Does Medicaid Cover Dental For Kids

History Of Chip Dental Coverage

President Bill Clinton signed the Childrens Health Insurance Program into law in 1997 after months of negotiation. It was created to address controversial healthcare reform in the United States. Dental insurance was included as part of the program since its inception. However, not all children enrolled in CHIP received dental insurance in the bills initial language. Nevertheless, through CHIP, dental insurance rates for kids have slowly increased over the years. The dental uninsured rate for children has fallen steadily since CHIP was implemented, from just under 22 percent in 2000 to just over 12 percent in 2013.

In 2009, Congress passed the Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, which amended the program to be more comprehensive. The program expanded coverage to pregnant women and to legal immigrants who have lived in the country less than five years. Most importantly, it mandated that all children enrolled in CHIP receive dental coverage as part of the program. Today, the program helps nearly 9 million children a year obtain medical care, including dental care.

Affordable Care Act And Dental Care: Children

The ACA specifies that dental care for children is an Essential Health Benefit. That may sound like having some sort of dental coverageinsurance or otherwiseis required for kids by law. But what it really means that pediatric dental coverage must be available for purchase in the ACA Marketplace. Parents dont have to purchase dental insurance under federal law.

In the federal and state run Marketplaces, pediatric dental plans are available as part of a health care plan, as a bundled offer or as a stand-alone plan. In the federal Marketplace, you cannot purchase a stand-alone dental plan without purchasing health care insurance. Stand-alone dental plans are not covered by federal subsidies.

A few states do or are considering making kids dental coverage mandatory. If your state runs its own Marketplace, it will also determine other variables like deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance. To see your states specifics, click here

Dental Care For Children Ages 0

• Dental Exams

• Sedation
• Problem focused
• Pain management

Some Services may require permission from a dental plan before the dentist performs the service. This is called a prior authorization. Services must be medically necessary in order for dental plans to pay for them. For more details about dental services, contact the recipientâs dental plan starting December 1, 2018.

• Additional dental exams

• Dental consultations
• Dental office diabetic testing
• A visit to the dental office to get comfortable with the office and the dentist before dental work is done for persons with disabilities

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Medicaid Dental Care For Kids Faq

As you know, dental health is important to everyones health, especially children. Thats why states are required to provide dental care options for children but not necessarily for adults. These options fall under Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program .

Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry accepts Medicaid and CHP+ Dentaquest plans that cover child dental services. Read on for answers to frequently asked questions about Medicaid dental coverage for kids.

Cms Learning Lab: Improving Oral Health Through Access

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is hosting a series of webinars to support States and their collaborative partners to improve access to dental services for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. The webinar materials are available below. For more information about the CMS Oral Health Initiative and the CMS Learning Lab webinars, see the .

Reducing Early Childhood Tooth Decay: Approaches in Medicaid May 27, 2015

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Alabama All Kids Health Care Program

ALL Kids is a low-cost health care coverage program for children under age of 19 years. Benefits include regular checkups and immunizations, sick child doctor visits, prescriptions, vision and dental care, hospitalization, mental health and substance abuse services, and much more.

• ALL Kids is administered by the Alabama Department of Public Health and provides low-cost healthcare coverage for children and teens under age of 19 years, who live in Alabama
• Frequently asked questions about ALL Kids

Medicaid Dental Coverage By State

As you can see from this table that shows Medicaid dental coverage by state, different benefits are given to those in the Medicaid base population and Medicaid expansion population.

People who fall into the Medicaid base population are those who were receiving Medicaid before the Medicaid Expansion Program under the Affordable Care Act.

People who fall into the Medicaid expansion population are those who began receiving Medicaid benefits after the ACA gave states the option to expand funding for Medicaid.

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What Dental Coverage Is Included

Under the Childrens Health Insurance Program, children should receive thorough dental coverage, including preventative treatment and more intensive care. Unlike adult dental care under Medicaid, the federal government has sent minimum standards for what dental coverage children should receive. However, the exact coverage options can vary significantly from state to state. Some states may require that children have insurance directly equivalent to insurance available for federal or state employees. Others may only require that the insurance is financially equivalent, and still others require that states meet Medicaid requirements. Although not a comprehensive list, some of the services covered include:

• Regular teeth cleanings and fluoride treatment.
• Oral health screenings and dental examinations.
• Orthodontics.

Does Pregnancy Medicaid Cover Dental

Medicaid may cover dental work during your pregnancy depending on your income level and the state you live in. Even if you aren’t eligible for Medicaid normally, you may find that you are eligible for Medicaid during pregnancy.

If this is the case, you should complete the ACA health insurance application, and remember two very important things:

• Where it asks if you are pregnant, mark yes
• If it asks if you have a special life event, mark yes

Additionally, if you ask for help in completing the form, or correcting mistakes you may have made on the form, make sure to tell the person helping you that you have a life event because you are pregnant.

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Does Medicaid Cover Dental Care Services For My Kids

Medicaid is a government-funded program that provides healthcare coverage to millions of qualifying Americans. The program covers adults, children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Through Medicaids services, families and individuals who qualify have access to proper medical and dental care services alike.Although most people associate Medicaid health and medical insurance, it is important to know that it includes dental care services as well.

When Does Medicaid Cover Adults Braces

Although Medicaid, for the most part, only pays for childrens orthodontic procedures, in recent times, it has expanded its coverage to include indigent or low-income adults, pregnant women, or disabled persons.

However, in the case of braces, adults rarely qualify for medicaid.

Medical necessity is a critical factor in determining whether Medicaid will pay for braces in adults. For instance, Medicaid can pay for braces in adults how have dislodged teeth or broken jaws as a result of an accident.

Adults who have ailments that affect the jaw and neck also have a valid reason to lay claim to dental coverage by Medicaid.

Medicaid will also pay for teeth repositioning procedures to correct the following conditions:

When presenting your case for Medicaid to pay for your braces, ensure the data is detailed with regard to a medical condition thats impacted by problems with the mouth or jaws.

Braces can be approved without treatment if youre experiencing pain, youre ill, or you have an infection.

Also, if the condition impacts the normal functioning of your body or your ability to go about your routines, then braces can also be approved by Medicaid.

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Medically Necessary Dental Work

Since Medicaid is technically a primary health insurance program, it will include some procedures necessary for medical health. Some of the work included would be certain diseases, treatments required in correlation with other medical services covered in the program, and work required to fix non-biting injuries.

Currently, Medicaid will cover dental care when it is medically necessary for all 50 states. However, the state will be the one to determine if the procedure is a medical necessity.

Finding A Dentist That Accepts Medicaid

The first step in finding a dentist that accepts Medicaid is to determine whether the state you live in and receive Medicaid through offers dental coverage for adults. Once youve determined that dental coverage is offered in the state, you can call around to find a dentist that accepts it. You can start with the dentist youve gone to see in the past, as they may accept it. An internet search can help you find a dentist easily. Know that most dentists do accept Medicaid coverage, so you shouldnt have a very hard time finding accessible dental care as a Medicaid recipient.

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Does Medicaid Cover Dental Care

When it comes to your overall health and well-being, its important that you take care of your dental health and get both regular checkups and preventative maintenance done. However, this can be difficult for those without any dental insurance.

According to the American Dental Association, among children ages 2-18, 38.7% have dental benefits through Medicaid or other government programs, and 11% of them had Medicaid, but no dental insurance. Among adults ages 19-64, only 6.7% percent have Medicaid with dental benefits, and 35.2% of them had Medicaid, but no dental insurance.

Dental insurance can get very expensive, especially if you want any comprehensive benefits included. Fortunately, there are programs such as Medicaid that can help you get low-cost health and dental insurance, depending on the state you live in.

What Dental Procedures Does Medicaid Cover

Medicaid typically covers some dental services for children, no such requirement exists for adult coverage. States decide what dental services they will cover for adults, so the benefits vary widely from state to state. Medicaid expansion in some states means that adults who previously werent eligible for any dental coverage through Medicaid may now get routine exams, cleanings, and some other basic services covered by Medicaid in their state. To find out if your state covers services like braces, dentures, root canals, wisdom teeth removal, or veneers, contact your local Medicaid office.

Many states limit coverage to only tooth extractions or to specific demographics, such as pregnant women. With the wide flexibility given to the states, many provide only emergency dental services for adult patients. Medicaid does not set a minimum requirement for the dental coverage states provide to adults like they do for children.¹²

As of September 2019, less than half of state Medicaid programs offered comprehensive adult dental benefits. But nearly all 47 states and the District of Columbia offered at least emergency services to their adult Medicaid patients. Emergency services include uncontrolled bleeding and traumatic injuries.¹³

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What Dental Services Are Covered Under Medicaid

Childrens basic dental care services under Medicaid include: treatment of tooth infections, restoration of carious teeth, and periodic maintenance of oral health through oral prophylaxis and sealants.Which dental services Medicaid will cover all depends on where you live. It is best to check with your state to find out the exact Medicaid coverage they can provide for your childs needs.

Visit Different Our Partner Dentists Today

All our partners proudly accept patients with Medicaid but you dont need any type of coverage or insurance for your or your childs visit. Patients can choose to pay through cash, credit card, or CareCredit. Our partners also accept TRICARE and other forms of major insurance. For any questions regarding Medicaid, and its coverage, or how to set an appointment with our partner dentists, dont hesitate to give us a call. Our friendly team members are happy to guide you through all your different options for quality dental care

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Medicaid Coverage Of Dentures For Children

Each state Medicaid program is required by the federal government to provide a minimum set of dental benefits for children under the age of 21. These federal minimums do not include dentures.

However, each state may offer additional dental benefits to children on top of the federal requirements. While only North Dakota explicitly mentions dentures being included in its child dental benefits, there may be other states where dentures may be covered. If your child needs dentures, its recommended that you contact your state Medicaid program directly for assistance.

Individuals Under Age 21

EPSDT is Medicaid’s comprehensive child health program. The program’s focus is on prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of medical conditions. EPSDT is a mandatory service required to be provided under a state’s Medicaid program.

Dental services must be provided at intervals that meet reasonable standards of dental practice, as determined by the state after consultation with recognized dental organizations involved in child health, and at such other intervals, as indicated by medical necessity, to determine the existence of a suspected illness or condition. Services must include at a minimum, relief of pain and infections, restoration of teeth and maintenance of dental health. Dental services may not be limited to emergency services for EPSDT recipients.

Oral screening may be part of a physical exam, but does not substitute for a dental examination performed by a dentist as a result of a direct referral to a dentist. A direct dental referral is required for every child in accordance with the periodicity schedule set by the state. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services does not further define what specific dental services must be provided, however, EPSDT requires that all services coverable under the Medicaid program must be provided to EPSDT recipients if determined to be medically necessary. Under the Medicaid program, the state determines medical necessity.

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Developmental And Behavioral Screening

Periodic developmental and behavioral screening during early childhood is essential to identify possible delays in growth and development, when steps to address deficits can be most effective. These screenings are required for children enrolled in Medicaid, and are also covered for children enrolled in CHIP. This CMS Fact Sheet describes CMS resources to support states in ensuring enrolled children receive these screenings. Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!, a joint effort between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, provides additional resources to support states, providers and communities to increase developmental and behavioral screening of young children.

Does Medicaid Cover Dental For Adults

Medicaid covers dental care for adults only in certain states, and each of these states chooses whether they want to provide limited, extensive, or emergency-only care. The states that currently provide at least limited dental care for their Medicaid base population are: AK, CA, CT, IA, MA, MO, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, RI, WA, WI.

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How Do I Find Low

To find dental clinics for low-income families or individuals:

• Contact your local health department
• Contact a local dental school
• Participate in a clinical study
• Contact a Health Insurance Navigator

And to find dentists and dental clinics that accept Medicaid:

• Consult the provider booklet that came with your insurance to find Medicaid dental offices

Epsdt Strategy Guides To Support States With The Medicaid Benefit For Children And Adolescents

In 1967, Congress introduced the Medicaid benefit for children and adolescents, known as Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment . The goal of this benefit is to ensure that children under the age of 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid receive age-appropriate screening, preventive services, and treatment services that are medically necessary to correct or ameliorate any identified conditions the right care to the right child at the right time in the right setting. This broad scope supports a comprehensive, high-quality health benefit. States share responsibility for implementing the EPSDT benefit with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. .)

As one outcome of a National EPSDT Improvement Workgroup, the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services is developing a set of strategy guides, each on a specific topic, to support states and their partners as they implement the EPSDT benefit. Each strategy guide identifies specific, doable approaches to improve access, utilization and quality of care for children and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid. Examples of state successes are offered along with web-based links to resources, tools and more in-depth.

The first four guides in the series are:

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Who Requires A Dental Crown

Since we previously said that crowns are most of the time required and therefore covered by Medicaid, we will discuss a few instances where a crown must be fitted:

• To aid in the protection of a weaker tooth that is about to break or is already damaged
• To aid in the restoration of a fractured or worn-down tooth
• To keep your prosthesis in a place as a bridge
• To conceal discolored or damaged teeth

Your dentist can advise that all of the aforementioned scenarios are medically required. In some circumstances, you will either be fully covered by Medicaid or will be required to pay a co-payment, depending on your state of residency.