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. 2010 Winter;70(1):1-12.
doi: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2009.00137.x.

Dental care coverage and retirement

Richard J Manski  1 , John Moeller, Jody Schimmel, Patricia A St Clair, Haiyan Chen, Larry Magder, John V Pepper
Affiliations

Dental care coverage and retirement

Richard J Manski et al. J Public Health Dent. 2010 Winter.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the convergence of an aging population and a decreased availability of dental care coverage using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

Methods: We calculate national estimates of the number and characteristics of those persons age 51 years and above covered by dental insurance by labor force, retirement status, and source of coverage. We also estimate a multivariate model controlling for potentially confounding variables.

Results: We show that being in the labor force is a strong predictor of having dental coverage. For older retired adults not in the labor force, the only source for dental coverage is either a postretirement health benefit or spousal coverage.

Conclusions: Dental care, generally not covered in Medicare, is an important factor in the decision to seek dental care. It is important to understand the relationship between retirement and dental coverage in order to identify the best ways of improving oral health and access to care among older Americans.

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References

    1. Manski RJ, Macek MD, Moeller JF. Private Dental Coverage: Who Has it and How Does it Influence Dental Visits and Expenditures? Journal of the American Dental Association. 2002 November;133(11):1551–1559. - PubMed
    1. Douglass CW, Ostry L, Shih A. Denture usage in the United States: a 25-year prediction. Journal of Dental Research. 1998;77(SI A):209. Abstract No. 829.
    1. Burt BA. Epidemiology of dental diseases in the elderly. Clinical Geriatric Medicine. 1992;8(3):447–59. - PubMed
    1. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareDentalCoverage/
    1. Manski RJ, Brown E. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Rockville (MD): 2007. Dental Use, Expenses, Private Dental Coverage, and Changes, 1996 and 2004. (MEPS Chartbook No.17).

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