33,000 sign up for dental coverage, Merced families express concern over costs

California adults are showing great interest in obtaining dental insurance, Covered California officials announced last week.

More than 33,000 people have signed up for the optional dental coverage since the state’s health exchange first began offering it a little more than a month ago, according to officials.

But there are still families in Merced that are skipping dental coverage because of cost, local enrollment counselors have said.

Dental care for people under 19 years of age will continue to be included with health coverage. This year, Covered California opened the dental coverage option for adult consumers.

“While we have long known that California consumers want insurance coverage for dental care, we have been surprised by the extraordinarily high enrollment, both by those who have health coverage through Covered California and by those signing up for health coverage for the first time,” Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said.

According to the exchange, about 6,000 new enrollees had elected to purchase a family dental plan as of Nov. 17. Another 27,000 existing members chose a dental plan at the time of renewal.

Griselda Villa, community health program manager at Golden Valley Health Centers in Merced, said people are definitely inquiring about dental insurance when signing up or renewing their medical coverage, but few are choosing to enroll in a dental plan.

She estimates that less than 25 percent of Merced households that sign up for medical coverage through the clinic’s enrollment counselors are purchasing dental insurance.

“I feel like that’s a low number, but people are concerned about the cost,” Villa said. Medical premium costs went up this year for many families. Adding a dental insurance expense feels out of reach for some, she said.

Villa shared an example of a local family she recently helped enroll. Subsidized medical insurance for two people totaled $47 per month. Adding dental coverage would be another $47 per month. “That’s double the cost,” Villa said. “For some that’s too much; it’s hard to pay both.”

Dental coverage, similarly to medical coverage, depends on household income.

“Those with a little more income see it as a good option,” she added.

Villa shared that several families who have opted out of the dental coverage have expressed going out of the country for dental work. Some consumers feel it is cheaper and easier, she said.

Open enrollment for health insurance coverage and for the new 2016 dental coverage for adults began on Nov. 1 and will continue through Jan. 31.

Golden Valley Health Centers in Merced and Los Banos have extended hours during the open enrollment period to provide sign-up assistance. The clinic’s resource building on Childs Avenue in Merced will be open for sign-ups on Saturday Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Enrollment counselors will also be available at the Golden Valley Health Centers in Los Banos on Dec. 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. People with questions regarding enrollment can also call the health centers at 209-385-5490.

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