Covered California offering dental insurance to adults

Dental check-ups, X-rays and fillings – neither of those things are ever much fun. But, California’s health benefits exchange said the idea of getting dental care is music to the ears of many people signing up for new dental insurance plans this year.

"I have my wisdom teeth -- they always hurt,” said Blanca Rosales, who was walking into an Oak Park medical clinic with her toddlers Wednesday. “But, I can't just take them out because it's really expensive.”

Rosales is looking into the possibility that she may qualify for one of the new plans being offered through Covered California.

The exchange just started offering dental insurance to adults; in the past, only kids could get dental care through Covered California. The new plans for adults cost between $11 and $65 per month, Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee said. Lee said he’s confident consumers will find dentists close to home who accept the plans.

"We know that the vast majority of all of California's dentists are in one of these health plans,” Lee said. “So, we think that people are going to not have a moment of a problem getting to a local dentist that they want to see through one of these plans we're offering.”

The need for dental care and dental insurance is visibly obvious year after year when the California Dental Association holds free events at Cal Expo, offering no-cost checkups and dental work. Thousands line up and wait – sometimes days – to see a dentist.

Enrollment in Covered California’s plans has started, along with enrollment in their medical insurance plans. People who want coverage to start at the beginning of the New Year must enroll by Dec. 15.

Rosales, who said her kids have dental insurance through MediCal, is eager to enroll.

“That's very good news," she said.

Source: http://www.kcra.com/news/Covered-California-offering-dental-insurance-to-adults/36532794

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