Dental Insurance Not Required Under Obama’s Affordable Care Act
President Obama first announced plans to build a more universal health system years ago, but now, the time for change is fast approaching and many Americans are looking forward to a more fair and accessible system. The Affordable Care Act has attracted praise and criticism, but one thing that is bothering people, especially dentists and those struggling to access affordable dentistry at the moment, more than anything is the exclusion of dental care in the act.
Under new legislation it will be compulsory for everyone to have health insurance, but this is not true of dental insurance. There is some level of cover for children but some people fear that the lack of dental insurance for adults will result in continued issues with accessible and affordable dental care. You only have to read articles about free clinics attracting thousands of people, many of them from far away, to learn about the situation in the USA at the moment. Millions of people do not have dental insurance because they cannot afford the premiums and this means that they do not have the money available to pay a dentist.
Dr Greg Johnson, from WHSV’s First Alert Health Team, said that many people who do not have dental insurance skip their appointments, which increase their risk of developing dental health problems. Routine check-ups are affordable, but if you neglect them you’re likely to end up with much larger bills. Dr Johnson said that it is also important that people are aware of the health implications of poor oral health, as studies have linked gum disease to an increased risk of general health problems.
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