Good oral health is important for everyone no matter what their age. The health of your mouth, teeth and gums is linked to your overall health. Problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body.
Tooth decay and gum disease can lead to bad breath, mouth infections and loss of teeth. There may also be a link between oral infections and diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Besides brushing and flossing each day, it's important to visit the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. The dentist will check the health of your mouth. Catching problems early may make them easier to fix.
Each state manages its own Medicaid program. So each state can choose what dental benefits it provides to adult Medicaid enrollees. Most states cover emergency dental services for adults. But less than half of U.S. states currently provide comprehensive dental care. There are no minimum requirements Medicaid dental coverage for adults. Search Medicaid plans where you live to see if adult dental coverage is offered in your state.
Medicaid covers dental services for children under age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. Dental care is part of a complete set of benefits that children and adolescents need for proper preventive and developmental care.
State Medicaid agencies can design their dental programs. But they must cover more than just emergency services. All Medicaid children’s dental programs need to include these 3 things:
If a child needs dental care that’s medically necessary, Medicaid will cover those services. Also, if a health condition that needs treatment is found during a routine health screening, Medicaid will cover that treatment. It doesn’t matter whether the care services are included in a state's Medicaid plan or not.
CHIP is the Children's Health Insurance Program. CHIP provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. In some states, CHIP dental benefits are the same as the state’s Medicaid program. In other states, CHIP is a separate program from Medicaid. If so, a state can choose to offer children’s dental benefits that are equal to 1 of these 3 options:
There's no standard list of services for children's Medicaid dental coverage. States choose what care and treatments are covered by Medicaid and how often. Some states may cover dental checkups and cleanings 2 times a year. Other states may only cover 1 routine dental visit.
Tooth decay, or cavities, is the most common disease of children aged 6–18. 1 So, it’s not surprising that Medicaid programs put a lot of emphasis on preventing cavities. Some common treatments may include*:
Medicaid will typically cover other dental services when they're medically necessary. Such braces to straighten children's teeth. Or removing wisdom teeth. But guidelines for medical necessity may vary from state to state.
Millions of children and teens qualify for free or low-cost health and dental coverage through Medicaid and CHIP. And that number goes up each year. But access to care is a big challenge. Some children may not have a dentist in their neighborhood. Or they may lack transportation.
Some families don't understand that children need to see a dentist regularly, even when there are no obvious problems. Some parents don't know that their children are eligible to get dental services. Language barriers can also make it more difficult to get dental care.
UnitedHealthcare is committed to helping our members take advantage of all the benefits offered through their Medicaid health plan. Visit InsureKidsNow.gov to find a dentist in your community who sees children and accepts Medicaid and CHIP.
*Benefits, features, and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. For details about the exact benefits available in Medicaid plans in your area, please search plans using the ZIP code where you live.
1 Children’s Oral Health (CDC, April 6, 2022)
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Medicaid or dual-eligible plan benefits can change depending on where you live. Search using your ZIP code to find the right plan to meet your health care needs.
Looking for the federal government’s Medicaid website? Look here at Medicaid.gov.
Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.
Dual Special Needs plans have a $0 premium for members with Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy).
Benefits, features, and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply.
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UnitedHealthcare Connected® for MyCare Ohio (Medicare-Medicaid plan) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and Ohio Medicaid to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees.
UnitedHealthcare Connected® (Medicare-Medicaid plan) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and Texas Medicaid to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees.
UnitedHealthcare Connected® for One Care (Medicare-Medicaid plan) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and MassHealth (Medicaid) to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees.
This is not a complete list. The benefit information is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan or read the member handbook. Limitations, copays and restrictions may apply. For more information, call UnitedHealthcare Connected® Member Services or read the UnitedHealthcare Connected® member handbook.
UnitedHealthcare Senior Care Options (SCO) is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Medicaid program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is a voluntary program that is available to anyone 65 and older who qualifies for MassHealth Standard and Original Medicare and does not have any other comprehensive health Insurance, except Medicare. If you have MassHealth Standard, but you do not qualify for Original Medicare, you may still be eligible to enroll in our MassHealth Senior Care Option plan and receive all of your MassHealth benefits through our Senior Care Options (SCO) program.
Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. The 5-Star rating applies to plan year 2024.
The choice is yours
We will provide you with information to help you make informed choices, such as physicians' and health care professionals' credentials. This information, however, is not an endorsement of a particular physician or health care professional's suitability for your needs.
The providers available through this application may not necessarily reflect the full extent of UnitedHealthcare's network of contracted providers. There may be providers or certain specialties that are not included in this application that are part of our network. If you don't find the provider you are searching for, you may contact the provider directly to verify participation status with UnitedHealthcare's network, or contact Customer Care at the toll-free number shown on your UnitedHealthcare ID card. We also recommend that, prior to seeing any physician, including any specialists, you call the physician's office to verify their participation status and availability.
Some network providers may have been added or removed from our network after this directory was updated. We do not guarantee that each provider is still accepting new members.
Out-of-network/non-contracted providers are under no obligation to treat UnitedHealthcare plan members, except in emergency situations. Please call our customer service number or see your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the cost- sharing that applies to out-of-network services.
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Network providers help you and your covered family members get the care needed. Access to specialists may be coordinated by your primary care physician.
Paper copies of the network provider directory are available at no cost to members by calling the customer service number on the back of your ID card. Non-members may download and print search results from the online directory.
To report incorrect information, email provider_directory_invalid_issues@uhc.com. This email box is for members to report potential inaccuracies for demographic (address, phone, etc.) information in the online or paper directories. Reporting issues via this mail box will result in an outreach to the provider’s office to verify all directory demographic data, which can take approximately 30 days. Individuals can also report potential inaccuracies via phone. UnitedHealthcare Members should call the number on the back of their ID card, and non-UnitedHealthcare members can call 1-888-638-6613 / TTY 711, or use your preferred relay service.
If you’re affected by a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or a governor, or an announcement of a public health emergency by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, there is certain additional support available to you.
If CMS hasn’t provided an end date for the disaster or emergency, plans will resume normal operation 30 days after the initial declaration.
