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.
16:03
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Quick takeaways
- The separation between dentistry and other forms of medicine originated from historical perceptions, resulting in exclusion of dental services from basic Medicare benefits.
- Dental insurance is often misunderstood as 'insurance' but it functions more like a discount card with limited coverage, making it ineffective for major dental issues or emergencies.
Deep dives
The History of Dentistry and Dental Insurance
Dentistry originated from carnival-style performers who provided dental care. Dentists were seen as less prestigious, leading to a separation between dentistry and other forms of medicine. Dentists fought against including dental services in government-provided health insurance, resulting in the exclusion of teeth from basic Medicare benefits. This historic separation still persists today.
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