Open AccessRacial/Ethnic Minority Older Adults’ Perspectives on Proposed Medicaid Reforms’ Effects on Dental Care Access
Author(s) -
Mary E. Northridge,
Ivette Estrada,
Eric W. Schrimshaw,
Ariel Port Greenblatt,
Sara S. Metcalf,
Carol Kunzel
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2016.303640
Subject(s) - medicaid , ethnic group , gerontology , dental care , medicine , health care , confusion , public health , psychology , political science , family medicine , nursing , law , psychoanalysis
To examine how proposed Medicaid reform plans are experienced by racial/ethnic minority older adults and what the implications are for their ability to access dental care through Medicaid, from 2013 to 2015 we conducted focus groups in northern Manhattan, New York, New York, among African American, Dominican, and Puerto Rican adults aged 50 years and older. Participants reported problems with affording copayments for care, complicated health and social issues, the need for vision and dental care close to home, and confusion about and stigmatization with Medicaid coverage. Federal, state, and local public health agencies can help by clarifying and simplifying Medicaid plans and sustaining benefits that older adults need to live healthy and dignified lives.