Zero Covered Dentists Within 100 Miles for Mandatory Dental Plan Under Obamacare

breitbart.com ^ | March 27, 2014 | Scot Vorse

[grundle]

For years we have known that the claim under Obamacare, “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan,” was false.

We have also known that the claim under Obamacare, “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor,” was false.

But what we didn’t know was that under Obamacare, “If you need a doctor, you may have to drive more than 100 miles to find a doctor.”

I noticed in my new Anthem monthly premium under Obamacare that I was required to pay a separate monthly charge for dental insurance for my two teenage children (I also have to pay the monthly charge even though I don’t receive the benefits, but that is a different issue). This dental plan was assigned to me and not my particular choice.

Today, it is time to take my kids in for their six-month cleaning, so I checked to see if their dentist is covered under my plan. They are not. OK – there are other dentists. Let’s see about within five miles of my house. Nope – not a single one. Within ten? Nope. Within 20? Nope. Within 50? Nope. Finally, what about within 100 miles? Nope. What is even worse is that the Anthem search feature doesn’t expand past 100 miles. I don’t know if there is any dentist in California that accepts my plan.

Perhaps if I fly to Sacramento or Modesto I can find a dentist that accepts my mandatory-policy kids. I wonder if, after the cost of airfare, a teeth cleaning will still be "affordable."

[greeneyes]

Well, our ER is actually a part of what they call a critical care access point hospital. The hospital only has 25 beds.

For true emergencies, they stabilize and then transport to a larger hospital in St. Louis. All surgery etc is done elsewhere.

Our local FQHC Dental facility has some oral surgery days primarily for children. Any reconstructive work would again be referred out. Our state legislature is in the process of deciding what Medicaid will cover going forward, there may or may not be dental coverage going forward.

[morphing libertarian]

My wife paid our first co-pay at the dentist Tuesday. Check-up and cleaning $35. She carried her plan over when she retired from state of Cal. Don’t know any other details at this point.