Save money, reduce pain, improve health: Restore dental coverage for low-income adults
The issue
Medicaid Expansion due to national healthcare reform will provide an estimated $242 million in savings to the state because the federal government will take over the funding of state healthcare programs.
With a small portion of this savings, the Legislature can restore Medicaid dental coverage for adults. This coverage was eliminated in 2011 due to budget shortfalls.
If the legislators act this session, they can take advantage of an opportunity to have the federal government pay the full cost of dental care for all new enrollees through Medicaid expansion. A state investment of just $14 million annually will provide dental coverage to more than 700,000 low-income people. At $20 per person per year this is an incredible bargain.
Providing dental coverage saves money for taxpayers by reducing hospitalizations for people with diabetes. Plus, fewer people will seek expensive ER care.
What can you do?
Urge legislators to restore dental coverage for low-income adults. It is the right thing to do.
- Use the form below to send a message to your legislators. You can send the boilerplate email or for more impact, revise and personalize the message.
- Find us on Twitter @OralHealthWatch and help us deliver the message: Restore adult dental now.
Learn more and find out who else supports restoring Medicaid dental coverage for adults.
Budget decisions are being made now, so email your legislators right away.
Messages
Here are some message ideas for your email.
Reasons to restore dental coverage:
- Without dental coverage many people seek pain relief and treatment in emergency rooms, where care is much more expensive.
- Adults who have dental coverage and seek dental care are more likely to ensure that their children receive dental care.
- It’s much harder for adults with missing teeth and extreme pain due to dental problems to find or keep a steady job.
- Untreated oral disease is linked to other serious health problems, especially for people with diabetes.
- (Add a personal experience or example of how lack of dental coverage affects someone you know).
Email your legislator
Contact legislators with the form below and urge them to restore adult dental care.
Use this link to type in your address and find your legislative district. Once you have your district, put your name, district and other information into the form below to urge legislators to restore Medicaid dental coverage for adults.
Sample email
Please personalize to include why this issue is important to you.
Dear [legislator],
Thank you for recognizing the importance of oral health in your budget proposal. Please approve the House level of funding to fully restore dental care for low-income adults. It’s hard for people to get jobs if they have obvious and painful dental problems. Dental care improves health and reduces unnecessary ER visits, lowering healthcare costs.
Sincerely
[Your name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP]
Oral Health Watch
33m
Hospital emergency departments offer temporary relief, but are costly and ill-equipped to deal with the underlying causes of dental pain and infection. Policies that promote greater access to preventive dental care and support measures like water fluoridation can help prevent needless suffering, ...improve health and save money. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
8h
ERs offer temporary relief, but are costly & ill-equipped to deal w/ underlying causes of dental pain & infection. Policies that promote greater access to preventive dental care & measures like water fluoridation can help prevent needless suffering, improve health & save money.
New @AHRQnews report shows that over 2-M emergency dept visits in the US involved dental conditions. 62% of these visits were for nontraumatic dental issues that could have been treated in a dental office. Access the report: https://bit.ly/3DUJagw
Oral Health Watch
3d
Oral health is integral to overall health, and can affect chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and pregnancy. Providing access to preventive oral health care is both good health policy and the right thing to do. #teethmatter
People with gum disease have a 28% higher risk of having their 1st heart attack than those without this disease. Learn other ways that oral health is linked to overall health: https://bit.ly/3j1WLbv #HeartHealth
Oral Health Watch
3d
Thanks to Arcora Foundation, Delta Dental of Washington, Seattle Children's and caring dental care providers like Dr. K.C. who make the SmileMobile possible. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4d
Sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and fruit, sports and energy drinks are the leading source of added sugars in most diets. Choosing water - bonus if it has a good balance of fluoride - is a healthier and more hydrating option. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4d
Sugary beverages like sodas and fruit, sports and energy drinks are the leading source of added sugars in our diets. Choosing water - bonus if it has a good balance of fluoride - is a healthier and more hydrating option. #teethmatter
Think of what you put in your mouth 👄, that’s what healthy eating is about. The American Heart Association ♥️ recommends 6 teaspoons of sugar per day for women and 9 teaspoons of sugar per day for men. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/added-sugars