Emergency Dental Care for Low-Income Individuals
Emergency dental care for low-income individuals provides assistance for eligible beneficiaries to help them within their oral health. With these programs, individuals can have a check-up and consult a licensed dentist.
Dental grants assist eligible beneficiaries to know the condition of their respective oral health. Moreover, these services also enable dental education within U.S. individuals and boost the work of each Dentist.
Individuals must have a dental check-up twice a year as suggested by the Cleveland Clinic. Within these check-ups, Dentists can check for problems or early signs of tooth decay. Dentists will also be able to fix problems earlier and avoid further aches.
Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 13.2% of children the age of 5-19 have untreated dental caries. Furthermore, about 25.9% of adults ageing from 20-44 suffer from untreated dental caries.
Individuals must have a dental check-up twice a year as suggested by the Cleveland Clinic. During these check-ups, Dentists can check for problems or early signs of tooth decay. Dentists will also be able to fix problems earlier and avoid further aches.
Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 13.2% of children aged 5-19 have untreated dental caries. Furthermore, about 25.9% of adults ageing from 20-44 suffer from untreated dental caries.
From the data, over 39.1% of the total population of the United States continues to have problems with their oral health. However, having check-ups and procedures from a Dentist costs a lot.
Individuals with low income are not capable of consulting with a professional Dentist. But with dental grants, low-income individuals will have a chance to know the status and condition of their oral health.
Dental Grants Funded by the Government
Various dental grants for low-income individuals are open throughout the nation. There are services funded by the government within each local state.
There are also programs offered by non-profit organizations and private institutions to assist individuals to maintain the healthiness of their oral health.
Most of these programs are completely free and the beneficiaries don’t need to repay the expenses. These serve as a huge help for low-income individuals as they will be able to consult a doctor without paying anything.
As of now, different dental grants continue to assist individuals all over the state.
Available Emergency Dental Care for Low-Income Individuals
There are various dental grants for low-income individuals, you may refer below for these programs.
Medicare
This is a federally funded program by the government aiming to help individuals aged 65 and above, and individuals aged 65 and below with disability or permanent kidney failure. Medicare also covers the dental coverage of its beneficiaries.
However, not all dental procedures are covered by the said program, there’re selected procedures.
Qualification:
• Must be a US Citizen or permanent legal resident in the U.S.
• You should be receiving Social Security or retirement benefits.
• You and your spouse should be government employees.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a government program that provides health care and financially assists the medical bills and service of individuals who belongs to low-income and poor community.
It covers the dental services of all of its child beneficiaries. The said inclusion is part of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefits of the program.
Qualification:
• The eligibility requirement varies in your state and is based on your age, income, household size, and disability.
• You can check if you’re eligible within your state at the
healthcare official website.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
This program assists individuals or families who did not qualify for Medicaid but also cannot afford private insurance. It is aligned with Medicaid and supports families with children with medical bills or expenses.
Children's Health Insurance Program covers dental services for its beneficiaries 19 years old and above. However, the dental services for the said program may vary from state to state.
Qualification:
The eligibility requirement varies in your state, check your eligibility.
Dental Grants Program
This program provides assistance for its eligible beneficiaries to lessen their financial expenses for dental services. The dental Grants Program provides almost 30% of their expenses depending on the dental service.
Qualification:
• Must be a permanent resident.
• Must be 18 years old and above.
Access to Care Program
This program provides financial assistance with dental care services for its eligible beneficiaries. It was handled and funded by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
The said program prioritizes underserved children to benefit.
Qualification:
• Must not have health insurance.
• For those individuals with health insurance, must pay a high deductible of more than $1,500.
• Must not be eligible for public health programs like Medicare or Medicaid.
How Can I Apply for Emergency Dental Care?
Emergency dental care for low-income individuals has its respective application processes and rules and regulations. Check below regarding the process of the application for dental grants that are mentioned above.
You may also visit the given website links to have more information regarding the program or for online application. Remember to check the eligibility rules for each program before applying in order to avoid such problems.
Required Documents for the Application
The documents required for the application for dental grants for low-income individuals may be different from each other. Government, government, organizations, and institutions can request more detailed and specific documents for applicants to trace effectively their eligibility.
However, refer below for the most common documents that will be needed for the application for dental grants. You can start preparing the documents below upon application.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship (can be a passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, green card, employment authorization card)
• Proof of date of birth (for programs that need age requirements)
• Proof of your Income (for programs that have specific financial income)
