Bernie Sanders seeks dental insurance expansion, reforms
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has long championed universal health care coverage through Medicare, has a new goal to expand dental coverage to all Americans.
In May, the Vermont Independent introduced the Comprehensive Dental Care Reform Act of 2024, a bill to expand dental coverage through Medicare, Medicaid and the Veterans Administration. The legislation before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, would establish federal funding to increase the number of dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists in the U.S., in part, by training dental students through community-based dental residencies.
More: Imagine if the government offered dental care. New federal rule could make that a reality.
Sanders recently spoke extensively with USA TODAY about the country’s dental care system and why he’s pushing for expanded coverage for more Americans. The following are excerpts from that conversation.
USA TODAY: The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions you chair recently held a hearing on dental care in the United States. Why are you highlighting this topic?
Sanders: First thing that we are trying to do is to make it clear to the American people that dental care in America is in crisis. I think most people know that our health care system is broken. It’s outrageously expensive. Millions of people can’t afford insurance. But I think there is not that same consciousness with regard to dental care, and that’s what this hearing was about. The reality is that dental care in America is extremely expensive. Many dentists do not accept Medicaid reimbursement because it is too low or for other reasons. We don’t have enough dentists in America, and we especially don’t have dentists in many underserved areas. So I guess on Park Avenue in New York City you probably have plenty of dentists. But in rural areas, low-income areas, you don’t have dentists.
USA TODAY: How has the lack of dental care access affected vulnerable populations?
Sanders: The result of that is 40% of kids in America have tooth decay by the time they reach Kindergarten, which is really quite stunning. And nearly one out of every five seniors in America have lost all of their natural teeth, and many of them cannot afford dentures. I met some people in Vermont (who were) missing front teeth in their mouths. You go out and try to get a job without front teeth in your mouth! It’s hard to do. Millions of people are in that situation as well. It’s unbelievable that in the United States of America, we have situations where volunteer dentists come together (and) people camp out for hours or sleep overnight in order to get their teeth extracted because they’ve been in pain for years. So clearly, we need fundamental changes in the way we do dental care in this country. In my view, health care is a human right, not a privilege. And that is certainly true with dental care.
USA TODAY: For those who do have dental insurance, do you think it provides adequate coverage?
Sanders:…
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