Medicaid is a key source of health care coverage for nearly 80 million people in the United States, providing comprehensive dental coverage for children and some adults — but only some adults. Many states offer limited or emergency-only care under Medicaid, leaving adults without the dental services they need to maintain their overall health.
This fact sheet from CareQuest Institute outlines the health risks and economic consequences of Medicaid’s varying adult dental benefits across states and explains why providing comprehensive oral health coverage for all would benefit both individuals and the overall health system.
The authors write:
By ensuring states provide comprehensive dental benefits for adults who rely on Medicaid for their health coverage, policymakers can improve oral health outcomes, increase employment opportunities, and reduce long-term health care spending on chronic disease management and emergency department use.”
You may also be interested in:
- Federal Medicaid Cuts Threaten State Dental Benefits, a report examining the lessons learned in six states that eliminated Medicaid adult dental benefits in the past.
- It’s Time, Right Now, for Policy Leaders to Address America’s Oral Health Crisis, a blog post from our Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy outlining the policy solutions that are needed to improve oral health in the US.
- Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage Checker, an interactive tool that shows where a state’s Medicaid adult dental benefits package falls from no dental benefits to extensive benefits, helping policymakers identify areas for improvement.
