Don’t forget dental

The open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act runs until Feb. 15, 2015, giving Iowa residents a chance to shop for medical and dental coverage.

Whether you already are covered or are looking for the first time, it's important to evaluate the available options and consider the importance of dental health care for you and your family's 2015 plans.

Oral health issues usually do not go away, and early treatment can prevent bigger troubles down the road.

Nearly a quarter of Iowans surveyed in this year's Delta Dental Oral Health and Well-Being Survey say they have oral health issues they'd like to resolve but can't because of an inability to pay or fear of the treatment. And about one in six (14 percent) say they have missed work due to oral health issues beyond regular treatments and cleanings.

It's particularly important for Iowa's kids to visit a dentist regularly. Although dental disease is largely preventable, it is the most common chronic childhood disease today. Fortunately, dental coverage for children is included as an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act.

This means that if you have a child under 19 and purchase a health-care plan on the Iowa Health Insurance Marketplace, you have the opportunity to also include pediatric dental coverage.

Serious oral health problems can be expensive and time-consuming to treat. But dental coverage is relatively low cost, and because it is prevention-based, it encourages regular dental checkups that can save money in the long run.

In fact, 80 percent of Iowans with dental insurance go to the dentist at least once a year compared to 50 percent of Iowans without dental insurance. Seeking preventive dental oral health care, like checkups and cleanings, can be far less expensive than receiving costly treatments down the road.

During a regular checkup, your dentist can detect as many as 120 different diseases in their earliest stages, when they are most effectively and cost-efficiently treated. Studies also suggest that the state of your oral health can affect other health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

At Delta Dental of Iowa, we recognize the importance of oral health education and making quality dental care available to as many Iowans as possible.

We know that there is a connection between good oral health and good overall health. That's why we've committed nearly $20 million in Iowa communities to support and improve oral health initiatives. This statewide commitment will continue to have a real impact on Iowans' lives.

The open enrollment period can be confusing and overwhelming - but an investment in time and education now can have a direct impact on your family's health in the coming year.

Talk with your company's benefits manager, visit the Iowa Health Insurance Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov or reach out to health care providers to help you understand how you can have the best coverage possible. Your family - and their smiles - will thank you.

' Jeff Russell is CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa, a not-for-profit insurance company. Comments: jrussell@deltadentalia.com