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If you have moved to a new town, only to find yourself with a toothache, and have no idea which dentist to call, fear not, you are not alone. Finding any dentist is easy. However, finding a dentist you will want to visit is not. And finding specialty dentists you want to visit, who accept your dental insurance is even harder.

Even if you know a friend, who can recommend a good dentist, there is no guarantee they will accept your dental insurance plan. Many plans, such as PPOs, or HMOs, provide a list of practitioners who accept your policies, however these lists are not always up to date, and the providers may not be convenient to you. Use our dentist directory to find a dentist in your area, by city or county name, zip code, or call our 1800 number to speak directly with a dentist. Once you find a dentist you like, the only way to know 100% if your they will accept your dental insurance plan is to ask.

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Despite all the debate about health care in the US, and even with the passage of the Health Care Bill, 85 million Americans are without dental insurance.

There is one group dedicated to helping those without the means to pay for dental, or health care. They are called Remote Area Medical. Given their name, and Mission Statement:

The Remote Area Medical® (RAM) Volunteer Corps is a non-profit, volunteer, airborne relief corps dedicated to serving mankind by providing free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world.

one would think they only assist those in the far flung corners of the earth. In fact one of their biggest events was last fall in Los Angeles, where thousands lined up for free dental and other medical care. Many of those who filled the Great Western Forum, former home of the LA Lakers, and now a pop music venue, still had some form of dental coverage, but often it was insufficient to take care of all their dental needs.

Stan Brock, Remote Area Medical’s founder teamed up with a local film producer, Don Manelli, to host the “health-in.” This was significant for the local population, as California dropped dental, and optometry care for MediCal enrollees last July.

Once in awhile, some things in life are free.

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Most blog posts talk about the mundane. Kinda like a Seinfeld skit. “You know when I brush my teeth with that mouthwash toothpaste, am I really brushing my teeth, or rinsing my mouth?” Usually blogs on dental sites don’t cover the political, but sometimes it’s relevant to do so, if it concerns your dental insurance.

HR 1583, if it passes, will govern not only dental, but health insurance regulation nationally. It’s also called the Insurance Industry Competition Act of 2009, and basically what it does is apply anti-trust laws to insurance companies. For the last 65 years, the “business of insurance” has been exempt from antitrust regulation, per the McCarran-Ferguson Act.

Currently, insurance companies are allowed to share related information by cooperative ratemaking efforts, and to fix prices, and allocate markets. HR 1583 appoints the Dept. Of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address unfair methods of competition in the insurance industry, such as price fixing, agreements not to pay, and agreeing upon geographical territories.

Now, of course not all insurance companies engage in such practices, but it is reassuring to know that those who did, will no longer be able to. Perhaps this legislation will make all insurance companies openly compete for your business. May the best company win.

Read more about HR 1583 below, and if you support it, write to your local Representative and let them know. Tell them you found out about it on Free Dentist Finder.com

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1583/show

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1583

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