How to Find a Medicaid Dentist

It can be difficult to find a dentist who accepts Medicaid.

Medicaid for children and families will cover dental work. However, there are often a limited number of dentists who will accept Medicaid as payment for their work. Medicaid pays a set fee for each service done, and it is not negotiable. Many dentists charge a higher fee for their services. Some dentists may take a limited number of Medicaid patients as a service to the community, while other dental practices may focus almost entirely on providing for Medicaid patients.

Instructions

1. Ask your Medicaid caseworker for a list of Medicaid dentists in your area. The county should have a list of dentists who will accept Medicaid. Ask you current dentist if he is on the list.

2. Contact your current dentist and see if he will accept Medicaid for current patients. Some dentists are willing to do this in order to keep a good patient.

3. Call the dentists on the list in your area and see if they are currently accepting new Medicaid patients. Ask about office policies regarding missed appointments, filing insurance and patient care. Choose a dentist you feel comfortable dealing with.

4. Set up an appointment with the dentist you feel the most comfortable using. Many dentists will have openings in just a few weeks, but if you need work done sooner you may need to choose a different dentist.

Tips & Warnings

• Many states list the Medicaid dental providers online. You can find the resource by visiting your state's Medicaid homepage. The link is usually on the page. Your caseworker or county office may also be able to provide you the link to the list of dental providers who accept Medicaid (see "Resources").

References

• The Kaiser Family Foundation: Dental Coverage and Care for Low Income Children
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Find Medicaid Doctor or Dentist

Resources

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: List of State Medicaid Homepages