The Cavity in Health Insurance Coverage: Oral Health

[Purveyor]

When we talk about the successes and shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) -- and health care in the US in general -- little attention is given to dental care.

While the ACA defines dental coverage as an essential benefit for those under 18, insurers aren't required to offer dental coverage for adults. Medicare, the nation's largest insurer, doesn't cover routine dental work. And coverage for adults through Medicaid varies from state to state.

It is estimated that 108 million Americans have no dental insurance, and that one in four nonelderly Americans has untreated tooth decay.

Oral health isn't just about nice teeth. As the surgeon general noted in a 2000 report, oral health is intimately connected to general health and can be implicated in or exacerbate diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and complications during pregnancy.

The absence of comprehensive dental care exacts a toll on millions of Americans in terms of poor health, pain and the social stigma associated with bad teeth.

People Desperately Need Dental Care

In 2003 and 2004 (pre-Obamacare), I conducted a national study of uninsured Americans in southcentral Illinois, northern Idaho, the Mississippi delta, the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and in eastern Massachusetts.

more...

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/35856-the-cavity-in-health-insurance-coverage-oral-health

[TexasProgresive]

1. We lost our dental coverage when I retired

and went on Medicare.

[femmocrat]

4. Same here.

The premiums were higher than we pay for dental visits.

[MattP]

2. Ca medicaid started covering dental

I took my disabled friend who has no teeth to get dentures with denti-cal, it was a good feeling they pulled his three remaining teeth

[Purveyor]

3. Michigan, believe it or not with our repuke gov't here, are covering adult dental care through the

expanded medicaid program.

I know of at least 4 people that come into the store that are in the process of getting dentures. Many, many more need to get have major work done...

[Hoyt]

5. Would love dental coverage, but even Canada doesn't cover it. Many European countries

offer only partial coverage.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. Even with dental insurance big things are out of reach for us without a lot of planning.

My husband needed a crown and a root canal. I had no idea how much it would be. If we had not had insurance and a dentist who did a payment plan it would not have happened.

[airplaneman]

7. I have a saying

You cannot see - not covered
You cannot hear - not covered
You cannot chew - not covered
You cannot pee - well your covered.
-Vision, hearing, and dental are seriously under covered in this country.
-Airplane

[LibDemAlways]

8. The cost of dental care even with insurance

is outrageous. A crown last year set me back $1500 after insurance paid its small portion. The dentist suggested another crown,and I told him flat out I couldn't afford it if I want to eat and keep the lights on.

[dflprincess]

9. I saw an article recently that the U.K. hopes that Kate Middleton will become the "poster child"

for dental care in the U.K. and the jokes about bad British teeth will fade away. At the rate we're going, the U.S. will take it's place.

Given the connection between cardio-vascular health and teeth at the very least cleanings should be covered under medical insurance.

[RichVRichV]

10. I've got a tooth that has needed a root canal and crown for 2 years now.

I keep it from hurting by cleaning it with a toothpick every time I eat. Last year I signed up for Aflack dental to partially cover the work. Had to wait a year for it to fully kick in.

At this point it probably just needs pulled.