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Consumer attitudes: dental treatment and insurance
Consumer attitudes: dental treatment and insurance
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Consumer survey (FAIR Health, Inc.)
- Contributor(s):
- FAIR Health, Inc., issuing body.
- Publication:
- [New York, New York] : FAIR Health, Inc., 2015
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Consumer Behavior
Dental Care
Dental Health Services
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Insurance, Dental
United States - Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Advances in dental care and consumer education have led to significant improvements in oral health among Americans in recent decades. Despite this progress, when it comes to obtaining dental treatment, disparities persist along racial, ethnic and socio-economic lines. In the summer of 2015, FAIR Health conducted a survey of a random sample of more than 1,000 adults in the U.S. regarding dental treatment utilization patterns and preferences. The survey elicited consumer opinions related to dental insurance, the ways in which individuals access care and their understanding of oral health recommendations. (1) Responses from African-Americans, Latinos and individuals living in lower-income households, as well as adults with a high school education or less, indicated that they visited the dentist less frequently than other socio-economic groups included in the survey. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, African-Americans, Latinos and adults living in lower-income households are more likely to have untreated cavities. (2) The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) notes that preventable tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, and, if left untreated, can have a long-term, negative impact on a child's health and socialization (e.g., education, job opportunities). The importance of pediatric dental care is reflected in its inclusion as an essential benefit under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Although the American Dental Association (ADA) and AAPD recommend that children see a dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than the first birthday, nearly half of the FAIR Health survey respondents believe the recommended age for a first dental check-up is after a child's second birthday, and approximately three in ten believe the recommended age is after the third birthday. (3) The FAIR Health survey indicates that consumers from households with less than $35K in income are more likely than those from higher-income households to rely on the emergency department (ED) for oral healthcare; suggesting either they have no relationship with a dentist, or visit a dentist only when they need urgent dental treatment. While pediatric dental coverage is an essential benefit offered by plans through the federal and state exchanges, the purchase of dental insurance is not mandated in most states for either children or adults. Several states require that exchange healthcare plans include dental care for adults and children. In the absence of mandated coverage and subsidies to help pay dental premiums, it will be interesting to see if consumers take advantage of dental insurance and seek preventive oral care and ultimately reduce the use and need of the emergency department for dental treatments. Policymakers looking to improve individuals' oral health and to increase enrollment in dental insurance programs can enhance the effectiveness of their efforts by taking consumer knowledge and the patterns of use of dental services into consideration. Information on consumer attitudes about dental care and their use of dental services can be gleaned from surveys and from data found in healthcare claims. These sources can help dental professionals, benefit designers and insurers prepare educational materials that help consumers understand dental care, and promote the long-term value of early and consistent dental care.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-ND license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (14 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101755827 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101755827