Dentist participation in Medicaid has been a persistent problem, with fewer than one in four dentists nationwide seeing more than a handful of Medicaid patients in any given year. The most common reason dentists give for their low participation is inadequate reimbursement for the cost of treating Medicaid beneficiaries.

Beginning in the late 1990s, several states greatly increased Medicaid rates for dentists, while also overhauling administrative processes and working to forge stronger ties with dental practitioners and other stakeholders in the field. This issue brief examines the results of those reforms and whether the efforts at better administration and outreach mattered as much as the rate increases in improving access to Medicaid dental care. Those findings are also compared with information on provider rates and participation in California.

The research indicates that while increases in provider payments were necessary to the success of the states’ reform efforts, they were not sufficient to produce substantial gains in either dentist participation or patients’ access to care. The authors conclude that in addition to raising reimbursement rates, Medicaid agencies must also revamp their administrative procedures and build partnerships with dental societies.

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Question: Who do I call for an over charging dentist that lied about my insurance paying?

If you have a PPO or Indemnity Plan: Since these are plans where you can go outside of network or choose your own dentist the insurance company is out of the lope. Even though a dentist may call on coverages, it is up to you to make sure you are covered. You can do this by submitting a quote only to the claims department before the work is started or you can call. Many PPOs or Indemnity Plans pay based on % up to ACV/UCR so even though you may have coverage if your dentist is above the ACV/UCR you can get hit by a big bill. (that is why I advise to submit claims as quotes before the work is started. This helps you know what is your true cost for any procedure)

If you have an HMO: HMOs are different in that you have to go with their providers. Cost for procedures are normally fee based. Meaning that the dentist will charge based on the fees laid out to them under the plan. Therefore if you feel your dentist lied to you about your coverage I would start by calling the insurance company. Telling them what you had done (need ADA codes) and finding out your true cost. If they did a procedure that was not covered and told you it was then at least the insurance company will then be aware of this. They do not want their dentist doing such stuff to their Insured and to many complaints will have them removed from the program.

There is as you mention the better business, but there is also the America Dentist Asso. ADA. Most states have there own ADA web site.

You can also find web sites that you can leave a blogs about the dentist you went to this will help others in not going to them. I sell dental insurance and dental plans so I have clients that tell me they google,yahoo, bing ect the dental office before choosing a dentist. I am just not sure how much effort you want to put into this.

Question: I am 70 with most of my teeth. I do not have dental insurance and I am finding that I can not afford to maintain my dental care without some dental insurance. However I can not seem to find affordable dental insurance. All the plans I seen are $50 plus a month this is just to much for me.

Reply: I would suggest reviewing dental HMO insurance plans. You seem to have only reviewed dental PPO plans. Although PPO plans are good dental insurance plan that let you choose your own dentist they can be costly for seniors. Dental HMO insurance plans however run around $10 to $20 a month for an individual and they greatly reduce the cost of dental care services.

Seniors can find affordable dental insurance in CA, on our ShareofCost.com website. Cost of living can be rather high in California, with dental care cost continuing being on the rise it is important to have current dental insurance to help control your dental care costs. Let our member services help you with our dental insurance plans if you have any questions just call 310-534-3444.

Question: Is there any requirement to get dental insurance in the state of California. I really need so dental care but I do not want to wait forever to be approved.

Answer: Most off are dental insurance plans start the first of next month depending on the enrollment cut off. (Example: plan starts the first of next month if order by the 20th of this month.) You will also see we provide a few dental discount plans that start the next business day from placing your order on line. Yet is is important to understand that some dental insurance plans may of waiting periods before certain benefits are effective so make sure you read each plans terms and conditions before choosing one.

Dental insurance benefits vary depending on the type of dental insurance plan. When reviewing the benefits of dental insurance especially when selecting a dental insurance plan, keep in mind there are various policy coverage options, dental plan deductibles, co-payments, limitations, restrictions and exclusions.

It is extremely important that you read the list of benefits provided by the dental insurance provider and be sure you are getting a dental insurance plan if that is what you wanted to purchase.

A reminder discount dental plans are not dental insurance plans. A discount plan partners with specific dentists to provide customers with a savings on visits to the dentist office much the same as dental insurance. The downside to discount dental plans is that they are not regulated and you have limited recourse if you experience dental problems.

A common question for seniors after they settle their Medicare Supplemental Insurance and Medicare Part D coverage is what about dental? Unfortunately Medicare has no dental insurance coverage.

Yet you still have some low cost dental insurance options, such as dental HMO insurance plans and dental discount plans. On this website we provide both options in most states. We are always happy to assist you with any of our dental insurance and dental plan options. So please call our member services at 310-534-3444 M-F 8-4 if you have any questions.

Get an instant quote for many different dental insurance plans in order to compare and shop out the best dental insurance plans for your own dental care needs. When shopping out dental insurance plans it best to compare many dental insurance plan options so that you can choose the plan that will best fit your personal dental care needs. Not all dental insurance plans are the same. Some start right away with no waiting periods where other let you pick or choose your own dentist. If you have any questions about the dental insurance plan options we provide please call our member services at 310-534-3444 as we be happy to help.

Share of Cost California Dental Plan Review — The Dental Health Services Super SmartSmile HMO Dental Plan. As the subscriber, you may enroll yourself, your spouse (unless legally separated) or your domestic partner, and/or unmarried dependent children who are under 19 years of age. Children 19 years of age and over are eligible if:

The child is unmarried and a full-time student solely dependent upon subscriber for support, and is under 23 years of age; or the child is and continues to be both (1) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of a mental disability, including but not limited to, mental illness or a physical disability or a combination of those disabilities and (2) chiefly dependent upon the subscriber or member for support and maintenance. There are no deductibles and no yearly limits on most services, and there are no claim forms to fill out. Your savings are in place when you visit network dentist. You just show up for your dental appointment and make your copayment – what could be easier? The dentists must meet the Plan’s standard of quality and service.

All have agreed to provide dental care at a low cost available only to its members. There is no waiting period for your dental services to begin, many pre-existing dental conditions are covered and best of all, the dental plan services start the first day of next month if the company receives your mail-in application by the 10th of this month. Review the sample schedule below and see how easy it is for you or your entire family to enjoy these quality dental services.

California Share of Cost, Weight Loss And Physical Activity Improve Symptoms Of GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a debilitating problem for sufferers — heartburn, difficulty swallowing, chest pain and acid reflux.

A new study by researchers at the University at Buffalo and the University of California, Irvine, to be published in the September issue of the journal Pain, reveals that, for people with chronic back pain, having a little adversity in your life can be protective and beneficial.

If you’ve ever groaned, “Oh, my aching back!”, you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.

Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.

If you are a senior going in for dental check up, if you are new patient to the dental office or if you have not been to your dentist in over a year or more expect to conduct a thorough history and dental exam. Questions that may be asked can include:

1) The approximate date of your last dental visit and the reason for the visit.
2) If you notice any recent changes within your mouth
3) If you have notice any loose or sensitive teeth since your last dental visit.
4) If you had any difficulty in tasting, chewing of swallowing
5) If you since your last dental visit notice any pain, discomfort, sores, or bleeding in you mouth
6) If you have notice any lump, bump or swelling in your mouth.
7) The dentist will also go over any health issues that can effect your dental and oral health as well as want to know any medication you are currently on.

Regardless of age people should know the warning signs that indicate your mouth teeth and gums may be in jeopardy.

* Teeth Grinding
* Dental Pain
* Sensitivity
* Mouth Sores
* Bumps
* Swelling
* Red Gums
* Loose Teeth
* Jaw Popping or clicking
* Dry Mouth
* Bleeding Gums

If you notice one or a few of this warning signs make sure to see a dentist right away. It is important to take proper care of oral health in order to maintain an overall healthier you.

With cost of living going up as well as cost of dental care it is very important to maintain proper dental care habits at home to help keep your dental care cost low and have healthy teeth and gums as you get older. Here are some basic dental health care tips

1) Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

2) Make sure to floss your teeth daily

3) Do not smoke or chew tobacco.

4) Ask your doctor if your medicines have side effects that might damage your teeth. If you have to take medicines that may have side effects on your dental health make sure to tell your dentist. You may have to see the dentist more often in order to maintain your dental health care needs.

5) Regularly look inside your mouth for sores that do not heal, irritated gums or any other oral changes.

6) See your dentist regularly for your dental check ups and cleanings

7) If you do start to have any dental problems with your teeth or if you have concerns about your mouth, see your dentist right away.

8) And remember that by maintaining dental insurance will help keep your dental care cost more affordable

With laser teeth whitening treatments you are able to walk out of the dental office with your teeth a lot brighter. With laser bleaching, a barrier is put around the gums and a strong bleach is put on your teeth. A laser light is used to activate the bleach to make it work. A down side of laser teeth whitening treatments can be the cost since laser whitening is the most expensive of the teeth-whitening options available.

According to studies done in Britain drinking extremely hot tea every day may increase your chance of getting throat cancer. Another study done in Iran, which reportedly has the largest number of oesophageal cancer patients, shows the results of research done on a big group of 871 people. It was noticed that around 300 people who drank more than a litre of extremely hot black tea in a day were diagnosed with cancer The study shown that this group had the habit of drinking hot tea above 65 degrees putting them in the high risk zone compared to the others who preferred warm tea below 65 degrees. It was also noticed that those who drank hotter tea, above 70 degrees, bettered their chances of acquiring throat cancer.