How to Go to the Dentist When You Can’t Afford to Go to the Dentist

 

Artwork: Robin Mead

Tips and ideas from the wonderful members of Social Service Connections for Lyme Disease

🌺 “I have a lot of friends that take their vacations in Mexico and get their dental work done there (scroll down for a good Mexico dental story!)”

🌺 “Some dental schools offer dental care through their student clinics. We have a local hospital that has one.”

🌺 Some dental clinics offer free or low cost dental care.

🌺 Dental lifeline offers donated services to people who are low-income disabled, elderly or medically-fragile.

🌺 Some people buy individual dental insurance policies. (Scroll down for a good dental insurance story!)

🌺 If you have Medicare, look into supplemental insurance like Medicare Advantage. (Note: May not be worth the price in some circumstances).

🌺 If you are in a state home aide program, check with your caseworker. In some states, this program provides dental care. (note: in many states, this program allows you to have Medicaid without counting your spouse’s income).

🌺 In some states, Medicaid covers dental care. There are quite a few different ways to qualify for Medicaid even if you have been told you don’t qualify for Medicaid.

🌺 DentaQuest lists dentist that accept Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and/or CHIP. (Note: In some states, Medicaid does not pay for dental care for adults, only for children)

🌺 The Department of Health and Human Services publishes a Guide to Low Cost Dental Care.

🌺 You can also check this state-by-state list of programs that may be able to provide information about free or discounted dental care in your area.

🌺 In limited areas, there are free dentistry days.

Dee Goes to the Dentist in Mexico!

I am in Las Vegas but drive to Yuma, AZ to get dental care in Los Algodones, Mexico. My dentist in Mexico is licensed by the American Dental Association.

To find my dentist, I just googled dentists in Los Algodones, Mexico. I found a great ADA dentist who studied at Harvard. My husband needed a bridge and got estimate here of $3,500. In Mexico, we got it done in four days for $800.

There was no place to stay there. We stay in Yuma, Arizona. 15 minutes from border.  We needed to get passports. We saved money and got a vacation!

Rose Buys Dental Insurance

I buy an individual dental insurance policy from Delta Dental. It is $105/year (plus an  extra $15 the first year). The price is even cheaper if you are a couple (I think $170). You have to select a dentist from their list.

For $105/year, I get two cleanings and a set of bitewings. It covers the whole mouth x-ray every few years. It also gives a discount schedule for more major work that – knock on wood – I have not needed.

Just paying out of pocket for one cleaning would cost as much as my entire plan.

What Do You Think? 

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Updated May 2018. If you found this page helpful, please share it with others by pressing one of these magic little buttons: