Oral Health, U.S. 2002 Annual Report
Section 16: DENTAL CARE WORKFORCE/
COST OF DENTAL CARE/
ACCESSIBILITY OF DENTAL CARE
| 16.1 |
The percentage of the population with dental insurance compared to
the percentage with medical insurance |
The lack of dental insurance is a barrier to obtaining oral health care. It
accounts in part for poorer oral health among those who live at or near the
federal poverty level, lack health insurance, or lose their insurance at
retirement (US DHHS, 2000). Having dental insurance significantly influences
the use of dental services. Among persons with private dental insurance, 70.4%
reported seeing a dentist in the past year compared to 50.8% of those without
dental insurance (Bloom et al., 1992).
In 1997, 55.7% of the U.S. adult population had dental insurance (BRFSS, 1997).
Dental coverage varies by race/ethnicity, education, and income. According to
data from the 1989 National Health Interview Survey, among persons aged 2 years
and older, non-Hispanic whites were more likely to have dental insurance than
non-Hispanic blacks or Hispanics (Bloom et al., 1992). Dental insurance
coverage was greater among those with higher incomes and more education (Bloom
et al., 1992). Persons aged 65 years and older generally have the lowest level
of dental insurance coverage, in part due to loss of employer-provided
insurance at retirement.
SOURCE OF DATA
The analyses reported here are based on the 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The health
insurance data shown were obtained in the core survey and thus come from all
states. The dental insurance data come from the following 20 states and are
thus not nationally representative: Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida,
Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey,
New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West
Virginia.
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In the states where the question was asked, adults with dental insurance were
more likely to:
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be younger than age 55 (Figure 16.1.1).
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be non-Hispanic blacks (Figure 16.1.2).
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have more education (Figure 16.1.2).
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have a higher income level (Figure 16.1.3).
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Comparisons to medical insurance
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Among the U.S. population, 86% of adults aged 18 and older had medical
insurance in 1997 while 56% had dental insurance.
-
The percentage of the U.S. adult population with medical insurance coverage was
greatest among the oldest age group and least among the youngest age group
(Figure 16.1.1).
-
Non-Hispanic whites were most likely to have medical insurance. Hispanics were
least likely to have either medical or dental insurance (Figure 16.1.2).
-
The percentage of persons with medical insurance was greater among those with
higher incomes and more education (Figures 16.1.2 and 16.1.3).
Bullets reference data that can be found in
Table 16.1.1.
REFERENCES
Bloom B, Gift HC, Jack SS. Dental services and oral health: United States,
1989. Vital Health Stat 10 1992;183:1-95.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report
of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research,
National Institutes of Health, 2000.
Figure 16.1.1. Insurance coverage among adults aged 18 and older by
age
 [D]
Data source: 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Figure 16.1.2. Insurance coverage among adults aged 18 and older by
selected demographic characteristics
 [D]
Data source: 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Figure 16.1.3. Insurance coverage among adults aged 18 and older by
annual family income
 [D]
Data source: 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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