The Center for Medicare Advocacy is pleased to share the results of new polling conducted by Morning Consult, which found that a large majority of respondents support including oral and dental health services as part of the traditional Medicare program. The Center has long advocated for a comprehensive oral health benefit in Part B of Medicare. This poll was conducted December 9-December 11, 2019 among a national sample of 1,000 older adults who are registered to vote. The interviews were conducted online. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Some highlights from the poll:
- More than 9 in 10 (92%) reported awareness of the gap in Medicare coverage for dental.
- Of all the poll’s respondents, nearly half (45%) reported not having any form of dental insurance, with 33% of higher-income older adults ($100k+) and 51% of lower-income older adults (under $50k) reporting not having any coverage.
- After messaging, a strong majority of poll respondents (88%) support including oral and dental health services as part of the traditional Medicare program, with 66% expressing strong support.
- Nearly 7-in-10 (69%) older adults are more likely to vote to re-elect their Congressperson or Senator if they vote to make oral and dental health services available through Medicare.
More information on the Center’s work on oral health coverage in Medicare:
- https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/support-for-medicare-oral-health-benefits/
- https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/medicare-experts-call-for-swift-passage-of-hr3-to-lower-drug-prices-and-improve-medicare/
- https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/center-attorneys-participate-in-oral-health-convening-and-advocacy-day/
- https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/new-oral-health-advocacy-collaborative-begins/
December 24, 2019 – K. Kertesz