New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu recently signed a two-year budget that includes $13.5 billion in spending but does not provide additional funding for dental coverage for adults under Medicaid, leading some health professionals to worry about the state’s oral health.
Here are four things to know about dental coverage in New Hampshire:
- New Hampshire currently only covers emergency dental care for adults on Medicaid but does cover preventive care and other procedures for people under 21.
- Dental coverage in New England varies widely and, with no federal mandate, states can withdraw and restore Medicaid funding however they wish.
- New Hampshire is one of four states that have expanded Medicaid without adding dental benefits. It is also one of 10 states that only covers emergency services.
- Gov. Sununu signed a bill before the pandemic that would have created a dental plan for adults on Medicaid, but the bill did not have funding. The Senate approved funding twice in the past year, which would have included $1.5 million for a partial year and $7.45 million for a full year to begin providing coverage for approximately 75,000 people. However, state House Republicans removed the proposed funding from the budget last month.