Coverage

Why States Should Offer Extensive Oral Health Benefits to Adults Covered by Medicaid

Millions of adults lack coverage for oral health care and cannot afford to pay for needed care on their own. States can make a difference by covering extensive oral health benefits in their Medicaid p...

Using Hospital Community Benefits to Improve Access to Oral Health Care

As part of their tax obligation to provide benefits to the community beyond hospital care, nonprofit hospitals can fund oral health initiatives such as community dental clinics, mobile dental services...

How Medicaid Waivers Could Limit Access to Oral Health Care

A Medicaid “waiver” is a state request to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain federal requirements of the Medicaid program. Traditionally, Medicaid waivers under section 11...

Engaging in Story-Based Work: What Oral Health Organizations Need to Know

This issue brief outlines what organizations that interact with individuals with oral health needs should know before engaging in any story-based work. A companion publication to our Story Bank Too...

America’s Seniors Need Medicare Oral Health Coverage

Nearly 60 million seniors and disabled persons rely on the Medicare program – and only about one-third of them have any coverage for oral health care. The Medicare statute currently excludes coverag...

Treating Pain Is Not Enough: Why States’ Emergency-Only Dental Benefits Fall Short

States have great latitude to determine the scope of dental benefits that they will cover for adults through their Medicaid programs. While some states cover comprehensive benefits, others cover emerg...

Oral Health Questions to Ask Your Candidate

The 2018 elections provide a chance to bring oral health issues to the forefront of policymaker and public discussions—an important opportunity for an issue that is often forgotten, left behind, or ...

An Oral Health Benefit in Medicare Part B: It’s Time to Include Oral Health in Health Care

59 million seniors and people with disabilities rely on Medicare for their health care, but it doesn’t cover part of the body that causes all kinds of health problems—the mouth. Fa...

Community Statement on Medicare Coverage for Medically Necessary Oral and Dental Health Therapies

Millions of seniors and people with disabilities rely on Medicare for their health care, but it does not cover their oral health care. Even if someone needs dental care in order to have a medical proc...

Buying Children’s Dental Coverage Through the Marketplace

Updated for the 2020 plan year, Families USA and the Children’s Dental Health Project published this guide to help families choose a pediatric oral health plan in their state’s marketplace. During...