Thursday is an important day for oral health in the Commonwealth. On October 1, 2009 MassHealth dental benefits will be extended to cover children under the age of 19 who receive Family Assistance premium assistance, in order to comply with CHIPRA regulations. A copy of the announcement can be downloaded here (.pdf).
Regular readers know that oral health is an important part of overall health. Left untreated, dental disease can interfere with a child’s ability to eat, sleep, speak and learn. As we age, the implications of this disease become more severe. Decades of research have confirmed the associations between dental disease and serious lifelong ailments such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Under the newly expanded benefit, MassHealth will pay for dental services that are not already covered by the child’s private dental insurance. This includes essential services, such as comprehensive and periodic screenings and preventive care, as well as emergency care, oral surgery, and more. Access to these benefits will ensure better oral health and overall health for the children of Massachusetts.
If you have MassHealth coverage, you can find a list of services covered here (as well as a list of those that aren’t, here), courtesy of MassResources.org.
- Courtney Chelo
Oral Health Campaign Organizer
