People who received dental coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan, a Medicaid health program, reported improvements in their oral health and job performance, according to a study published March 22 in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.
Researchers from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor evaluated how the coverage affected the lives of low-income beneficiaries through qualitative interviews with 67 people who were enrolled for at least six months, and a stratified random sample survey of 4,090 beneficiaries who were receiving coverage for at least one year. About half of the respondents had jobs or were self-employed.
Four study findings:
1. Among those surveyed, 60 percent of people visited the dentist at least once since enrolling in the plan.
2. Of those who reported visiting the dentist since enrolling, 57 percent said their oral health improved.
3. Of the respondents who had jobs and reported improvements to their oral health, 76 percent said Medicaid coverage boosted their job performance.
4. Sixty percent of unemployed respondents who reported better oral health said their coverage is helping them with the job search.
"Many enrollees spoke passionately and sometimes joyously about how having dental benefits had changed, and in some cases, saved their lives," said Edith Kieffer, PhD, lead study author and professor emeritus at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. "Some were able to access dental care for the first time ever, or in many years, because of this coverage."
The Healthy Michigan Plan covers basic dental care including cleanings, X-rays, dentures and fillings.
To view the full study, click here.