For the DUer who asked if Dental Care was included in the Health Care Bill

[bobbolink]

Senator Bernie Sanders, (Senator Brunch :)) was on Hartmann today, as usual, and a caller asked about this.

He replied that the work he did to hugely increase the number of Health Clinics in the U.S. was part of the bill that passed, and those clinics will include dental care.

The number of dentists will be greatly increased, and the clinics will accept Medicare, Medicaid, and for those without health insurance, it will be by sliding scale.

I was cheered by this information, and I hope you will be, also.

:hi:

[virgogal]

1. Where are all these dentists coming from? Years of training are

required.

[NNN0LHI]

5. There are dentists around here who are only working 3 and 4 days a week right now

And they have to travel to and keep up 2 or 3 offices in different towns to stay that busy. Didn't used to be that way when we had lots of union jobs around here who offered benefit packages that included dental coverage. I think there will be plenty of under worked dentists who would be interested in putting in a day or 2 a week at one of these clinics.

I have a cousin who is an oral surgeon and I know he is hurting these days for lack of business. Had to send his wife back to work to clean teeth. I can easily see him trying to pick up some extra income at one of the clinics. He has big bills to pay.

It will work out.

Don

[virgogal]

7. Thanks---the dentists here in Eastern MA seem to be quite busy that's

why I asked.

[eShirl]

11. OMG, tell them there's a shortage here in Maine

[Maine-ah]

26. +1

:hi:

[bobbolink]

14. I don't know the specifics of that. I am simply reporting what Senator Sanders said today.

So, pleeeez don't shoot the messenger. :hi:

He suggested calling your Rep's office to get all the lowdown of this.

He also said that 7,500 clinics are in the works now, and that 15,000 will be completed in five years time.

I think that is terrific!

I know he and his staff worked hard on this, so please call them and thank them:

Toll-free Capitol Hill Numbers:
1-800-828-0498 1-866-388-1015 1-866-220-0044 1-877-851-6437

[glinda]

24. Hope they don't do what MN did which is to have "techs" doing Dentist's work. Stupid.

[theoldman]

2. I doubt that dental care is included in the bill.

Very few insurance companies provide dental care for seniors and if they do it is too expensive. Here in the DFW area there is no shortage of dentists.

[jody]

3. OK Medicare, Medicaid & no insurance but that leaves what 50+ million with substandard dental care

and most of those pay taxes so others will be covered by Medicare, Medicaid and no insurance programs.

[leftstreet]

4. They'll just need to eat soft foods

Don't be so greedy! It's historical reform!

:hi:

[jody]

12. "soft foods" in the form of foods past their shelf life is all under-employed worker can afford.

I use under-employed workers to include the 10% of workers who work part-time and seek full time jobs and perhaps 10-20% of workers who once earned decent salaries but now work full-time for wages barely above minimum wage.

[bobbolink]

6. You are welcome to go to one of these clinics.

They are open to all.

[jody]

9. Open to all at no cost! You really believe that don't you? If that were true, then Universal Health

Care at no cost would exist.

Please provide the specific part of the new law that would support your claim.

[bobbolink]

10. Nowhere did I say that. NOWHERE.

It sounds like you want a fight, and I ain't playing.

You are free to call your representative's office, since you don't care to converse politely here.

Good luck, and good bye.

[dmr]

8. This is good news.

I'm writing Senator Levin to confirm.
:hi:

[bobbolink]

13. Good news, indeed! Senator Brunch suggested calling your rep.

I would like to suggest calling Bernie Sanders office, to thank him and his staff, as he is largely responsible for getting this into the final bill!

Toll-free Capitol Hill Numbers:
1-800-828-0498 1-866-388-1015 1-866-220-0044 1-877-851-6437

[jody]

15. Why should anyone call their rep if it's a done deal as the OP suggests? n/t

[Spike89]

16. Dental insurance not a crisis

I know, dental problems can be a crisis for anyone having problems, but the insurance isn't in crisis. The reason is simple--almost all dental insurance is limited to $1000 or $1500 in benefits a year and only pays 50% on major things like bridges, partials, and full dentures. Almost any "catastrophic" dental needs that go seriously over $3000 (50% pay out hitting the $1,500 annual cap) are fairly rare. In many cases that do, medical coverage kicks in.

Because dental is typically capped and limited, the cost is fairly low. Never heard of someone racking up $100,000 in dental bills and losing their house, it isn't the same as medical where that can happen pretty easily.

That said, I had about $4000 worth the work done last year when playing "softball" (hard as a rock that ball is!) I took a wicked bad hop directly to the mouth. It shattered my existing upper denture, knocked out 4 lower teeth, broke two more, and cut my tongue, lip, and gums to require more than 100 stitches. Medical paid most of the stitchwork, dental paid 0%/nada--basically harrassing my denturist until they told me they will not deal with the insurance carrier any longer.

[bobbolink]

21. This has NOTHING to do with insurance. I clearly typed "Clinics".

[glinda]

25. Seriously. What planet are you on? We had to drop ours as the cost was super high

and they covered very little. In fact, I need major surgery and restorative and they would only cover what was less than my yearly payment. Plus, to see someone really good or qualified, you pay out of your own pocket. I had the best Dental in the State btw.

[Control-Z]

17. It all depends on

what is covered - how large the co-pays are, and if there is any savings beyond basic dental care.

I mean, really, dental policies are cheap, but they cover little more than a basic filling. They pay to pull a tooth, rather than the root canal and crown that is needed to save it.

If ANY dental coverage were half way decent, people would be running out to buy one of the many premiere dental policies that are available, and be content with the poor coverage they offer.

Dentistry is THE biggest ripoff I know of. Even Veterinarians aren't as mercenary.

[bobbolink]

22. I repeat... this isn't about POLICIES.... please read.

I clearly typed about CLINICS.

[deaniac21]

18. Since the final bill is still being working on, it's really hard to say.

The politicians will pretty much tell you that they provide manna from heaven.

[bobbolink]

20. You didn't hear? It was in all the papers.... IT IS NOW LAW.

[Historic NY]

19. dental is very limited .......

http://www.medicareinteractive.org/page2.php?topic=counselor&page=script&slide_id=1591

[jtrockville]

23. I asked about the need for separate policies for dental/vision/mental.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7984357
But was met with crickets.

I would have prefered to see these exclusions addressed in the specifications of the minimum level of coverage necessary for a product called "health insurance", but having dental care available in clinics is a step in the right direction.

Thanks for posting this bobbolink!

[ChicagoSuz219]

27. I believe children are covered; limited coverage for adults.

I could be wrong...