Striking At The Poor
At the
Seattle Times, the lack of affordable dental insurance for poor people is revealed as a serious health risk that will inflate health costs in general. Poor dental care has been linked to everything from heart attack to stroke, not to mention the tremendous pain and suffering endured by those who can't afford proper care.
The situation is a sad one. Dental insurance rarely gets the kind of press it deserves, instead taking a backseat to other healthcare issues; It's " a neglected stepchild among health priorities." However, when an individual doesn't have proper dental insurance, basic maintenance becomes costly, and many problems that could be handled earlier on are left to become expensive and painful procedures.
The remedy for most state-funded dental care institutions is to simply pull teeth that become infected, but as the article goes on to say, "Oral infections lead to health problems as serious as heart attacks and strokes. Having missing teeth interferes with chewing and contributes to a poor diet or malnutrition. And it affects a person's speech and appearance, which makes it harder to find a good job."
As the dentist in the article says, you truly cannot separate the mouth from the rest of the body.
So what to do? Dental insurance receives so little press that patients rarely know how much it costs and what it covers. Basic plans can be affordable, and so long as checkups are followed up, this can prevent serious problems from developing.
Facts on:
Dental Insurance
Did you know...
1/3 of Americans are without dental insurance?
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Dental care clinics and are also out there, but are few and far between since costs are high and so many people need care. With nearly 1/3 of Americans without dental insurance, and half or more dental procedures paid for out-of-pocket, most people can't afford to do more than the most basic procedures.
For those who have access to the Internet, searching online is usually the easiest way to find an affordable dental insurance plan that covers basic needs, and some portion of larger procedures. However, many dentists only accept specific plans, so it's important to make sure that your dentist is covered by your insurance plan before you go in for care.
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