Medicaid Dentistry for Adults Gets the Axe in Many States

Photo Courtesy of Medicaid Dentist

The adult Medicaid dentistry cutback started in California and has spread like a virus across the United States.

From one side of the U.S. to the other, dental benefits for adults are being eyed for reduction or elimination as states struggle with the ongoing effects of the recession and burgeoning enrollment in Medicaid.

Medicaid enrollment grew by 8.5% in fiscal year 2010, and while states got $87 billion in economic stimulus funds to help cope, they were also barred from placing new limits on eligibility. So to contain costs, many states have been cutting back on optional benefits, including adult dental services, according to an annual 50-state survey of Medicaid budgets released September 30 by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.

Adult dental benefits are always vulnerable in hard times, said Diane Rowland, the commission’s executive director.

“Dental services for children are not an option for state cuts,” Rowland said. “It’s adult dental that is one of the first benefits to be cut.”

With private companies suffering under an extended business recession, one of the first expenses they cut rather than laying off employees is dental insurance. Couple this with government cutbacks on adult dental benefits (medicaid) where do these patients go?

They go without dental care – hoping for better economic times.

In the meantime, public health and low-income clinics close with dentists (particularly new graduates with large school loan debt) not working. Do you see how this can spiral out of control?

Exit question: How does President Obama expect to pay for dentistry for all (or for all children) with ObamaCare health reform?