If Congress cuts Medicaid funding to states to help extend tax cuts, dental care for adults could be one of the first casualties as legislators and governors re-sort priorities and try to make do with less. All states cover some level of dental services for people over 21, but the generosity of benefits varies, and states already tend to cut or eliminate adult dental benefits when budgets are tight. Comprehensive Medicaid dental coverage is associated with better oral health, and better oral health, in turn, is connected to decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, pregnancy complications and other physical health concerns. The lack of dental insurance also pushes people to the hospital for treatment, where it’s more expensive to provide care. Read more.
