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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDentists' Group Fights Plan to Cover Dental Benefits Under Medicare
WASHINGTONThe American Dental Association is mobilizing its 162,000 members to fight a proposal to include dental coverage for all Medicare recipients, opposition that could prove pivotal as Democrats look to make cuts in their $3.5 trillion domestic policy agenda.
Giving dental, vision and hearing benefits to the 60 million older and disabled Americans covered by Medicare will provide needed care to people who otherwise might not afford it, supporters say.
The ADA contends that Medicare wont reimburse enough to cover their costs and is pushing an alternative plan that would limit benefits to the poorest Medicare recipients. It is asking members to contact lawmakers in opposition.
There arent endless amounts of federal dollars, so the question is how do you maximize dollars to do the most good? said Michael Graham, the ADAs senior vice president for government and public affairs. If you dont focus on low-income seniors, you are just wasting your money.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dentists-group-fights-plan-to-cover-dental-benefits-under-medicare-11632735002?mod=djemalertNEWS
jimfields33
(15,693 posts)Doesnt it start like 2028? What are they worried about? There precious 3 grand an implant is safe.
Tomconroy
(7,611 posts)it was communism. I feel like nothing will ever move forward for average person in this fucking country.
ret5hd
(20,482 posts)So what they are REALLY worried about is that their existing older patients will say "accept my Medicare or I will go somewhere else."
hamsterjill
(15,220 posts)n/t
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)marie999
(3,334 posts)For the last 30 years for my husband and the last 26 years for me, we have not paid for anything medical except for things like aspirin.
orwell
(7,769 posts)..."endless amounts of federal dollars."
The clown doesn't even understand basic economics.
Once again, the Federal Government is not your household. They are constitutionally allowed to create money out of thin air at will. Your household, county, or state is not.
I am always stunned at how people do not understand this.
Article 1 Section 8:
"To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures"
Sienna86
(2,148 posts)It'll be the only way some can access dental care. Are these dentists being greedy? Most have enough income I guess to live comfortably.
MissMillie
(38,533 posts)there are lots of people not paying their share.
There definitely could be more dollars available to get people the care they need.
Wounded Bear
(58,601 posts)rather than preventing a massive increase in their patient clientele. Congress can do that, too.
Tetrachloride
(7,816 posts)In other words, professional accounting.
There exists data. Somebody has this.
Start with x-ray consulting costs.
BComplex
(8,017 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and the suffering and ill health caused by lack of it. Especially in the elderly.
We have a friend with 3 collapsed crowns that just wore out over decades, as will happen; she can't afford to get them replaced and is resigned to having teeth she'll still need for some years extracted as the cheapest treatment. She's waiting for pain to tell her when it's time to have to do without them.
If we find our dentist opposes adding dental care to Medicare, we will change dentists. Period. A character issue.
phylny
(8,368 posts)Unbelievably, two months later my husband had the same issue - same tooth, opposite side. He is covered under his former employers Medicare advantage plan (which they forced him into, away from regular Medicare) while I am still covered under his former employers dental and medical plan. They are limiting how much can be spent on his eventual implant while mine is being covered. Sure, we couldve stopped at just having a tooth pulled but for our overall dental health, our dentist, a guy I like and trust, felt an implant was best for us. His office has been working with the insurance company. My husband is waiting until next year to get the rest of the work done.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)guessing now that that must be far from uncommon. Glad you have the coverage you do. Implants are such a wonderful development, where medically doable. Seems like dental plans in future will have to include them.
Our friend said that at least if she happens to win a lottery or sell her home she'll have places ready for them.
Xoan
(25,311 posts)PCIntern
(25,481 posts)I havent belonged to the ADA since 1981. They are the equivalent of the National Chamber of Commerce. The biggest bunch of political hacks who sold the rank and file out for a weekend in Palm Springs back in 1978. Many of us dont belong .
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Mad_Machine76
(24,392 posts)Azathoth
(4,607 posts)Dentistry is still stuck in the Wild West. The lack of serious dental insurance pretty much everyhere (even most employer plans are a joke) means dentistry is pure business -- target people with money to spend and upsell the big stuff like crazy.
Seniors have reduced living expenses, higher average need of dental care, and are more apt to spend money on medical care than, say, a new car. They're the perfect market.
Once Medicare offers dental, that will make the 65+ market effectively a single-payer market. That's not good business for Wild West salesmen.