will enable more elders who have financial difficulties and do not receive Comprehensive Social Security Assistance to benefit from free removable dentures and other related dental services. The expenditure required will be absorbed by the approved provision of about $800 million.

Under the Elderly Dental Assistance Programme, about 180 district service units including elderly centres, community centres and dental clinics which process applications directly, will handle applications and arrange the first dental appointment for eligible elders. These district service units are located in various districts across the territory. After completion of the necessary dental treatment, the implementing agent of the Programme, the Hong Kong Dental Association (HKDA), will disburse the subsidy to the dentists directly. The dentists will not charge the elders participating in the Programme of any additional fees.

With effect from next Monday, eligible elders aged 75 or above can bring along the necessary documents to apply in person at the district service units.

An information leaflet and a list of the district service units will be available for distribution at the elderly centres in various districts starting from next Monday. The eligibility and application procedures of the Programme as well as the list of district service units can also be found on the CCF website (www.communitycarefund.hk) and the HKDA website (www.hkda.org). For enquiries, please call the Programme hotline at 2525 8198.

The Elderly Dental Assistance Programme was introduced in September 2012 to provide free removable dentures and other related dental services to low-income elders who are users of the home care service or home help service schemes subvented by the Social Welfare Department. The CCF expanded the Programme in September 2015 to cover elderly people who are OALA recipients by phases, starting with those aged 80 or above in the first phase.

Ends/Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:00
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