Pediatric and teenage dentistry is crucial to child development and can help maintain good oral health. For many kids, good dental hygiene practices aren’t enough, and experts recommend that kids begin seeing a dentist as early as two years old.
Fortunately, there are several ways to make kid’s dental services more affordable. Continue reading to learn more about potential options.
Apply for Medicaid or CHIP: If you are part of a low-income household, your child may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. These federal health insurance programs provide access to dental insurance for children under the age of 18.
While both programs have income guidelines that must be met to receive benefits, CHIP has higher income guidelines than Medicaid. Therefore, if you don’t qualify for Medicaid, it’s still worth taking the time to apply for CHIP.
Check the Health Insurance Marketplace: Did you know that the Health Insurance Marketplace lets you purchase dental insurance as part of an overall healthcare plan or as a stand-alone plan?
If you don’t currently have dental insurance, or you’re looking at your insurance options, the Health Insurance Marketplace lets you review and compare plans in your area.
Additionally, the marketplace will automatically notify you if you may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP based on your income, and assist you in getting started with an application.
Check Your Local Dental Colleges and Free Clinics: As mentioned on a previous slide, dental colleges and free clinics are a great way to find affordable dental services, including dentistry for children.
Additionally, dental colleges and clinics often know of more resources for low-income families, such as non-profits that help with costs.
Consider a Payment Plan: It’s not uncommon for pediatric dental specialists to offer payment plans to parents who aren’t able to afford dental services up front. Check with your local dentists to learn more about potential payment arrangements.
Additionally, compare fees between local dentists to learn more about which offices are most affordable.
While it may seem more cost effective to forgo a trip to the dentist, regular dental visits can reduce overall dental costs for kids and help kids maintain good oral health.
Additionally, a dentist can detect problems early, such as cavities, teeth crowding, or other common dental issues, and prevent problems from escalating and becoming more serious and expensive.
When it comes to children’s dental services, an ounce of prevention is usually the best course of action.
By Admin –
