ISSUE BRIEF: Lacking Dental Coverage, Many People on Medicare Forgo Dental Care, Especially Beneficiaries of Color

Almost half of all Medicare beneficiaries (47%) did not have a dental visit within the past year as of 2018, the analysis finds, with rates higher among those who are Black (68%) or Hispanic (61%) compared to White beneficiaries (42%). Rates were also higher among those who have low incomes, or who are in fair or poor health. The data pre-date the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and do not reflect the slump in health care utilization during the public health emergency. Read the Full Article.