Healthcare Debate Paper

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Unitek College, Fremont *

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PHIL415A

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Philosophy

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May 21, 2024

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docx

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1 Carine Torres Unitek College, BSN Program PHIL415 Professor Jared Hadley April 21, 2024

2 Healthcare Debate Paper Healthcare has always been a topic of debate. Due to the many aspects of healthcare, there is always room for argument. While there are many topics to discuss, for the purpose of this paper the debate about whether health insurance should cover dentistry will be written about. Treatments covered by health insurance are usually what we categorize as “medical” treatments. Health insurance covers the body from head to toe, although many medical insurances do not cover dentistry or ophthalmology within their different policies. With respect to this paper, we will be discussing the issue of dentistry. Now, if health insurance policies are supposed to cover a person head to toe, then why would the teeth be excluded? A logical concept that I would like to touch on is affordability. In my opinion, it would be logical for health insurance to include dentistry. Dentists are doctors of the teeth. Dental insurance should not be its own entity and even if it should stay its own entity then it should be included with a standard health insurance policy. Including dentistry in standard health insurance plans would not only create an upward curve of adults with healthier mouths, but it would also significantly reduce healthcare costs. According to Forbes, the average dental insurance plan costs $47/month, while this may not seem like much to a person of a higher socioeconomic status, this may be considered a luxury and unaffordable for others. On top of paying monthly for a dental plan, routine teeth cleaning can average between $20-$100 depending on the level of cleaning needed. According to the CDC, 29% of people in the United States overall cannot afford dental insurance and do not have it (Disparities in Oral Health, 2021). When it came to older adults the number was higher, standing at 62%. This is because routine dental care is not covered in traditional Medicare plans (Disparities in Oral Health, 2021). While many Americans have access and can afford dental care “among working-age US adults, over 40% of low-income and

3 non-Hispanic Black adults have untreated tooth decay” (Disparities in Oral Health, 2021). This can tie into what was stated before, the average cost of a routine cleaning may average between $20-$100 with dental insurance. If 40% of the population does not have a separate dental insurance plan, then they might be paying high amounts for care. The cost, as stated before, also depends on the severity of the treatment. If routine dental care cannot be obtained then tooth decay worsens, which in turn raises the cost of dental care. If dental coverage was included in health insurance, then I believe that these numbers would decrease, and Americans would be able to access and afford more frequent dental care. Along with affordability, poor oral health may also lead to more serious complications. The teeth are connected almost directly to the heart and smooth muscles. When dental health becomes poor then it may lead to more severe health problems. To support my points, according to Becca Brewer, dental and medical professionals have come to a consensus that oral health and overall health are interconnected (Brewer, B., 2023). As stated before, there is a relationship between financial strain and lack of dental care. When American’s don’t have or can’t afford dental insurance then it “results in a delay of dental care” (Brewer, B., 2023). This creates a more expensive and more extensive problem for the patient. In her article, Becca Brewer also mentions that according to the Mayo Clinic, poor oral health may contribute to conditions like endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy/birth complications, and pneumonia (Brewer, B., 2023).

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4 References Brewer, B. (2023, December 12). Healthcare debates: Should health insurance cover dentistry? . mhaonline. https://www.mhaonline.com/blog/healthcare-debates-dental-insurance- coverage Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, February 5). Disparities in oral health . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/oral_health_disparities/ Masterson, L. (2024, April 5). How much is dental insurance? (coverage and cost) . Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/health-insurance/dental-insurance/dental-insurance- coverage-and-cost/ Van Cleave, M. (2016). Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking (2nd ed.) Creative Commons.

Healthcare Debate Paper

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