Dental Care
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Access with insurance: • Bi-annual to annual cleanings
Access without insurance: • Go without care • Self-treat and/or delay treatment • Use Emergency Department for pain/infection
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Access dependent on insurance status • The majority of participants did not have dental insurance
Challenges: • Out-of-pocket expenses and cost of services are prohibitive for uninsured • Out-of-pocket expenses for co-pays, deductibles are prohibitive at times for the insured • High cost of living and preference for necessities leaves little money for health care expenses.
Resources: • Food stamps • Public housing • Homeless shelter
Dentist office G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic for the Homeless Roanoke Mission of Mercy (MOM)
Rescue Mission is making dentures for
Dental care is very expensive. I had a root canal in Roanoke. It would have been half the cost if I went to Columbia and had the procedure done, including travel and lodging.
I went to Greensborough NC to get an appointment for dermatology services. Where in history did the government remove dental and eyes as part of the body and does not cover them in basic health insurance.
I am a parish nurse. I see the same problems and many have insurance and do not use it. They do not practice primary care and prevention. We try to get people connected to resources in the community
I discuss my sickness with my wife. She is more insistent about me going to the doctor if I need to.
Fralin Clinic provides for me because I am in the program (Residential Substance Abuse Recovery program). They give me all of my care.
people who work for a living cannot afford health care. It is good that our country is changing. We should not have to think about how we are going to pay for health care.
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