By Daisy Brown, Legislative Liaison
On July 22nd, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Representative Nannette Barragán (D-CA) introduced the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026. If passed, the legislation would require all state Medicaid programs to cover dental and oral health services for adults, while also increasing how much the federal government pays toward each state’s Medicaid costs.
How would this bill affect seniors?
Although Medicaid, which provides free or low-cost healthcare coverage to low-income Americans, is not a retirement benefit like Medicare, this proposal to add dental coverage still marks an important milestone. Under the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026, millions of seniors who participate in both Medicare and Medicaid would receive access to dental care. Additionally, Medicaid dental coverage would set a precedent that public health programs should cover oral health.
What exactly would the bill cover?
For seniors participating in Medicaid, the bill would cover a wide range of oral health services, such as:
- Dentures
- Implants
- Preventative care
- Treatment to restore oral function
- Pain reduction
- Emergency dental care
States also could choose to cover additional services at their own discretion.
What are its chances of passing?
Currently, GovTrack gives the bill virtually no chance of passing. It has only a 2 percent chance of getting past committee, and an estimated 0 percent chance of being enacted. Nonetheless, it represents an important push toward the long-term goal of making sure that all aging and low-income Americans have access to basic dental care and other key health services.
Long-term, TSCL sees dental, vision, and hearing coverage as critical benefits to add to Medicare and Medicaid. Many seniors struggle with these health issues, and the truth is that failing to treat dental, vision, or hearing issues can exacerbate other health problems. By making coverage available and shifting more costs to preventative treatment, we can provide stronger benefits to seniors while also lowering the nation’s overall healthcare costs.
