The Next Health Crisis: Dental Care

Individuals are required to get health insurance as mandated under law in Massachusetts. How come dental insurance is not a requirement as well? Due the current crisis in Massachusetts, adults who have mass health are not able to get dental coverage. Also, a few major health insurance plans have also eliminated their dental plans, despite raising the preminums and offering less quality care to their members.  Individuals can purchase their own dental plans from Triple AAA, if they are a member or from the select few in Massachusetts.  Average costs are between $60 for individual plans as well as over $120 a month for family plans. To my surprise, not many individuals choose to purchase a dental plan due to not being able to afford it. As a result, many individuals don't have dental insurance and neglect to go to bi-yearly check-ups for preventive care.

Please note that there is one plan called "Care Credit" that is offered in some dental offices across the state. While the dental benefit is offered, the interest rate is over 22 percent if the payment is not paid in full within a six month grace period. As a result, many individuals who have this plan are stuck paying a high interest rate.

My recommendation to the State Legislature is to mandate that health insurance companies offer dental plans as part of the whole packet for offering this service to employees in the workplace and to small businesses. It is also poor health care policy to not offer dental care to the poor and disabled and low-income on Mass Health. Research studies are showing that good dental care is correlated with less health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and infections among the population.