9 in 10 Voters Favor Adding Dental Coverage to Medicare; Survey also Finds Broad Support for Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits and Better Coverage for Veterans

A new national poll shows that the vast majority of voters across the political spectrum favor adding dental coverage to Medicare. The results of the poll, commissioned by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health® and the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN), show that more than 9 in 10 national voters (92%) support adding a dental benefit to Medicare.

“These poll results show that people all across our nation understand just how important oral health is to overall health,” said Melissa Burroughs, director of public policy at CareQuest Institute. “No one in this country should have to choose between getting the care they need and putting food on the table. As candidates consider their health care platforms this year, the informed ones will make Medicare dental coverage a top priority.”

Half of all Medicare enrollees don’t have dental coverage, meaning nearly 24 million older Americans lack access to this essential form of health care. Approximately the same number of Medicare enrollees haven’t visited a dentist in 12 months, which has profound implications for the health and well-being of older adults.

The poll revealed that 85% of respondents who voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2020 and 99% of those who voted for the Democrat candidate in those two elections would like to see a dental benefit added to Medicare. When ranking health care topics they find “most important,” voters rank adding dental coverage to Medicare just as highly as abortion and even higher than the future of the Affordable Care Act. Dental care also ranked the highest on the list of services that voters would like to see added to Medicaid.

Additionally, separate polling showed broad support for dental coverage in Medicare in key states for the 2024 presidential election: in Michigan, 91% of voters support it; in Ohio, 92%; and in Pennsylvania, 93%.

The poll also revealed that 91% of voters want expanded coverage to include dental services for veterans. Additionally, 74% of voters support adding adult dental benefits to Medicaid at the state or federal level.

The national polling was conducted by Marketing for Change Co. from May 29 – June 4, 2024, using a representative sample of 1,000 registered voters nationwide from the YouGov online panel. The margin of error is +/- 3.1%. Marketing for Change also conducted separate polling in Michigan (n=765), Ohio (n=761) and Pennsylvania (n=760) using the Centiment online panel between May 30 and June 13. The margin of error for those surveys was between +/- 3.54% and +/-3.55%.

View more details and results from the poll.

About CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health® is a national nonprofit championing a more equitable future where every person can reach their full potential through excellent health. We do this through our work in philanthropy, analytics and data insights, health transformation, policy and advocacy, and education as well as our leadership in dental benefits and innovation advancements. We collaborate with thought leaders, health care providers, patients, and local, state, and federal stakeholders, to accelerate oral health care transformation and create a system designed for everyone. To learn more, visit carequest.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

About the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN)

OPEN, an initiative of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, is a diverse network of individuals and entities who are taking on America’s oral health challenges so that everyone has a chance to thrive. OPEN members use their unique experiences, knowledge, and skills to lead network activities every year, creating collective energy that is driving large-scale change.

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