Dental Insurance Reform?

Posted at 1:25 PM on September 25, 2009 by Jeff Horwich (2 Comments)

OK, so we might be getting into purchasing exchanges, a public options, insurance mandates, new coverage protections, and all that jazz for medical insurance.

But what about that part of the body that for some reason the insurance industry treats as an "orphan organ," as our guest puts it?

Does any of this health insurance reform hoo-hah have to do with dental insurance?

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Dr. Burton Edelstein, professor of dentistry and public health at Columbia (and chair of the Children's Dental Health Project) has some answers. (To be clear: This is not his mouth.)

Comments (2)

You might also ask why insurance doesn't cover routine eye care - like glasses or contacts - or I'll do you one better, provide a permanent fix like Lasix so I don't have to continue paying maintenance costs on my ability to see.

Posted by Adam | September 28, 2009 10:51 AM

Good point. My insurance will cover an eye exam each year, but if I have to get glasses I don't think I get any help, either.

I suppose if they covered glasses or contacts, they'd be more enthusiastic about covering Lasik!

Posted by Jeff Horwich | October 12, 2009 3:30 PM

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