the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Jun 3, 2024
Since teeth are part of the human body, dental care should be another form of healthcare. But in the U.S., for no good reason, the dental system and medical system are run separately. Both are run for profit.
Tragically, an untreated tooth infection can kill. Cavities, tooth loss, and gum disease are associated with heart disease.
About 20% of people in the U.S. have zero dental insurance and zero access to preventive dental care. It is barbaric, but in 2024, pliers get used by uninsured people to pull their own teeth. There are YouTube videos about it!
Even those with so-called dental insurance usually have a $1000 to $1500 a year coverage maximum. So dental care gets done in yearly steps or gets put off.
Over a million people a year go to an emergency room because of a tooth infection. Most are sent home on antibiotics and told to “see a dentist.” Free dental clinics at dental schools or public health centers have long wait lists.
But the Biden administration says it has an answer. In April, Biden claimed to add dental coverage for adults to the Affordable Care Act. Is this election year buzz?
The devil is in the details. Biden passed a rule that will allow politicians in all 50 states to bicker over if their state will or will not add adult dental coverage—to the Affordable Care Act. Only about 5% of adults have this coverage!
Once again, the supposed “elected” government side steps its responsibility for the U.S. population’s health!