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What options do you have when Medicaid denies your dental implants? | 11 Listens

A woman was left with no teeth and very few options after claiming her request for dental implants were denied by Medicaid.

A woman was left with no teeth and very few options after claiming her request for dental implants were denied by Medicaid.

Tonight – 11 Listens. And learns this may happen more often than you’d think.

For a lot of us, trips to the dentist have become routine. You get the services you need and you’re on your way out.

But for some, getting the things you need has become quite the challenge.

“I just don’t have the money to pay for it.”

This viewer reached out to 11 Listens describing her frustration with Medicaid Dental coverage.

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She can no longer wear dentures. And said she’s applied for implants – but Medicaid turned her down.

“I’m really discouraged…”

I took her concerns to Medicaid. In a response from a Medicaid representative, the dental benefit in Medicaid is an optional service.

They went on to say, quote, “Accordingly, states have the flexibility to determine what dental services are provided to adult Medicaid enrollees including dental implants. States are not required to cover the full range of every dental service available.”

Not exactly what she wanted to hear, but we did find some organizations that help people when they come across obstacles like this.

One of them – Donate Dental. It’s a program operating under Dental Lifeline Network out of Denver, Colorado. The program assists people who are disabled or medically at risk get donated implants.

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Right now, the program isn’t accepting clients in Cleburne County, so she’d have to be waitlisted.

But it’s one step closer to getting what she’s so desperately been waiting for.

“I’m gonna leave it in God’s hands, sweetheart.”

We were able to connect this viewer to more resources and plans are in the works to get her the help she needs.

There are plenty of other resources surrounding this issue. If you’re interested in learning more, you can find the links here:

Dental Lifeline Network https://dentallifeline.org/arkansas

Harmony Health Clinic http://www.harmonyclinicar.org/contact

Arkansas State Dental Association http://arkansasdentistry.org/contact-us

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