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.