The Economics of Everyday Things 35. Dental Insurance
Feb 5, 2024
This podcast explores the history of dentistry and the distinction between dental and medical insurance. It discusses the origins of dental practices, the absence of dental benefits in Medicare, and the differences between dental and medical insurance. It also explores positive experiences with dentists and includes sponsor ads.
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Dentist's Career Turned Insurance Education
- Pamela Maragliano-Muniz described her path from aspiring hockey player to dental hygienist and then dentist.
- She bought a practice in 2014 and quickly found herself navigating complex dental insurance rules.
Historic Split Shaped Modern Dentistry
- Dentistry separated from medicine in the 1800s as dentists formed their own schools after being rebuffed by medical faculties.
- That historic split set the stage for dentistry's long institutional independence from medical care.
Dentistry Kept Out Of Medicare
- Dentists and the American Dental Association fought to keep dental services out of government health coverage like Medicare.
- Their successful opposition cemented teeth as excluded from basic public health benefits.