More than 70 million adults in the U.S. do not have dental insurance, according to a report from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.
The number of individuals who lack health insurance is about 26 million, or around 9.5% of U.S. adults, according to a May 21 news release from the institute.
Adults who do not have dental insurance are at risk for delayed treatment and worsening oral health, which can lead to other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia.
Here are five more stats to know from the report:
- Adults who have lower income and education levels are more likely to not have dental insurance.
- One-third of U.S. adults on Medicare or Medicaid do not have dental coverage, as dental services are not covered by traditional Medicare and Medicaid programs differ by state in terms of dental coverage.
- The majority of individuals who do not have health coverage lack dental insurance.
- Nearly 25% of adults who do have dental insurance obtained it within the last year.
- Twelve percent of adults currently without dental insurance lost it in the past year.
Read the full report here.
