Good Health Starts with Healthy Teeth

Regular brushing and flossing can lead to more than just white teeth and fresh breath. Healthy teeth and gums can improve your overall health.

Research shows that good oral health can reduce the risk of chronic health conditions or help manage existing ones, including heart disease and diabetes.

• Inflamed gums can indicate inflammation of the blood vessels, making it difficult for blood to properly flow. This could lead to plaque buildup in arteries and heart disease.
• Discolored gums could be a sign of infection, diabetes, vitamin deficiency, or cancer.
• People with chronic health problems, such as diabetes, are more prone to gum disease.
• Pregnant women may develop pregnancy gingivitis, which can increase levels of labor-inducing fluid and the likelihood of premature birth if left untreated.

Oral Health for Total Health

HMSA is committed to the community and the health of its members. That’s why we support a four-tiered approach to optimum oral care called Oral Health for Total Health.

Growing evidence linking oral and overall health shows that dental care can impact your total health and well-being. Because HMSA offers both medical and dental coverage, we can identify members who might benefit from our oral health program and offer condition-specific benefits to members who have diabetes, coronary artery disease, oral cancer, and women who are pregnant.

The condition-specific benefits of our Oral Health for Total Health program include:

• Identifying at-risk members who would benefit from our oral health program through medical claims data and member self-enrollment.
• Educating our members who have coronary artery disease, diabetes, or oral cancer, as well as pregnant women, about the benefits of good oral health.
• Engaging in targeted intervention for select members who are not using their oral health benefits.
• Removing financial barriers through our Enhanced Dental Benefits program to support proper oral care and help improve the overall health of our members.

Enhanced Dental Benefits

On January 1, 2013, Enhanced Dental Benefits will be added to the Oral Health for Total Health program. Enhanced Dental Benefits will provide additional support for HMSA members who have specific medical conditions at no charge, with no deductible or coinsurance for in-network services when they visit an HMSA participating provider.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or coronary artery disease, you are automatically enrolled for Enhanced Dental Benefits. If you are pregnant or have been previously diagnosed with oral cancer, you are eligible for these benefits as well, but you will need to enroll for Enhanced Dental Benefits.

For detailed information on your benefits under Oral Health for Total Health and Enhanced Dental Benefits, simply log on to My Account at hmsa.com and click Benefits on the Welcome page, then click the View Dental Benefits button. On your My Dental Coverage page, click the Oral Health for Total Health link at the bottom of the page.