In the News

"This new rule holds the potential to make dental coverage available to millions of people who do not have it. According to the 2023 State of Oral Health Equity in America survey from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, nearly 70 million adults do not have dental insurance. This number has almost certainly increased, as the survey was conducted before the start of the Medicaid redetermination process following the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency."

Poor oral health may be associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), according to a report recently released from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health warned in April 2023 that more than 14 million adults who are on Medicaid could lose their dental coverage as part of the redetermination process.

In 2019, a reported 68.5 million Americans lack dental insurance. According to the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, families with lower incomes reported cost as a reason for not going to the dentist regularly compared to families with higher incomes.

An estimated 68.5 million U.S. adults lacked dental insurance in 2023, according to the nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. That’s more than 2.5 times the roughly 26 million Americans of all ages who lack health insurance.

"Poor oral health can have far-reaching consequences, not only as a precursor to other physical health issues but as a factor in depression and mental health issues," said Myechia Minter-Jordan, the president and CEO of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

"The Biden administration initially considered the addition of comprehensive Medicare dental coverage as part of its proposed Build Back Better legislation, a broad US$1.8 trillion legislative package designed to fix problems ranging from child care costs to climate change, but failed to get enough support in Congress."

"Individuals in rural communities face a number of barriers in accessing oral care, including financial concerns, lack of insurance coverage, shortage of providers, and difficulty accessing transportation services, according to the 2023 report “Still Searching: Meeting Oral Health Needs in Rural Settings” by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a nonprofit organization.

Indiana's steep drop in insured families came after a national pandemic-era policy ensuring Medicaid dental coverage ended, according to Dr. Kaz Rafia, chief health equity officer at Boston-based CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, which released the study.Nationwide, 12 million people lost dental insurance.

“Medicare dental coverage is a critical, but often overlooked, retirement issue,” said Melissa Burroughs, policy director at the Washington-based CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, in an email. “Medicare does not cover dental care, making it unaffordable and out of reach for many Medicare enrollees.”