Perhaps one of the biggest flaws in the PPACA and insurance reform was the lack of demanding dental coverage for adults. Even if you pay for dental coverage it likely will not cover replacement of missing teeth. Poor dental health is a big cause of cardiac illness and other life threatening disease. Yet, it was totally left out of the Patient Protection portion of the PPACA. Many have recurring infections that can lead to death because they don't want the affected tooth removed as their insurance won't pay the extremely high cost of replacing it. Therefore, they risk developing acute illnesses that are life threatening and in the long run cost the insurance company much more to treat. Yet, the PPACA requires we all pay for pediatric dental care coverage, whether we have young children or not. Money that could be spent on our own dental care. How stupid is that? You tell me. '
We had a thread about this a while ago - the answer depends on your state. Here in Minnesota dental coverage is part of the Medicaid assistance. It's too involved to get into more specifically but the problem is not ACA but the state's coverage.
Has nothing to do with Medicaid or Medicare but with the HHS mandated Minimal Essential Coverage which only mandates that all coverage include pediatric dental care regardless if you have any children on your policy(required to pay for pediatric dental coverage when you don't need it as you have no children on your policy). You should be allowed to cover adults for dental care instead, but that is not an option. Because HHS didn't mandate health insurance companies cover adult dental care, we are forced to pay for pediatric coverage whether needed or not and to purchase a separate inadequate dental policy which doesn't cover replacement of teeth pulled that were causing illinesses which could lead to death, heart disease, digestive disease. Most policies only cover tooth extraction without replacement. Not replacing the tooth causing digestive problems and other internal diseases. Therefore, ACA should have mandated replacement of the teeth that are extracted. Dentists were not included in any way by the PPACA. Only Medical Doctors and Surgeons. They got lucky. They are making a fortune, able to charge what they want, able to "set fees". Their fees are not regulated as most don't accept insurance and require payment up front. Most dental insurance pays a minimal amount, average of 2000$ per year. And they only pay Dentists enrolled in their plans. Beyond that you are on your own, making payments if the dentist accepts payment plans, charging the fees or forgoing dental care. The problem is the PPACA and not the States Medicaid plan. M.D.'s would have been better off monetarily had they chosen to be Dentists or even Vet Surgeons. As most require cash payment upfront and don't deal with insurance.
Why replace the tooth in my area an extraction is cheap just have the tooth removed and leave it my CHC dentist extracts teeth if not salvageable as a pain and infection elimination measure, that doesn't require replacing the tooth. But even off Medicaid I would be not replacing teeth, its either drill and fill OR extraction whichever works with him a tooth extraction on the sliding fee scale I was on would be with pain medicine and antibiotics was $44. Why would I pay more?
Extraction without replacement can cause digestive problems, heart disease and other intestinal disease. If you lose one of your front teeth, do you really want to walk around toothless? If you loose a back tooth you cant chew your food effectively which can lead to digestive illnesses. I can't even understand why you would be happy with just having your teeth removed. Dental insurance is no where near adequate to properly care for your dental health and Dental costs have risen far more than medical care costs. And, why would you rather pay for pediatric dental when you have no pediatric dependents, your response is simply dumb IMO.
