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Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning.

• SOURCES:
  • Brad Bolman, postdoctoral member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study.
  • Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, prosthodontist and chief editor for Dental Economics.
  • Wendell Potter, president of the Center for Health and Democracy; former executive at Cigna.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Dental Medical Loss Ratios: Understanding the Landscape in Massachusetts and Beyond," by Shaza Stevenson, Megan D’Alessandro, Sandra Wilkniss, and Nicole Evans (National Academy for State Health Policy Blog, 2023).
  • "Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2021," by Katherine Keisler-Starkey and Lisa N. Bunch (U.S. Census Bureau Reports, 2022).
  • "Medicare and Dental Coverage: A Closer Look," by Meredith Freed, Nancy Ochieng, Nolan Sroczynski, Anthony Damico, and Krutika Amin (KFF, 2021).
  • "Dentists’ Group Fights Plan to Cover Dental Benefits Under Medicare," by Julie Bykowicz (The Wall Street Journal, 2021).
  • "Antisocial Dentistry," by Brad Bolman (Hypocrite Reader, 2021).

• EXTRAS:
  • "'Insurance Is Sexy.' Discuss," by Freakonomics Radio (2023).
  • "Does Health Insurance Make You Healthier?" by Freakonomics, M.D. (2022).