The risk of oral health problems increases with age — and older populations are more likely to lack coverage when they need it most. This combination is leading to a surge in oral health care needs among adults aged 60 and over.
A new visual report from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health reveals that of all Americans, Medicare beneficiaries have the largest unmet need for dental coverage. Other key findings include:
- An estimated 76.5 million adults do not have dental insurance.
- Adults aged 60 and over were most likely to lack dental insurance.
- A quarter of all respondents with Medicare reported that their current dental coverage is insufficient to maintain their oral health.
This visual report, based on a recent CareQuest Institute survey, also illuminates a path forward, noting that most Americans support adding comprehensive dental benefits to both Medicare and Medicaid programs.
You may also be interested in:
- Expanding Dental Benefits Is Good for States*, a report that describes a study of the impact of Medicaid expansion in Colorado.
- Cutting Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits Would Hurt States in Unexpected Ways, a visual report that shows how cuts could harm job growth and increase costs.
- Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit Toolkit for Advocates, a toolkit designed to help advocates educate policymakers and other stakeholders to not only preserve Medicaid adult dental benefits but expand them as well.
