The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides veterans with coverage for medical care, but routine dental care only garners partial coverage, being available only to those veterans on 70% disability or with oral health problems related their service. The lack of full dental care from both Medicare , Medicare and Medicaid causes issues for veterans in need. But he fell on hard times, lost his business and couldn’t keep up with his bills. Research supports the provision of dental as well as general health care, given that gum disease and systemic conditions are strongly correlated. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis have all been linked to oral issues, with strokes and depression potentially also related. The risk factors for these diseases are increasingly higher for the older population of Vietnam and Korean War veterans, and as nearly half of the 20m US veterans are over the age of 65 , the problems will continue to worsen without intervention. For senior citizens, only 28 in ten have gum disease; one in five have untreated cavities, and almost one in seven have no teeth remaining. Despite these facts, ten states offer adult dental benefits through Medicaid , and even this coverage only covers particular services, with few providers willing to offer them. As it stands, 70% of seniors do not have dental insurance, and low-income seniors generally go without basic care for their oral health.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides veterans with coverage for medical care, but routine dental care only garners partial coverage, being available only to those veterans on 70% disability or with oral health problems related their service. The lack of full dental care from both Medicare , Medicare and Medicaid causes issues for veterans in need. Research supports the provision of dental as well as general health care, given that gum disease and systemic conditions are strongly correlated. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis have all been linked to oral issues, with strokes and depression potentially also related. The risk factors for these diseases are increasingly higher for the older population of Vietnam and Korean War veterans, and as nearly half of the 20m US veterans are over the age of 65 , the problems will continue to worsen without intervention. For senior citizens, only 28 in ten have gum disease; one in five have untreated cavities, and almost one in seven have no teeth remaining. Despite these facts, ten states offer adult dental benefits through Medicaid , and even this coverage only covers particular services, with few providers willing to offer them. As it stands, 70% of seniors do not have dental insurance, and low-income seniors generally go without basic care for their oral health.