CONFUSION ABOUT ACA'S REQUIRED PEDIATRIC DENTAL BENEFITS

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurance marketplaces to offer pediatric dental benefits to all consumers, whether or not a consumer has children.  Dental benefits for adults are not required, but some health plans may offer them.  There are also stand-alone dental plans available in every state, some offering only pediatric dental benefits while others offer family services.

Currently confusion reigns concerning dental benefits offered by various plans.  Ambiguous information about medical plans with embedded pediatric dental benefits and about stand-alone dental plans as well means it is virtually impossible for consumers to make informed choices about which plan to buy.

Among medical plans with embedded pediatric dental benefits, 34% do not have a separate dental deductible which means the consumer will have to meet significant medical deductibles before receiving any dental benefits.  One recent study reported consumers in this group might have to meet an annual deductible of almost $3,000 for other healthcare services before receiving any benefits toward dental care.

This is a typical example of the lack of transparency and limited information available to potential buyers of healthcare insurance.  Many national and state professional dental organizations are working to improve transparency of dental benefit plans, but no action has yet resulted in clarification of what is available in various marketplaces or how one plan compares to another.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FROM HEALTHY SMILES, HEALTHY CHILDREN FOUNDATION

Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children is the Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.  Through August 18, HSHC is accepting applications for one year matching grants of up to $20,000 that support community-based activities to secure a dental home for children up to age 18 from families unable to afford dental care.  A “dental home” is that facility where the child is made to feel welcome and comfortable and receives care necessary for his/her oral health.  The grant monies can be used for a wide variety of services, such as dental care, clinic supplies and instruments, educational materials, take-home supplies, outreach to recruit participants in oral care delivery programs, etc.

For guidelines and applications, go to www.aapd.org/foundation/kids.  For additional information, visit  www.healthysmileshealthychildren.org

ASSESS FLUORIDE LEVEL IN YOUR COMMUNITY’S WATER

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires all water suppliers to issue annual Water Quality Reports on the status of water, including fluoride levels, in the communities they serve. The 2014 report is to be published by July 1 and should be distributed via USPS mail, enclosed with water bills, or posted online. Following the report publication and distribution is a good time for dentists to emphasize to patients the value of fluoridation, to actively support their community’s water fluoridation program, and to express appreciation to water plant personnel who are hands-on responsible for fluoridating the water supply. Since antifluoridation proponents are still working to get the addition of fluoride to water supplies banned across the country, this is an opportunity for dentists to show their support for the program in their area.


For more information, go to the “My Water’s Fluoride” page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website or go to the EPA website: http://water.epa.gov/drink/local/index.cfm/drink/local/index.cfm