The Need To Increase Access To Dental Care For The Older Population

In an era where technological advancements in medicine are rapidly growing, one may think that more people are receiving better healthcare. However, this is not the case since access to adequate healthcare is limited for many, especially the older population. This is seen particularly in dental care, where many elders are still affected by dental problems due to limited access to preventive dental care. Approximately one in four seniors aged 65 and over have not visited a dentist in the past 5 years. As a result, around 70% of these elders have developed periodontitis, or gum disease.

Therefore, this is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately by increasing access to dental care since oral health has a direct correlation to one’s overall physical health. Easier access to dental care for elders will result in fewer cases of periodontitis among elders, and this will improve many aspects of life. We are trying to compress morbidity, and this will become easier if we can prevent gum disease from developing in the first place through regular dental checkups. Even though gum disease itself is not deadly, it increases the risk of developing/worsening deadly chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and Alzhimer’s. Also, as the younger generation, we have a responsibility to promote active aging and enhance the quality of life for the older generation. We are currently failing in this responsibility by allowing elders to easily develop periodontitis.

As of now, there are no health insurance programs or policies that fully address this issue. Only one third of those who qualify for Medicare have dental coverage; the other 60% of Medicare recipients do not. Medicare Part B doesn’t cover dental benefits such as dental care, procedures, or dental devices that are necessary to maintain good oral hygiene and prevent oral diseases from developing. Medicare Part A only covers certain inpatient dental services such as emergency dental services and dental checkups needed before kidney transplants or heart valve replacements. Some advantage plans offered under Medicare Part C offer dental coverage, but you have to pay a monthly premium and live in the plan’s service area to qualify. Providing dental benefits are optional for state Medicaid programs, but many states do provide dental benefits. Right now, 37 states offer dental benefits, but this varies each year depending on the amount of funding received. Also, many states place limits on how many times certain dental services will be covered in a year. Furthermore, only 38% of dentists accept Medicaid so access to dental care is still limited for Medicaid recipients, even though many state Medicaid programs provide dental benefits.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurers are not required to offer adult dental coverage but dental care is included in some marketplace health plans. However, the dental expenses are only covered after you meet your deductible, which can range from 6,000 - 12,000 dollars. You can also get dental care through stand alone plans, but you have to pay an additional premium. As you can see, it is still pretty expensive to get dental coverage under the ACA, and this serves as an obstacle for middle-class older Americans who wish to have inexpensive dental coverage. As seen through the amount of dental coverage offered by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, it is evident that we still have a long way to go in terms of providing good dental care for elders. This is why, Governor Malloy, I propose that upper class Americans should pay slightly more in taxes so that more funding can be allotted towards dental care. Right now, funding is insufficient and this is why the dental benefits covered by Medicare and Medicaid are limited. Also, many dentists do not accept Medicaid because Medicaid recipients pay significantly less than those with private insurance for the same services.

Therefore, with more funding, elders will have greater dental benefits and more dentists will accept Medicaid. Although you may face some backlash from upper class Americans and lose their support during the next election, the majority of Americans will support you if this change is implemented. Also, Medicare should be required to provide free yearly dental checkups for elders as part of their dental benefits. Through this form of secondary prevention, early signs of gum disease can be identified and prevented from getting worse. Medical expenses for chronic diseases will be significantly lowered if elders receive good dental care and prevent gum disease from developing in the first place. Without these changes being implemented, the state will have to spend more money treating chronic illnesses, and this can lower employment rates by lowering the rate of growth in GDP and increasing inflation. We as a society have neglected our duty to take care of our elders. Right now, millions of elders around the world are suffering from gum disease due to a lack of access to dental care. A lot of these elders are also developing life-threatening chronic diseases as a result, and this can be prevented through access to dental care. Therefore, I highly encourage you to take these recommendations into consideration, and see that there is even a small change to the current policies surrounding this issue.