Budget cuts and discrepancies with who is eligible for dental care have landed Connecticut as one of the worst states when it comes to cost for dental coverage, according to The CT Mirror.
Although the state struggles with dental coverage and costs, Connecticut ranks No. 4 in the nation for dental care, according to Wallet Hub.
Reasons for the issues with dental care costs may be attributed to recent budget cuts, according to the report. The state's former Gov. Dannel Malloy cut more than $120 million from the state's budget, which affected around 100,000 Medicaid beneficiaries and 70,000 Medicare enrollees.
In Connecticut, Medicaid members have access to full dental care; however, Medicare beneficiaries do not have the same access. Medicare patients around the country struggle to get access to dental care, with around 49 percent not visiting a dentist in over a year, reports The CT Mirror.
Dental treatment costs can also add up quickly. The average dental visit, cleaning and X-ray can range between $200 and $800. Dental insurance on average costs around $360 annually. However, typical plans have caps around $2,000, making surprise dental bills a burden, according to the report.
To combat Connecticut's gap in care, healthcare providers should incorporate dental screenings into patients' yearly physicals, The CT Mirror reports. Additionally, healthcare providers should focus on educating patients about oral health.
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Although the state struggles with dental coverage and costs, Connecticut ranks No. 4 in the nation for dental care, according to Wallet Hub.
Reasons for the issues with dental care costs may be attributed to recent budget cuts, according to the report. The state's former Gov. Dannel Malloy cut more than $120 million from the state's budget, which affected around 100,000 Medicaid beneficiaries and 70,000 Medicare enrollees.
In Connecticut, Medicaid members have access to full dental care; however, Medicare beneficiaries do not have the same access. Medicare patients around the country struggle to get access to dental care, with around 49 percent not visiting a dentist in over a year, reports The CT Mirror.
Dental treatment costs can also add up quickly. The average dental visit, cleaning and X-ray can range between $200 and $800. Dental insurance on average costs around $360 annually. However, typical plans have caps around $2,000, making surprise dental bills a burden, according to the report.
To combat Connecticut's gap in care, healthcare providers should incorporate dental screenings into patients' yearly physicals, The CT Mirror reports. Additionally, healthcare providers should focus on educating patients about oral health.
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