Dental News - Fewer Americans have dental insurance

Daniel Zimmermann, DTI

Tue. 23 November 2010

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NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA/LEIPZIG, Germany: The recession is showing its teeth to dental patients in the United States. Newest data released by the U.S. National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) and dental service corporation Delta Dental Plans Association show that almost 10 million Americans have dropped dental insurance last year. The decrease is the first decline on dental benefit enrollment since 1994.

At the end of 2009, slightly over 50 per cent of the U.S. population or 166 million have had some form of dental insurance through group or individual plans. NADP representatives said that the 5,7 per cent dip in subscribers in some employer groups most likely reflects family financial constraints and layoffs. Unemployment in the country has doubled in 2009, according to figures of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, putting more than 5 million people out of their jobs.

Currently, U.S. patients with dental benefits have an average of US$1,000 per year to their disposal. Dentists' groups have critised the system which they say restricts patients from much needed treatment.

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