The Medicaid program provides health care assistance to persons with low income and limited resources. Although the federal government sets basic guidelines for Medicaid that each state must follow, the states have significant latitude to set eligibility guidelines and determine what health care benefits will be provided. States have the option to decide whether to provide dental coverage for Medicaid recipients over 21 and, if provided, whether to cover services for dental implants 1.
Medicaid Eligibility
Medicaid pays for medical services for low-income persons, often completely covering the cost of the services. The program is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, but is managed by the states. Federal government poverty guidelines are used as the baseline for each state to set the low-income eligibility requirement. For example, in California, the state’s Medi-Cal program administers Medicaid benefits and any person who receives certain government benefits, such as such as Supplemental Security Income or Refugee Assistance, is Medicaid-eligible.
- Medicaid pays for medical services for low-income persons, often completely covering the cost of the services.
Medicaid Dental Coverage - under 21
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Any person under 21 who is Medicaid-eligible is required to receive the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment, or EPSDT, benefit. The primary purpose of the EPSDT benefit is the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and includes dental services. If implants are needed to replace primary or permanent teeth, Medicaid covers the cost of this service.
Medicaid Dental Coverage - over 21
Federal guidelines permit each state to decide whether it will provide dental services for persons over 21 who are Medicaid-eligible 1. According to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, most states provide emergency dental services for adults; however, more than half of the states do not provide non-emergency dental care 1. Because there are no minimum requirements for adult Medicaid dental coverage, it is up to each state to decide whether it will provide coverage for implants 1.
State Medicaid Dental Programs for Adults
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Information regarding the dental benefits provided to adults by a state's Medicaid program can be obtained from the state's Medicaid office where applications for Medicaid are taken 1. The American Dental Association also maintains a web site with a searchable database by state regarding the Medicaid dental benefits provided 1.
SCHIP Dental Coverage
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also operates the State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, that provides health care services for children whose family do not qualify for Medicaid. Each state has a network of health care providers, including dentists that provide coverage for SCHIP-eligible children.
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References
- Ceatus Media Group: Consumer Guide to Dentistry
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines Used to Determine Financial Eligibility for Certain Federal Programs.
- Kaiser Family Foundation. Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid and Multiplier. Fiscal Year 2020.
- Supreme Court of the United States. National Federation of Independent Business et al. v. Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al. Decided June 28, 2012.
- Artiga S, Rudowitz R. Kaiser Family Foundation. Medicaid Enrollment Under the Affordable Care Act: Understanding the Numbers. Updated January 29, 2014
- Medicaid.gov. Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, & Basic Health Program Eligibility Levels.
- Garfield R, Orgera K. Kaiser Family Foundation. The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in States that Do Not Expand Medicaid. Updated January 14, 2020.
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid Expansion in Nebraska.
- Huguelet, Austin. Springfield News Leader. Medicaid expansion advocates say they have the signatures to go to the ballot. March 23, 2020.
- Berchick, Edward R.; Barnett, Jessica C.; Upton, Rachel D. U.S. Census Bureau. Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2018 Current Population Reports. September 2019
- Oberg, Charles N.; Longseth Polich, Cynthia. Health Affairs. Medicaid: Entering the Third Decade. Fall 1988
- HealthCare.gov. Read the Affordable Care Act.
- HHS.gov. What Is the Medicaid Program?
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Writer Bio
Joe Stone is a freelance writer in California who has been writing professionally since 2005. His articles have been published on LIVESTRONG.COM, SFgate.com and Chron.com. He also has experience in background investigations and spent almost two decades in legal practice. Stone received his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from California State University, Los Angeles.