Mississippi Medicaid Dental Coverage For Adults

Additional Free Dental Care Services In Mississippi

The Mississippi Dental Lifeline Network can be contacted for more information. Whether it is to get information on another local dental clinic near you, or to learn about Medicaid and if it pays for cleanings or some other service, dial 888.235.5826. There are many centers in Mississippi that offer free cleanings to children, fluoride treatment, and much more.

Which States Have No Adult Dental Coverage

Only a small number of states have no dental coverage whatsoever. If you live in the following states and need dental care, you will have to do so outside of Medicaid benefits.

States with no adult dental benefits:

• Alabama
• Tennessee

If your state of residence is one of these four, then any dental care will not be covered by Medicaid. This can be very alarming to hear since out-of-pocket dental expenses can be incredibly high.

Resources For Those Without Dental Coverage

However, there are still ways to get affordable dental care without Medicaid. Here are some options that may be available to you:

• If you are 65 or older and are enrolled in a Medicare Part C program, there is a good chance that you have dental coverage through this program. Talk to a program coordinator and find out if you are covered.
• Find the nearest dental school. Every state has a university that includes a dental program. This is one of the most competitive programs to get into, so even a student dentist will be very capable of your care.
• Get in touch with your local 211. The specialists on the other end will be able to direct you to dental clinics that offer affordable care.
• If you are 65 and over, disabled, or otherwise medically vulnerable, you can apply for free dental care through Dental Lifeline. This is a service that dentists and dental professionals provide donated dental care. Dental Lifeline operates in every state.

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Does Medicaid Coverage Of Dental Care Vary By State

A by the Center for Health Care Strategies categorized each states Medicaid program by whether it covered dental care only in emergencies, offered limited coverage in non-emergencies, offered extensive coverage, or didnt provide any dental benefits. For Medicaid expansion adults:

• 3 states offered no dental benefits
• 14 states offered emergency-only coverage
• 17 states offered limited coverage
• 17 states provided extensive coverage

The same survey analyzed benefits for adults with Medicaid who were eligible based on their age, disability, or another reason :

• 2 states offered no dental benefits
• 6 states provided emergency-only coverage
• 10 states provided limited coverage
• 14 states offered extensive coverage

Medicare Plan Options In Mississippi

Residents of Mississippi have multiple Medicare plans to choose from. Many are tiered to help Mississippians find the plan that is best suited to your lifestyle and medical needs. For example, seniors and individuals with disabilities who dont need much coverage can apply for Original Medicare. Mississippis Medicare Advantage program might be a better option if you need more comprehensive insurance. Some Medicare policies offer additional prescription drug add-ons or supplementary coverage.

Don’t Miss: When Does Medicaid Enrollment Start

Unitedhealthcare Dual Complete Plans

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plans contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Call TTY 711 for more information. Limitations, co-payments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.

Medicaid: More For You In 2022

As a UnitedHealthcare MississippiCAN member, youll get extra benefits that some plans dont offer.

• Pre- and postnatal care for pregnant moms and newborns
• One of the largest provider networks available
• Vision including eye exam and glasses
• Mental health services
• Prescription drugs for members over age 21, our plan includes up to 6 prescription drugs and refills each month for members up to age 21, there are no limits

• MS Medicaid Plan

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Medicaid/chip Dental Coverage In Mississippi

Adults enrolled in Medicaid in Mississippi are eligible for limited dental services such as dental extractions and their related treatment. Children can receive more robust benefits if eligible.

For children up to age 19, there is Mississippis CHIP, which provides dental coverage to uninsured children and pregnant women with income above the eligibility limits for Medicaid.

Medicare Supplement Dental Insurance

If you need a supplement to your Medicare dental care to help cover costs, ask your dentist if they offer a dental savings plan. You can also purchase a supplemental dental insurance policy. To pursue either of these options, talk with your dentist and call your preferred insurance provider to learn about all of your options.

Also, check out our article that talks about affordable dental insurance for seniors for more information on finding low-cost dental care if you are 65 years or older.

To recap, the following video provides a clear summary of Medicare dental coverage and what services are included:

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State Oral Health Action Plans

To support the Oral health Initiative, CMS invited state Medicaid agencies to develop State Oral Health Action Plans as a roadmap to achieving in their goals.

CMS has received SOHAPs from the following 25 states: Alabama , Alaska , Arizona , California, Connecticut, District of Columbia , Delaware , Florida , Maine, , Massachusetts , Michigan , Missouri , Nebraska, New Hampshire , New Jersey , North Dakota , Oklahoma , Pennsylvania , Tennessee , Utah , Vermont , Virginia , Washington and Wyoming . CMS encourages the remaining 29 states to develop and submit their SOHAPs, and CMS stands ready to provide technical assistance to any state that requests it.

SOHAPs may be submitted using either a CMS-developed Oral Health Action Plan Template or a user-friendly template developed by the Medicaid-CHIP State Dental Association. Completed SOHAPs may be submitted to Andrew Snyder, Health Insurance Specialist via email to with a copy to your CMS Regional Office contact. Any questions about the SOHAPs may also be directed to Mr. Snyder.

Types Of Medicaid Plans Including Dental

The type of Medicaid that you have could impact whether it pays for dental work for adults. Each state offers a variety of plans designed for different groups of low-income individuals.

In addition to the straight or regular program, you could enroll in unique plans for pregnant women, dual-eligible Medicare recipients, and individuals deemed medically needy.

Also Check: How Poor Do You Have To Be To Get Medicaid

Finding Medicare Dental Coverage In Mississippi With Healthmarkets

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When you look for Medicare dental coverage in Mississippi, you might feel like your options are limited. Even if you’re enrolled in Medicare, most plans don’t include coverage for dental care, This can make receiving preventive services, crowns, and dentures costly. At HealthMarkets, we can help you find a dental plan that will meet your financial and dental needs while you’re still receiving the Medicare health coverage you want.

Medicare Resources In Mississippi

Getting support can help when youre making Medicare decisions. Mississippi has numerous locations where enrollees can receive help through your local Area Agency on Aging, which provide a variety of services to seniors, including help with Medicare questions. The states Medicaid program can also work in collaboration with your Medicare coverage to help you lower your overall costs.

Recommended Reading: If You Have Medicaid Do You Need Medicare Part B

Individuals Age 21 And Older

States may elect to provide dental services to their adult Medicaid-eligible population or, elect not to provide dental services at all, as part of its Medicaid program. While most states provide at least emergency dental services for adults, less than half of the states provide comprehensive dental care. There are no minimum requirements for adult dental coverage.

See Why Mississippians Choose Unitedhealthcare

Whatever plan you choose, UnitedHealthcare will help you get the care you need.

• Large variety of network providers
• No-cost virtual visits
• Rides to appointments for eligible plans

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Unitedhealthcare Senior Care Options Plan

UnitedHealthcare SCO is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Medicaid program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plans contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is a voluntary program that is available to anyone 65 and older who qualifies for MassHealth Standard and Original Medicare. If you have MassHealth Standard, but you do not qualify for Original Medicare, you may still be eligible to enroll in our MassHealth Senior Care Option plan and receive all of your MassHealth benefits through our SCO program.

Does Medicaid Cover Dental

There is a common misconception that dental care and hygiene are less important than general health and medical needs. However, having a clean bill of dental health is a vital part of overall health and wellbeing.

This misconception of the importance of dental care has led healthcare programs, including Medicaid, to have a separation between general benefits and adult dental benefits. Instead of incorporating dental into the physical health coverage, it is added as a bonus or not at all.

If you have been wondering if your state of residences Medicaid program has dental benefits included, read on to find out what is available in your state. If you live in a place without Medicaid dental care, there are also resources included in this article to give you the tools to take care of all aspects of your health.

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Five Decades Later Medicare Might Cover Dental Care

In the large budget bill now in Congress, supporters of the measure see a rare opportunity to advance a popular policy.

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Tens of millions of older Americans who cannot afford dental care with severe consequences for their overall health, what they eat and even when they smile may soon get help as Democrats maneuver to add dental benefits to Medicare for the first time in its history.

The proposal, part of the large budget bill moving through Congress, would be among the largest changes to Medicare since its creation in 1965 but would require overcoming resistance from dentists themselves, who are worried that it would pay them too little.

The impact could be enormous for people like Natalie Hayes, 69. Ms. Hayes worked in restaurants, raised a son and managed her health as best she could within her limited means. As she lost her teeth most of them many years ago and her remaining front ones last fall she simply lived with it.

I had a lot of pneumonia, she said, at a recent visit to the Northern Counties Dental Center in Hardwick, Vt. Not a lot of good dental care.

For reference, she showed Colleen Mercier, a dental assistant, an old photograph.

You have a pretty smile, Ms. Mercier said

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

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Which States Have Limited Adult Dental Coverage

When Medicaid has limited coverage for dental, this usually means one of two things. Either there is a financial cap to the dental care you can have covered, or there is a fixed list of services that will be covered.

If it is a financial cap, the range is usually somewhere between $500 to $1000. Once that amount is met, dental wont be covered unless it is an emergency.

If it is a fixed list, your Medicaid dental benefits will typically include preventative care such as cleanings and restorative care such as fillings, as well as emergency care.

States with limited adult dental care:

• Arkansas

• Washington
• Wisconsin

Something that is not typically covered even in comprehensive plans is adult orthodontic care or braces. If this is something that you require, you may need to pay out-of-pocket. Luckily, this is not something that would be an emergency, so you will still have all the care that you need to maintain good dental health.

Five Insurers Offer Stand

In 2022, five insurers offers stand-alone individual/family dental coverage through the health insurance marketplace in Mississippi. These are dental plans that are not included with a medical plan and must be purchased separately:

• BEST Life
• Renaissance Dental
• Guardian

This coverage can be purchased through HealthCare.gov during open enrollment or during a special enrollment period triggered by a qualifying life event. Exchange-certified stand-alone dental plans are compliant with the ACAs rules for pediatric dental coverage.

Also Check: Dentist Who Accept Medicare And Medicaid

Does Medicaid Cover Dentures For Adults In Your State 2022

A seemingly simple question, does Medicaid cover dentures for adults in 2022 can have a complicated answer.

First, the type of denture influences the answer because Medicaid acts primarily as health insurance and secondarily as dental insurance.

Second, thirty-three states pay for restorative care with several limitations, while seventeen others offer nothing.

Third, you will not find a reliable answer on the internet, and this article can only provide general guidance. The ultimate authority will be the private company administering claims for the type of dentures you need.

Finally, the Managed Care Organization or Dental Benefits Manager associated with your plan determines which claims to pay or reject.

It Makes It Hard To Work: The Real Cost Of Not Expanding Medicaid In Mississippi

Briana Wright has worked all her adult life. The 27-year-old Kosciusko resident has been a crew member at McDonalds for three years. Before that, she worked for Tyson Foods, where she mostly hung chickens for processing.

Wright is stuck in what is commonly referred to as the healthcare coverage gap. She is one of the 300,000 or so Mississippians with no health insurance because she cant afford private health insurance but doesnt qualify for Medicaid.

States have had the option to expand Medicaid eligibility to most people with incomes under a certain level about $30,300 annually for a family of three since 2014. Mississippi remains one of 12 states not to expand despite profound financial benefits and an increased federal matching rate under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

As Wright and other Mississippians in similar positions continue to struggle, state lawmakers once again have decided not to consider expansion and do not seem poised to do so anytime soon.

The current program covers the disabled, poor pregnant women, children and some elderly people. Generally speaking, able-bodied adults are not eligible for Medicaid in Mississippi.

If state leaders were to expand Medicaid, at least 225,000 Mississippians would qualify for healthcare coverage including Wright.

As a result of being uninsured, Wright doesnt see any doctors annually for checkups or preventative care.

Mississippi health news you can’t get anywhere else.

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Mississippi Division Of Aging And Adult Services

The mission of the Mississippi Division of Aging and Adult Services is to protect the rights of Mississippis seniors while expanding their opportunities and access to services. The Division supports the states Medicaid portal, where you can apply for low cost health insurance.

Contact information: Website | 1-800-345-6347

Dental Coverage Under Medicaid

Medicaid dental benefits are one of the most contentious issues surrounding this insurance since some states provide full coverage while others do not.

The good news is that children under the age of 21, pregnant women, and the elderly are normally covered for all medical expenditures without having to make a co-payment.

In terms of adults, different states will enable Medicaid to cover a variety of services. In general, Medicaid covers everything that is deemed medically essential. Does this, however, include crowns?

Continue reading to learn more.

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