As a privately practicing dentist, motivational speaker, and professional problem solver, Dr. Khaled Hashem takes pride in never having turned a patient away for inability to pay. Dr. Khaled Hashem has also provided free care to clergy members, refugees, and others in need across his community.
Limited access to dental care poses a serious problem for many people. Although the Affordable Care Act gave 1.1 million people access to stand-alone dental care and improved the inclusion of dental benefits in medical plans by 8.9 percent, many people still struggle to find insurance that they can afford.
There are ways of closing this gap. Some dental practices offer sliding scale services, in which care is based on the patient's income, while others are responsive to individual negotiation for patients in need. Certain private companies also offer discount dental plans, which reduce the cost of care for an annual membership fee, and a bit of searching on group buying sites and may reveal one-time coupons and discounts for particular dental services.
Some patients may be eligible for public assistance, particularly if the individual is a child or senior. In the US, Oral Health America provides resources for patients over the age of 60, while the Children's Health Insurance Program connects more than seven million children with the care that they need. Individuals who still have trouble finding affordable care can contact state and local dental societies, which may have information about location-specific assistance programs.
