Health Net of California is offering dental benefits to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in Los Angeles County, the company announced. Due to California's financial crisis in 2009, the state terminated adult dental benefits from the Medi-Cal program, which serves the medical and dental needs for the state's low-income families and the elderly, disabled, and blind.
Health Net of California already provides comprehensive Medi-Cal medical benefits to nearly 450,000 beneficiaries in Los Angeles County, the company noted. In total, Health Net of California provides Medi-Cal coverage in 10 California counties to more than 700,000 individuals, and provides Healthy Families coverage to nearly 150,000 individuals in 35 counties. It also provides dental coverage to nearly 50,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries in both Sacramento and Los Angeles counties and about 90,000 Healthy Families members.
Health Net of California's dental plan for Medi-Cal beneficiaries ages 21 and older in Los Angeles County provides access to such essential services as routine cleanings, oral examinations, and x-rays at no cost to the beneficiary. Studies have shown that these services may reduce the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes -- such as preterm or low birth weight deliveries -- diabetes complications, and heart disease.
"Health Net is committed to helping Californians be healthy," said Dave Meadows, Health Net of California's vice president of State Health Programs. "We believe we are the only health plan in California extending dental benefits to adult beneficiaries, and providing substitute dental benefits to adults in the Medi-Cal program until the usual or similar benefits are restored is one more way we are working to preserve California's medical and dental safety net."
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