Do you need dental insurance for undocumented immigrants? Even today, non-resident citizens of the United States rely primarily on free health services. What most people don’t know, however, is that dental insurance is available to everyone in the US, including undocumented immigrants.
For this reason, in this article, we will talk about the different services that are currently available. In this way, in this guide, you will find the types of services and how these dental products work.
How Can I Get Dental Insurance for Undocumented Immigrants?
Currently, the 11.2 million undocumented immigrants, according to government data, are not eligible for health insurance programs. This is according to the Affordable Care Act. However, regarding dental insurance for undocumented immigrants, it is already possible to access certain services in this area.
In this sense, an undocumented or non-resident citizen of the United States can purchase dental insurance. However, the majority of the undocumented population has the following options:
Community Health Clinics
Community Health Clinics are a network of health care centers with more than 1,400 locations nationwide. In this way, these institutions provide a series of basic health services, including essential dental care. However, the workers of these centers are entitled to serve people without the need to verify their immigration status.
On the other hand, the collection of these services is not anchored to a fixed rate. That is, the nominal amounts are based on a sliding scale. In this way, a slight adjustment of the charge is made, taking into account the treatment required and the patient’s income. Likewise, it is important to mention that community clinics treat some homeless people at no cost.
Free Medical and Dental School Clinics
Dental schools can be a great option for low-cost dental health care. This is because these are institutions or educational centers that allow students in their final years to gain practical experience. That is, the faculty has its medical centers as part of its training program.
As a result, the vast majority of these services are often free, or at least offer little cost. Since its main purpose is to contribute to the training of professionals with a wide capacity and thus complement their learning experience.
However, students are supervised and guided by teachers and specialized dentists. Therefore, each procedure is closely followed by a licensed professional to guarantee its effectiveness.
Types of Dental Insurance for Non-US Citizens
Below we will describe the dental insurance programs for undocumented immigrants that are currently available in the US.
Partial Payment Health Plans
One of the ways to access dental insurance services is through partial payment health programs. In other words, these are health centers with special plans that offer discounts on certain services, diagnoses, and treatments.
An example of such a system is the Orange Medical program that is present in several counties, working in conjunction with clinics and hospitals. Through it, it is possible to obtain discounts on many of the services offered by these medical centers. Similarly, most cover diseases where special care is required.
To access the benefits of this program, it is necessary to make a subscription that costs $30. Subsequently, you only have to contribute monthly premiums so that in this way you can keep your income to the plan active.
Complimentary Insurance for Immigrants
These types of programs work as a complement to medical plans. In this way, protection is acquired against specific cases such as accidents, dental problems, serious illnesses, or loss of income.
In particular, this kind of insurance can be a cheaper alternative compared to other traditional policies. This is because it only protects in specific cases. In addition, it offers other benefits such as the possibility of hiring even if you are undocumented.
The operation of this insurance is based on the payment of a monthly premium that can average $20. Likewise, indemnity coverages are acquired that fluctuate between $250 and $1,000. In addition, it has coverage in case of death that can reach $5,000 as payment to the beneficiaries of the contracting party.
Immigrant Compensation Insurance
These plans are characterized by offering a fixed rate in dollars. That is, it provides an invariable benefit since it does not directly take into account the cost of the service. Therefore, the insurance compensation will always be the same regardless of the amount of the bill issued by the dentist.
Likewise, it is important to keep in mind that the operation of this type of insurance is based on the payment of 80% of the UCR rate. In this way, as the insured, you will have to assume part of the net payment of the service. However, it can be a long-term savings solution, since it is possible to reduce the expenses related to dental health.
Traditional Insurance
Traditional dental insurance has the following operation:
- Covers up to 100% of preventive care, which includes cleaning and diagnostic services.
- Includes 80% coverage in extraction, reconstruction, and radiography services.
- It includes at least 50% of essential services, such as crowns, and endodontics, among others.
However, these conditions only apply to the dentistry network covered by the insurance company. In this way, if you attend a dental center outside the network covered by the insurance, the percentages offered in the policy may vary.
Final Thoughts
Fortunately, nowadays it is not difficult to access dental insurance services for undocumented immigrants. This is because traditional insurers do not usually evaluate immigration status as an essential requirement. Instead, it prioritizes that the applicant meets the essential conditions for the granting of insurance benefits.
Finally, if our guide on dental insurance for undocumented immigrants has been helpful to you, we invite you to let us know in the comments. In the same way, you can share it on your social networks to help more people with this information.
Read More: What is Health Coverage for Immigrants