Medicaid Coverage Improves Pregnant People’s Access to Dental Care
Executive Summary: People living in states that expanded access to Medicaid coverage were more likely to access dental services before, during, and after pregnancy.
The Issue: Oral health is a vital component of overall health, including during and after pregnancy. Researchers examine whether increasing access to dental coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can help pregnant and postpartum women receive more dental services.
Key Findings:
- More than one-third (38.5%) of people enrolled in continuous Medicaid/CHIP coverage received at least one Medicaid-covered dental office visit during the perinatal period.
- One in five (20.7%) had a dental visit during pregnancy.
- Nearly one in ten (8.4%) had a dental visit during the first 60 days postpartum.
- One in four (25.2%) had a dental visit between 61 and 365 days postpartum.
- People living in states that expanded Medicaid coverage were more likely to have a Medicaid-covered dental visit during the perinatal period than people living in nonexpansion states.
- Nearly 40% of enrollees ages 21 or older living in expansion states had a Medicaid-covered dental visit during the perinatal period, compared to 28.7% in nonexpansion states.
- Dental-related emergency department visits were relatively rare during the perinatal period. However, they were significantly higher in states without Medicaid dental coverage.
Conclusion: Researchers say the findings suggest that extending Medicaid coverage through one year postpartum could help increase access to dental care during the perinatal period. Additional research is needed on other factors driving variations in the access to dental care across states and the health consequences of missing dental care.
About the Author/Grantee:
The nonprofit Urban Institute is dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. For nearly five decades, Urban scholars have conducted research and offered evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities across a rapidly urbanizing world. Their objective research helps expand opportunities for all, reduce hardship among the most vulnerable, and strengthen the effectiveness of the public sector. Visit the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center for more information specific to its staff and its recent research.