Why Finding A Medicaid/Medical Dentist Is So Difficult
If you are one of hundreds of thousands of people who receive Medicaid or MediCal (Medicaid in California), you may find that seeing a dentist is a lot harder than you expected. In fact, there are a lot of states where this state-sponsored health insurance program for low-income individuals and families does not provide the best dental coverage. In some states, it is nearly impossible to find a dentist that will take Medicaid/MediCal dental coverage at all. While it can be immensely frustrating to you if you receive this insurance benefit, you should know and understand why it is so difficult to find a dentist that takes this insurance, and why you should keep searching.
The Certification Process for Dentists Is a Long and Arduous Process
For anyone that has had to deal with Medicare (the health insurance for seniors), you know what a nightmare it is to get certified by the government just to accept patients with this insurance. Doctors, clinics, and hospitals have to file a ton of paperwork just to be certified by the government to accept government insurance payments. It can take up to three years or more to get that certification, and in the mean time, patients on Medicare are turned away.
Likewise, patients on Medicaid or MediCal face a similar problem. Medical and dental clinics have to be certified by the government before they can take payments from the government for covered procedures and practices. The practice is such a long and arduous one that many dentists opt not to pursue it. Those that do pursue certification have to collect a lot of documentation and file everything by the deadlines given. Even then, these dentists and their clinics cannot see Medicaid/Cal patients while they are in the process of being certified.
Certification Has to Be Re-Upped
Even after the dentists and clinics become certified to accept Medicaid/Cal, the certification does not last long. The law stipulates that these dentists and clinics have to renew the certification process annually, which means that the dentists and clinics have to start the process all over again. Most dentists do not have a lot of time to do that.
Why You (the Patient) Should Keep Looking for a Dentist That Accepts Your Medicaid/Cal
There are dentists out there who can accept your state government-sponsored health insurance. You can also contact the state health insurance board for names and listings of dentists who can take your insurance. If the dentists are too far away, you may be able to submit a claim to the state's insurance department after you get permission to visit, receive care from, and pay for care from a dentist closer to home.
For more information, contact companies like Youth Dental & Vision.
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