Sunday, February 19, 2012

US Discount Dental Health Care Plans - Important Information About Dental Care In The USA

By far, across the most well-known U.S. discount dental health care plans are those provided by state-funded Medicaid programs. Residents fitting a particular income requirement and their children can be eligible for routine and emergency dental care at a very low cost. This is good news for families who may even have trouble paying the premiums required by most discount dental health care plans in the U.S.
For low-income and minority families, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) may be the best source of dental care. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the U.S. Sadly, 20 million children in the country do not have dental health plans, according to Kaiser. In addition, many families may not be aware of discount health care or able to afford their low cost rates. What can families in this situation do to receive preventative services and dental treatment?
Some states, such as Montana, cap the amount of dental care provided to children through Medicaid while others trim benefits during times of budgetary crisis. On the whole, however, low-income families can apply at their local Medicaid office for discount dental health plans. Those families should also keep in mind that children enrolled in Medicaid and SCHIP have better access to dental care than uninsured children. (Source: "Dental Coverage and Care for Low-Income Children," The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured)