General Discussion

totodeinhere

(13,688 posts)

57. I could not agree more. It's a scandal that poor people in this country are forced to suffer with

Fri Jul 26, 2013, 01:53 PM

Jul 2013

dental problems. And it's not just poor people. Often people who don't quite qualify as poor put off dental work as well because of affordability issues.

What they should do is cover any necessary dental work at the discretion of a dentist. If it's purely cosmetic then I think that would depend on the circumstances. People with crooked unsightly teeth are at a disadvantage in many ways including in the employment market so we should find a way to help people in that situation as well. And preventative care such as cleaning should always be covered since it will probably save a lot of money in the long run. And yes, cover vision and hearing as well. Medicare and Medicaid should cover dental, vision and hearing. And people not qualified for those programs should have other options for coverage. And of course single payer is the ultimate answer.

One more thing. You quoted $200 for an extraction. Around here it's more like $500 for a simple extraction and more for a more complicated one.

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Dental Care Should Be Part of Universal Healthcare [View all] MineralMan Jul 2013 OP

k&R think Jul 2013 #1

Realizing that dental health affects many other body functions and health Sheepshank Jul 2013 #2

Its not part of the UK's NHS / universal healthcare program dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #3

I hadn't realized that. adirondacker Jul 2013 #50

DUzy. nt awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #90

Austin Powers made great fun of the lack of cosmetic dental care in GB's public health maddiemom Jul 2013 #125

Those wire rims ones are a memory of the distant past. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #129

Yeah, those bandaids holding together a nose bridge came to be a tradition in films about kids in maddiemom Jul 2013 #131

That's some interesting information. I know our military provided the BCG's for a long time. I had adirondacker Jul 2013 #132

Yes it is. FunkyLeprechaun Jul 2013 #115

If you think that dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #116

It shows too. Apophis Jul 2013 #127

Yep. Optical too. Scuba Jul 2013 #4

That's also a good idea. MineralMan Jul 2013 #7

I am vision impaired Coyote_Bandit Jul 2013 #121

That's not covered by the UK's NHS either. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #9

free for under 16, over 60 and in fulltime education and receiving benefits Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2013 #94

Something like that. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #113

And hearing aides itsrobert Jul 2013 #37

Absolutely. Thanks! Scuba Jul 2013 #39

You mean they are not?... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #91

I absolutely CANNOT function without my glasses! Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #54

On this we agree fully. Dental health is a major component of health in general Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #5

Did you know? Bunnahabhain Jul 2013 #6

Yes. It should be, though. MineralMan Jul 2013 #8

I heard one time that was the problem in Britain snooper2 Jul 2013 #10

It not quite like that here in the UK. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #23

Ya mean like this Englishman wore? Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #52

poor dental health can kill. It should be part of a national health care rurallib Jul 2013 #11

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #31

It should be, but we will all be dead and gone before dental is covered. Hoyt Jul 2013 #12

The more you expect from the system from its outset, if ever , dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #18

Dental care is preventive care. Brickbat Jul 2013 #13

You'd think good lawyers and lawmakers could make that argument fairly easily! nt adirondacker Jul 2013 #133

It makes total sense, even from a purely private medical-ins perspective phantom power Jul 2013 #14

It should be body care! hamsterjill Jul 2013 #15

good dental health is so important to the rest of your health fizzgig Jul 2013 #16

it is Skittles Jul 2013 #64

It should include vision care as well. BlueToTheBone Jul 2013 #17

Amen to that!! Peacetrain Jul 2013 #19

A bad tooth killed my dad skydive forever Jul 2013 #44

Many people die from tooth related ailments skydive Peacetrain Jul 2013 #48

I had my teeth cleaned and checked two days ago. Got a good check up, by the way. Grammy23 Jul 2013 #80

Wow Peacetrain Jul 2013 #86

What is it you can find out from an eye exam? flamingdem Jul 2013 #126

This was told to me.. Peacetrain Jul 2013 #135

100% correct! And dental insurance with a cap of $1000 is ridiculous. mountain grammy Jul 2013 #20

I considered at one time to do the extraction EC Jul 2013 #21

I'm not sure that purely cosmetic dental care should be included. MineralMan Jul 2013 #22

I agree about "purely cosmetic," but... Orrex Jul 2013 #28

My teeth were all lost...from the inside, out...brushing/flossing irrelevant DebJ Jul 2013 #59

Medicine can do it, too... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #93

Not only dental care, but vision and hearing too. RC Jul 2013 #24

Yes. I agree. MineralMan Jul 2013 #25

Medical devices in general are a huge contributer to cost increases Recursion Jul 2013 #30

Not to mention mental heath.... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #35

When I looked into hearing aids the cheapest ones quoted were $4,000 by the audiologist airplaneman Jul 2013 #67

The audiologist are pushing the high profit digital hearing aids. RC Jul 2013 #69

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #26

you are correct... Javaman Jul 2013 #27

My one dental implant cost $6,000 airplaneman Jul 2013 #68

I know, it's ridiculous. Javaman Jul 2013 #77

Thanks for sharing. airplaneman Jul 2013 #85

You should check in your area for a dental school. Javaman Jul 2013 #97

Why does nobody go bankrupt from dental bills? Recursion Jul 2013 #29

Do they all have dentures? Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #34

No, but I don't have a dental plan, and seeing my dentist is affordable Recursion Jul 2013 #36

Wonder if he'll take a chicken. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #38

Due to genetics, I lost all my teeth and needed full dentures by the age of 50. DebJ Jul 2013 #62

While dental care has changed a lot in fifty years, SheilaT Jul 2013 #107

As callous as this is going to sound, SheilaT Jul 2013 #105

Before Ahnold came along MediCal in California covered CLEANINGS... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #32

I agree...knr...glad your wife is feeling better...nt joeybee12 Jul 2013 #33

Once I had free dental.. AsahinaKimi Jul 2013 #40

No brainer. I hope it happens down the line like mental health issues that used to be Cleita Jul 2013 #41

Right on! JaneyVee Jul 2013 #42

I AGREE gussmith Jul 2013 #43

K & R damn straight! 99th_Monkey Jul 2013 #45

100% with you. avaistheone1 Jul 2013 #46

The distinction between "medical" and "dental" is archaic, and nonsensical. David__77 Jul 2013 #47

The system is wealth not health. GeorgeGist Jul 2013 #49

K&R MotherPetrie Jul 2013 #51

I agree! Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2013 #53

Interesting point, and SheilaT Jul 2013 #108

Not that it's a terrific option, but extractions can be done at most hospitals REP Jul 2013 #55

Are extractions at hospitals covered by Medicare? I don't think so. totodeinhere Jul 2013 #61

If insurance covers outpatient procedures, then it might be covered REP Jul 2013 #70

At least some hospitals don't doo SheilaT Jul 2013 #109

What a timely post! watoos Jul 2013 #56

And a lot of stand alone private dental insurance plans are ripoffs. totodeinhere Jul 2013 #60

I could not agree more. It's a scandal that poor people in this country are forced to suffer with totodeinhere Jul 2013 #57

K & R SunSeeker Jul 2013 #58

We don't often agree but, hear, hear! Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #63

Thanks! An important post locks Jul 2013 #65

The Socialist Left Party in Norway had a pretty good slogan: War Horse Jul 2013 #66

Dental cover is not provided under Swedens healthcare system dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #74

You are right War Horse Jul 2013 #75

I agree vankuria Jul 2013 #71

Dental, Eyes and Hearing. It's quality of life and health. K&R! KoKo Jul 2013 #72

As things change WRT healthcare, those are things we MineralMan Jul 2013 #73

It's so basic...and so out of the reach of so many... KoKo Jul 2013 #99

Look around for a free clinic michigandem58 Jul 2013 #76

Tough to do in an emergency. MineralMan Jul 2013 #79

Agreed michigandem58 Jul 2013 #123

I agree. Skidmore Jul 2013 #78

I agree but not likely to happen. roamer65 Jul 2013 #81

I've been wondering . . . Utopian Leftist Jul 2013 #82

I agree. alarimer Jul 2013 #83

As a dentist and former dental educator, PCIntern Jul 2013 #84

Agreed! On both points... jazzimov Jul 2013 #87

Dental AND vision.. Just think of all the people who need glasses SoCalDem Jul 2013 #88

+1 nt. livingwagenow Jul 2013 #96

Dental care is ridiculously expensive... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #89

dental and vision Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2013 #92

rec for any mention of pro-single payer, plus dental = even better. nt livingwagenow Jul 2013 #95

It is malaise Jul 2013 #98

Absolutely agree. We should be making life better for ourselves and our children. randome Jul 2013 #100

Little toe care is covered, but teeth aren't. gulliver Jul 2013 #101

Dental Insurance here in U.S. is really just small discounted dental care .. not insurance really. YOHABLO Jul 2013 #102

As I sit here tonight in total agony.......... mrmpa Jul 2013 #103

i am sorry u are in pain. hope u find relief soon Liberal_in_LA Jul 2013 #112

Do you have a dental school near you? If so, you might inquire about being seen there. mnhtnbb Jul 2013 #118

there is a dental school near by. I used it when........ mrmpa Jul 2013 #130

Why don't you try contacting Wishadoo? Find out what the lower payment schedule mnhtnbb Jul 2013 #134

They really should work on the vaccine quakerboy Jul 2013 #104

Dental care should be included in Medicare as well. Lugnut Jul 2013 #106

Dental isn't covered by Medicare in Australia... Violet_Crumble Jul 2013 #110

I think perhaps that the essential reason dental SheilaT Jul 2013 #111

The hypocrisy of prolife politicians polynomial Jul 2013 #114

Tell me about it. I am having a tooth extracted on Monday mnhtnbb Jul 2013 #117

Agreed - TBF Jul 2013 #119

Also - TBF Jul 2013 #120

Why teeth and eyes (beyond significant disease) are not covered by insurance AllyCat Jul 2013 #122

I so agree, and always have! When lucky enough to have employee health insurance maddiemom Jul 2013 #124

Agreed. Apophis Jul 2013 #128