Stupid question - does the public option cover dental care?

[Hugabear]

Or does the public option go along with the health insurance agencies that reason that, for some bizarre reason, the mouth isn't really part of the body, and therefore not covered by normal health insurance?

[grantcart]

1. no - and most single payer health care plans do not cover dental either

[bkkyosemite]

12. HR 676 covers Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescriptions, Mental Health,

Chiropratic etc.

[berni_mccoy]

16. HR 3200 covers those for children; Mental Health is also covered for everyone.

[dysfunctional press]

13. a plan that included full dental for all would be sure to bankrupt the british system...

:rofl: :rofl:

[shraby]

2. I guess the eyes and ears aren't part of the body either. n/t

[Fridays Child]

10. Ears never have been.

I've never had a policy that covered hearing aids. Some have offered discounts through third party dispensers but no actual coverage. Two years ago, my policy did provide for hearing tests, at least, but they don't even do that, anymore. I've never understood why deficient hearing is treated as if it were a cosmetic issue.

[Cleita]

3. You haven't heard?

The public option is becoming the option to buy private insurance with govt. subsidies or form a cooperative. :eyes: I think dental would be extra and not covered. However, if the public option could become HR 676, then it does cover dental. While your Congress critters are on vacation, bombard them with demonstrations, mail and calls begging for HR 676, if not as a single payer health plan, as the public option. Don't settle for anything less.

[donheld]

4. One thing at a time please

[sandnsea]

5. I think there are 3 tiers

And the 3rd tier would include dental and optical. The insurance exchange would be the same.

[foginthemorn]

6. MD's gave away parts of the body during the early 1900's-teeth, ears,

eyes, even the feet. Thus they do not fall under medical care per say.

Audiology, podiatry, ophthalmology, dentists are all separate professions. Also the brain as in psychology and psychiatry.

[2Design]

7. obama stated he wants us to have what congress has - that covers

everything - probably more can be found on whitehouse site

[marybourg]

11. Federal employees - and that included Congress- can choose

from several plans. Most don't include dental. Those that do-benefits are pretty limited.

[glinda]

8. So if a person needed a full mouth dental prosthetic (30 thousand), it would not

be covered?

[WillowTree]

14. Even if dental was covered...

....do you REALLY think it would pay for $30,000 worth of implants instead of full-mouth dentures?

Dream on.

[glinda]

21. Some conditions cannot have dentures dear one.

[JanMichael]

9. It should but most dentist are assholes so no. nt.

Oh wait...Not ALL, just most.

Special little elitist mouth mechanics.

[masuki bance]

20. The dentist's are blocking it? wtf? nt

[Fuzz]

15. Yes, everyone gets a blender and a pair of pliers.

[ContinentalOp]

17. Sure, why not?

Since "public option" seems to mean that you're required by law to buy private insurance, I don't see why you couldn't buy dental insurance as well. I don't know if you'll be fined for not buying it though.

[TheKentuckian]

18. It is very difficult to perhaps impossible to be healthy and toothless

Not to mention the second class citizenship that comes with a jacked up grill.

[underseasurveyor]

19. Since some heart disease is directly linked to poor dental health

it should be considered as important and as necessary and automatically included as part of any health care plan.

It should be, but.......... it probably won't even get an honorable mention.

[bkkyosemite]

29. absolutely as prescriptions, vision, hearing, massage (for chronic pain), chiropratic, etc. They all

have to do with helping the body be healthy.

[Kablooie]

22. With McDonalds so readily available, who needs teeth?

[Laelth]

23. LOL. You have got to be kidding.

Of course it doesn't. Where do you think you live, Canada?

Sorry for the snark, but I couldn't help it. We are in such sorry shape as a nation.

:dem:

-Laelth

[superduperfarleft]

24. Canada's program doesn't cover dental care either. n/t

[Laelth]

26. Dental coverage varies widely by province in Canada.

In Ontario, OHIP pays for most dental surgery. Citizens are on their own for cleanings and in-office care.

Best link I could find, sorry:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/brochure.pdf

:dem:

-Laelth

[superduperfarleft]

27. You're right, I was thinking routine care in a dentist's office. n/t

[Laelth]

28. Obviously, I should have used another country as an example. n/t

:hi:

:dem:

-Laelth

[bkkyosemite]

30. But dental, vision, hearing, prescriptions costs a family of 4 $200 per month in Cananda heard that

today.Since the insurance companies that carry those xtra's don't deal with the high cost of medical. So probably a person would pay less than $100 a month for all the things mentioned.

[ensho]

25. the dental lobby must be very, very rich and powerful

nt

[bkkyosemite]

31. We're on a fixed income and on Medicare. We have dental thru husband's retirement for now anyway.

Just waiting for that to go. We pay $145 for dental vision and prescriptions in premium then pay 50% for dental, 35% for prescriptions and vision always comes out to $200 or more as the frames are hideious that they cover. I would love to get 100% coverage of those for say $50/70 each person per month.

My husband has to go for a root canal tomorrow and it will cost $1229.30.....we have to pay $600+ and cannot do it so they said they would take payments which takes from my tight budget. They said no one else in town will take payments which I doubt but let them brag. I hate this squeeze the citizens of this country are in. Enough!

[KoKo]

32. What I've read it covers "Oral Health Care" for children...that's in the Proposal

though, and who knows what will come in the original bill once the Blue Dogs and Repugs in House & Senate go at it. If it covers Dental Care for our Children...that's at least a first step in good care.

The rest of us "Dentally challenged" will be on our own, I guess. And, if you are like me...it's a real cost and it's terrible....Crowns/Root Canals and Implants...BIG $$$$$$$$$'s for which there is no relief.