What about Dental coverage for low income persons?

[Saffy]

I've figured out the many, nefarious loopholes of medical coverage for myself and 4 kiddo's (make just enough $ to remain chronically poor, and not a cent more!), but we can't get dental coverage ANYWHERE!

Medicaid will actually pay for it, but finding a dentist that'll accept it is near to impossible.

My youngest daughter (almost 3 y/o) had a blunt trauma to one of her front teeth just last week-fell on a concrete step- and it has already started to turn grey. I looked it up, and grey is not good. 98% of the time it means dmage to the nerve core, and must be extracted. If extraction doesn't happen ASAP, then a root canal must take place. I've called every dentist in a 500 mile radius, and not ONE will accept Medicaid, not even for a tiny child.

I am so furious about this!

My next door neighbor is a dentist and a democrat, and he refuses Medicaid patients. Yet, he's managed to add an 800 square foot "shed" to his property and link his garage to his mansion.

Eegads. Shoulda gone to dental school. This nation needs more humantiarian dentists far more than it needs psychologists with women's studies backgrounds.

[hippiechick]

1. Teeth ? Who needs teeth ?

You're working under the assumption that there will still be food available to chew for the masses by the time Bush is done with us.


:hippie:

[Sannum]

2. Good Luck.

Try a dental school in your area. They can probably direct you to where you need to go. Also, see if you can talk a dentist into letting you pay for things in installments. It may be a challenge, but I know people who were able to do that.

Good Luck!!:hi:

[XanaDUer]

3. I've often wondered why noncosmetic dental care

is so hard to obtain in this country.

[madrchsod]

4. i live in northern il

and it`s 50 miles or so to find a dentist who will accept "welfare" people. if that isn`t bad enough the office accepts patients once a month. one big problem in illinois is that the payments are way below market costs and it takes months to be paid. it takes a month to get appointments if you have insurance. oh yes, forget about glasses if you have medicaid, that takes a couple of months.

[sandnsea]

5. Did you try the health clinic?

http://www.chphealth.org/ There's a Scott Lawson, DDS, on the board, did you call him? I couldn't find a free dental clinic in Bozeman, I know some other cities in MT have them. But I would imagine if you take your child to either emergency of this clinic on Monday, they'll have to find somebody to help her. This is just ridiculous. I'd be half tempted to just go over to the dentist next door and stick my kid in his face and ask for suggestions. That pisses me off.

[Saffy]

8. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Scott Lawson IS my neighbor, and he's no longer affiliated with the ChIPs program for low income families. In fact, most of the dentists listed on that website are no longer affiliated.

I called the clinic last Wednesday and was told that they had openings in January for basic check ups, but that due to serious understaffing any emergency type situations must be referred through the hospital emergency room.

So, in order for my baby girl to get this traumatized grey tooth even looked at, we must first go the emergency room...but, she's not in any pain. This means we'll be sitting there for many, many hours, while I'm missing work and classes all for a referral that may or may not happen.

*UGH*

Of course, I'll still do it- cuz she can't very well go around with a dead tooth- but I'm pretty pissed off about the MAJOR obstacles low income citizens must hurdle.

Here's a pic of my sweet girl, in case any of you feel motivated to go kick some dental butt: (that's her twin brother stuck in the tube with her)

[sandnsea]

14. Picture didn't come in

I'm getting the dreaded red x.

Call the ER and ask them to call you when they're slow. :shrug: When I was looking for a dental clinic in Bozeman, I found a statistic. Less then 50% of Montana dentists take CHIP. Not good. This just makes me so angry. I remember a time when anybody could get medical care any time in Montana. No doctor or dentist turned away anybody, especially not kids. Grrrrrr. Damned Republican takeover.

[Saffy]

17. It takes a few seconds

I got the dreaded red X at first, but then came back to it and the pic was there. Please forgive my lack of hi-tech know how. The pic is probably too big to appear immediately.

Are you from Montana?

And, is that a pic of you in your avatar, or do you just look a lot like Emma Goldman?

[sandnsea]

20. Still have red x

Oh well.

I lived in Montana, for the most part, from 1980 to 1996. We left for several reasons, one was that it was too sad to watch it change into a place that just didn't seem to care about people anymore.

That's an avatar of Rosa Parks, I put it up after the election to remind me of how much others have been through in the fights for freedom.

[Lizzie Borden]

6. Dream on!

[Digit]

7. Puzzled....you lack money but live next door to a dentist's mansion???

Talk about a diverse neighborhood!

But seriously, for those reading this thread...sometimes the universities have programs for those going into the dentistry field to gain practice on the public. It is at a reduced rate, but there would be a waiting period.
Good luck!

[Saffy]

11. Yes. Diversity is a misleading term

I am the only "renter" on our block. Also, the only "poor" person, or single parent household on our block. other than MOI, there is really no diversity here.

Guess who doesn't get invited to block parties?

Ahem. Carry on.

[stavka]

9. What about dental coverage for middle income workers?!?

My coverage pays $13 for a filling! *yikes*!

Granted, that is $13 more than somebody who has no coverage, so it is rude to whine....

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

10. Contact a dental school

I haven't done this, but read that it's an option for low income people (or extremely frugal ones). Agreed, you'll be treated by a student, but it will be under the supervision of a dentist.

FWIW, same thing with haircuts/hairstyling.

I live in SoCal, and am going to check out dental treatment south of the border. Mexican dentists train in the U.S., but charge about a third as much as their American counterparts.

[Saffy]

12. Dental schools in Montana

Just looked this up on the internet. The closest one appears to be in Nebraska, unless ya count the "online colleges" (scary).

[ckramer]

13. Why don't they accept medicaid?

Maybe you really should take your daughter to a dentist as soon as possible. She seems to need seeing a dentist badly. I feel sorry about her situation.

[Saffy]

15. Because medicaid doesn't pay as much as they demand

Trust me, I'll be taking her in on Monday. If I have to make payment arangements, or try for a trade of my personal chef services in exchange for dental care, or go to the emergency room...I'll do it. But, I'll be vocal (after the fact-no need to get a dentist enraged just before he/she works on my baby) about the absolute unfairness of it.

If it were up to me, I'd be a "have" and not a "have not". Recent and current circumstances have denied me that...but not to the point of self-pity and victimization.

My daughter will be seen by a dentist this Monday, regardless. I may just end up paying for it until she's 18 y/o.

[ckramer]

18. You are a good man.

Can I suggest you sue the dentist who refuses to treat your daughter?

I think this case may be of a national significance. Consult a lawyer.

[Saffy]

19. Or, woman...as the case may be (and is)

[dflprincess]

16. My mother just received a letter from her dentist today

that he will know longer be accepting any of the assistance programs. This guy does a fair amount of probono work and his prices seem to be a little bit lower than my dentist. I can only assume that the reimbursement he'll be getting from these programs won't cover his costs if he's dropping these programs. His letter did say that people should contact him if an emergency comes up before they find a new dentist.

In additon, a few months ago Mom did get a letter from the state that said dental benefits would be limited to $500 a year - an amount that wouldn't even cover the cost of one crown.

I don't understand this when there is so much information about how the health of your teeth affect your body - especially your heart.

Must be another example of compassionate conservatism.