2022
- All 50 states and Washington, DC offer oral health coverage for women enrolled in Medicaid during pregnancy and postpartum
Background
Receiving oral health care during pregnancy and postpartum is crucial because of the significant physiological changes women undergo during this period, which can increase their risk for gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental caries. Educating women about preventive oral health practices and reducing the transmission of caries-causing bacteria during this time can benefit the health of both the woman and her child. Ensuring access to oral health care during pregnancy and postpartum allows for the timely management of pain, infections, and other oral health problems that can impact overall health and pregnancy outcomes.
While Medicaid plays a significant role in improving the oral health of women during pregnancy and postpartum by covering approximately 4 in 10 births in the United States, oral health coverage for adults over age 21, including for women during pregnancy and postpartum , is optional and varies from state to state. This can result in some oral health care not being covered by insurance and being unaffordable. Furthermore, women with Medicaid oral health coverage are less likely to visit a dentist for a cleaning during pregnancy compared to women enrolled in private insurance.
The American Rescue Plan Act, passed in 2021, includes Sections 9812 and 9822 modifications that allow states the option to extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant women to 12 months postpartum through a state plan amendment (SPA). States seeking to expand coverage for women during the postpartum period through a waiver may select the SPA option.
In 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the extension of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage to 12 months postpartum in 24 states and Washington, DC.
Impact
As of 2022, all 50 states and Washington, DC, offer oral health coverage for women enrolled in Medicaid during pregnancy and postpartum through at least 60 days after pregnancy. In 2022, 39 states and Washington, DC, provided oral health coverage beyond emergency care benefits.
Sources
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. 2023. The Role of Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits During Pregnancy and Postpartum. Boston, MA: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.
KFF. 2023. State Health Facts: Births Financed by Medicaid [webpage].
National Academy for State Health Policy. 2022. State Medicaid Coverage of Dental Services for General Adult and Pregnant Populations [webpage].
Oral Health Care During Pregnancy Expert Workgroup. 2025. Oral Health Care During Pregnancy: A National Consensus Statement. Washington, DC: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2022. HHS Approves 12-Month Extension of Postpartum Medicaid and CHIP Coverage in North Carolina [webpage].
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