Pregnancy Medicaid has higher income limits. This rule lets more women get temporary coverage for at least two months after giving birth. Forty-six states offer coverage for twelve months postpartum.
Use it to pay for prenatal care, ultrasounds, and childbirth. The temporary coverage also pays for needed services like hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs.
What about optional services like dental and vision care? Should you see the eye doctor or dentist before the coverage ends?
The answer depends on the rules in your state and the reason you need treatment.
Pregnancy Medicaid For Dental
Pregnancy Medicaid covers rare cases of needed oral care the same way across the country. The healthcare component of the program addresses medically necessary services.
However, most dental work under Medicaid is optional. Each state offers different benefits; only a few support more oral care for pregnant women.
- Five pay for emergency services only.
- Thirteen offer limited benefits.
- Thirty-two provide complete care.
General Dentists
Pregnancy Medicaid covers routine dental work performed by general dentists in forty-five states. Most recipients have these benefits.
- Oral exams
- Bitewing X-rays
- Cleaning (prophylaxis)
- Fillings for cavities
The states that do not pay for routine oral care are Arizona, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Texas.
Periodontal Treatment
Pregnancy Medicaid covers periodontal treatment in the thirty-two states with comprehensive dental benefits.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your gums more vulnerable to gingivitis, causing plaque and bacteria to build up and lead to inflammation, bleeding, and infection. Book an appointment with a periodontist for a deep cleaning while the coverage lasts.
More states do not pay for periodontal treatment. This list includes states with limited oral care benefits: Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
Wisdom Teeth
Pregnancy Medicaid covers wisdom teeth removal differently based on whether the teeth are gum or bone-impacted.
- The extraction of gum-impacted wisdom teeth falls into the dental category. As an optional service, only the thirty-two states with comprehensive oral care benefits would support claims.
- The extraction of bone-impacted wisdom teeth falls into the health category. As a medically necessary service, all fifty states would support claims.
Orthodontic Braces
Pregnancy Medicaid is unlikely to cover orthodontic braces unless you have a medically necessary reason. The thirty-two states with comprehensive dental benefits do not support adult orthodontia to correct crooked teeth.
The health insurance part may cover braces for treating a disease, injury, or symptom. Here are some examples:
- Reposition teeth after a non-biting accident such as a broken jaw
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ or TMD) bite adjustments
- Sleep apnea (when crooked teeth restrict or block airflow)
Pregnancy Medicaid for Vision
Pregnancy Medicaid covers rare cases of medically needed vision care the same way across the country. Ophthalmologists provide these services.
However, most vision care under Medicaid is optional. Each state has different rules and offerings for optometrist services.
Optometry
Pregnancy Medicaid is unlikely to cover vision services from an optometrist to fix refractive errors. An optometrist conducts eye exams and prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses to improve eyesight.
Medicaid covers eyeglasses and contacts for adults in thirty-eight states. Twelve states have no benefits. If you live in one of the four states ending coverage 60 days after birth, you have an additional concern:
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Nevada
Refractive errors often increase during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and water retention. Eye doctors recommend waiting to update eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions until three to six months after delivery.
Ophthalmology
Pregnancy Medicaid is more likely to cover vision services from an ophthalmologist to treat eye diseases, injuries, or symptoms. The program’s healthcare part pays for needed treatment the same way across the country, so your location does not matter.
Women are more prone to certain eye diseases, and pregnancy can make some worse, especially with pre-eclampsia. So, seeing an ophthalmologist while you have temporary coverage is a good idea.
Treatment of these conditions should be medically necessary and covered by your plan, regardless of your state:
- Dry eye disease
- Cataract
- Glaucoma
- Sjögren Syndrome
