Question: What does Medicaid helps pay for?
Reply: If you have Medicare and qualify for full Medicaid coverage:
- Your state will pay monthly premiums for your Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance).
- Depending on the level of Medicaid you are eligible for, your state might pay for your share of Medicare costs, like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Part A (Hospital Insurance) premiums, if you have to pay a premium for that coverage.
- You’ll automatically get Extra Help with your drug costs. Learn more about Extra Help.
- Medicaid may pay for other drugs and services that Medicare doesn’t cover.
When babies are born, they typically have around 20 teeth partly formed inside the gums. The front two, lower first and then upper, are the first to erupt between 6-12 months of age. By age 3, most kids have a set of 20 primary teeth in their mouths. The American Dental Association recommends scheduling your child’s first appointment between the arrival of their first tooth and their first birthday.
Did you know that mothers with poor dental health could be at a higher risk of passing bacteria that causes cavities to their children? However, many things can be done to help decrease this risk, such as:
- Having regular dental visits
- Daily brushing and flossing
- Having a healthy diet that is low in sugars and starches
- Choosing a toothpaste with fluoride
- Rinsing daily with an alcohol-free rinse.
- Do not share eating utensils or things that can transmit bacteria with your children.
- If you chew gum, choose something with xylitol, which can decrease your and your children’s caries rate.
Question: How do you qualify for Medicaid
Reply: Generally, you must meet your state’s rules for your income and resources and other rules (like being a state resident).
You might be able to get Medicaid if you meet your state’s resource limit, but your income is too high to qualify. Some states let you “spend down” the amount of your income above the state’s Medicaid limit. You do this by paying non-covered medical expenses and cost-sharing (like premiums and deductibles) until your income is lowered to a level that qualifies you for Medicaid. For more details, call your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office and ask about medical help for people with limited resources.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that all pregnant women obtain dental health care during pregnancy. According to research, it has linked periodontal disease with preterm birth and low birth weight. Speak with your dentist about ways you can prevent or treat periodontal disease during pregnancy.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, at 12 months, your baby is old enough to visit the dentist. Cavities are a common concern with children, so it is essential to take your child to the dentist regularly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four children have tooth decay by the time they enter kindergarten. Yet cavities are preventable with proper infant oral care that continues throughout childhood and the teen years.
Question: What’s the difference between Medicare & Medicaid?
Reply: Medicare is federal health insurance for anyone 65 and older, and some people under 65 have specific disabilities or conditions.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid offers benefits like nursing home care, personal care services, and assistance paying for Medicare premiums and other costs.
You will want to put your baby on your lap, facing away from you. Brush the teeth from behind, supporting your baby’s head. When you brush, focus your efforts between the gums and teeth—the most critical area. Consult with your dentist about frequency and if you should add flossing to your child’s routine.
Once your baby’s teeth start coming in, you may want to transition from the washcloth to a baby toothbrush and toothpaste. If you use toothpaste, ensure it is still safe for babies. One example would be Tom’s of Maine’s new toddler training toothpaste, which is specially formulated for ages 3-24 months, and is safe if swallowed. Once your child reaches the age of two and can spit, you may want to transition to another type of toothpaste. Remember that a small pea size is all you need when it comes to toothpaste.
Original Medicare:
- Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B.
- You can join a different Medicare drug plan to get Medicare drug coverage (Part D).
- You can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare anywhere in the U.S.
- To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your 20% coinsurance), you can also buy supplemental coverage, like Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), or have coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid.
Medicare Advantage (also known as Part C):
- Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D.
- In most cases, you’ll need to use doctors in the plan’s network.
- Plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare.
- Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover — like vision, hearing, and dental services.
Give Cheese As A Tooth Friendly Snack. Instead of a bag of chips, serve cheese with lunch or as a snack, especially cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and other aged cheeses, which help to trigger the saliva flow. Saliva helps to wash food particles away from teeth
Fruits and vegetables: Try offering more fruits and vegetables as a snack instead of sugary treats. The best type of fruits and vegetables would be those containing a high volume of water, such as pears, melons, celery, and cucumbers. Limit banana and raisin consumption as these contain concentrated sugar, or if you serve these fruits, try to brush your child’s teeth immediately after they are eaten.
Question: What is Medicare Part D
Reply: Part D (Drug coverage): Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines). You join a Medicare drug plan in addition to Original Medicare, or you get it by joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage. Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage are run by private insurance companies that follow the rules set by Medicare.
Question: Why should I take my toddler to the dentist when his baby teeth fall out anyway? I just wondered because my parents never took me to a dentist until I was a teen with adult teeth.
Answer: It is true that our primary teeth eventually, but their health is still essential to our oral health over the long term. Once a baby’s tooth starts to decay, the bacteria in there progress pretty quickly, seeping through the tooth and going to the bone, potentially causing dental infections that can even be fatal. Sure, that is the worst consequence. But even if that does not happen, if bacteria lurk in the baby teeth, the enamel for the adult teeth may not be properly formed, and they can be permanently damaged.
Question: My son is 18 months of age, and I been told he should see a dentist for a regular dental checkup. However not sure if he can go to our family dentist or does he have to see a pediatric dentist.
Answer: This is a common question for parents to ask. For the same reason you do not take your child to your internist, you take her to a pediatrician. Children are not miniature adults. Their bodies are very different, and so are their teeth. A pediatric dentist has expertise in those differences.
Question: what Is Medicare Part B
Reply: Part B (Medical Insurance): Helps cover:
- Services from doctors and other healthcare providers
- Outpatient care
- Home health care
- Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment)
- Many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits)
By the time your baby is six months of age, your dentist should assess the likelihood of your baby having future dental problems, which may include a dental exam of the mother and her dental history, as the condition of her teeth can often predict her child’s teeth. Be sure your child sees a dentist after the first primary teeth appear. After your first visit, schedule regular visits every six months or as your dentist recommends.
Experts recommend that your baby see a dentist by 12 months of age. Babies with dental problems caused by injury, disease, or developmental problems should be seen by a children’s (pediatric) dentist right away. If these dental problems are not limited to the surfaces of the teeth, your baby should also be seen by a children’s doctor (pediatrician) or your family doctor.