Dental Insurance Minnesota Public Health Data Access - MN Dept. of Health
Dental insurance
Minnesotans without dental insurance by:
Dental insurance helps individuals and families obtain dental care
The 2007 National Association of Dental Plans Consumer Survey found that individuals without dental insurance were:
- 2.7 times less likely to have a yearly dental visit compared to those with insurance.
- More likely to have more serious dental treatment such as tooth extractions and dentures than people with dental insurance.
- Less likely to have basic dental care such as restorative care (fillings, crowns and bridges) and treatment for periodontal disease.
- 67% more likely to have heart disease.
- 50% more likely to have brittle and fragile bones (osteoporosis).
- 29% more likely to have diabetes.
In comparison, those with dental insurance were:
- 49% more likely to have visited the dentist for a check-up or cleaning in the last 6-months.
- 42% more likely to take their children to visit a dentist twice per year.
- 33% more likely to get periodontal maintenance treatment.
U.S. Dental insurance status, 2019
Data includes dental insurance coverage for 328,239,523 individuals in the United States with roughly 80 percent of Americans with some type of dental insurance and 20 percent of Americans without dental insurance. For more information: National Association of Dental Plans, Statistical Reports.
Source: 2019 Dental Benefits Factsheet: Enrollment. National Association of Dental Plans.
Compared to 2017, the percentage of Americans with employer or group sponsored dental benefits increased, while the percentage of uninsured decreased. There was no change in the percentage of Americans covered by public programs.
In 2019, roughly 66 million Americans did not have dental insurance (20%) (compared to 23% in 2017). Of those 263 million Americans with dental insurance, most receive benefits through their employer or group programs like the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) (49%) (compared to 47% in 2017), followed by public programs (e.g. Medicaid/CHIP, TriCare for the military or Medicare (26%) (compared to 26% in 2017), and private or non-group coverage (5%) (compared to 4% in 2017).
The American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute: Most Important Barriers to Dental Care are Financial, not Supply Related (PDF) reports that low-income, non-elderly adults have the highest levels of financial barriers to dental care in the United States. Until passage of the Affordable Care Act, the decline in state Medicaid adult dental benefits in the United States resulted in decreased dental visits and increased emergency room visits for dental conditions, especially among young adults.
Minnesotans without dental insurance, 2011 to 2019
Total sample size (2011) = 11,355, (2013) = 11,778, (2015) = 11,178, (2017) = 12,436 and (2019) =11,533. Population estimates were based on the state’s population: (2011) = 5,348,562, (2013) = 5,418,521, (2015) = 5,482,435, (2017) = 5,576,606 and (2019) = 5,639,632 as shown in U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division; Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 (NST-EST2019-01). Statistical weights were applied to dental insurance rates to ensure that survey results are representative of the state’s population. See About the Minnesota Health Access Survey data for more information.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Health Economics Program. Minnesota Health Access Survey.
Note Survey Methodology Change: In 2019, the survey was conducted via telephone, web, and a paper-based survey. In 2017 and prior, the survey was a telephone survey.
There was a 23% decrease in the dental uninsurance rate between 2011 (32.8%) and 2019 (25.3%).
Minnesotans without dental insurance by age group, 2019
Total sample size = 11,533. Survey Methodology: In 2019, the survey was conducted via telephone, web, and a paper-based survey. In 2017 and prior, the survey was a telephone survey. Statistical weights were applied to dental insurance rates to ensure that survey results are representative of the state’s population. See About the Data: Minnesota Health Access Survey for more information.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Health Economics Program. Minnesota Health Access Survey.
In 2019, about half of Minnesotans aged 65 years and older reported not having dental insurance. Compared to 2017, dental uninsurance among 35-44 year olds decreased signficantly from 26% to 19%.
Minnesotans without dental insurance by race and ethnicity, 2019
All race or ethnicity categories include individuals who report their race or ethnicity alone or in combination with another race or ethnicity. Total sample size = 11,533. Survey Methodology: In 2019, the survey was conducted via telephone, web, and a paper-based survey. In 2017 and prior, the survey was a telephone survey. Statistical weights were applied to dental insurance rates to ensure that survey results are representative of the state’s population. See About the Minnesota Health Access Survey data for more information.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Health Economics Program. Minnesota Health Access Survey.
In 2019, 31% of American Indian, 28% of Hispanic, 25% of White, 24% of Asian and 19% of Black Minnesotans reported not having dental insurance. Only the dental uninsurance rate of Black Minnesotans was significantly different from the state rate.
Minnesotans without dental insurance by education, 2019
For children, education level refers to that of the parent. Total sample size = 11,,533. Survey Methodology: In 2019, the survey was conducted via telephone, web, and a paper-based survey. In 2017 and prior, the survey was a telephone survey. Statistical weights were applied to dental insurance rates to ensure that survey results are representative of the state’s population. See About the Minnesota Health Access Survey data for more information.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Health Economics Program. Minnesota Health Access Survey.
In 2019, over one-third of Minnesotans with a high school degree (35%) or less than a high school degree (46%) reported not having dental insurance. In comparison, fewer individuals with some college (26%), college graduate (17%) or postgraduate education (18%) reported not having dental insurance.
Minnesotans without dental insurance by poverty guidelines, 2019
Total sample size = 11,533. Survey Methodology: In 2019, the survey was conducted via telephone, web, and a paper-based survey. In 2017 and prior, the survey was a telephone survey. Statistical weights were applied to dental insurance rates to ensure that survey results are representative of the state’s population. The Department of Health and Human Services defines the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) each year for eligibility purposes of certain programs and benefits. Those above 400% of the federal poverty level have more income than those at or below 100%. See About the Minnesota Health Access Survey data for more information.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Health Economics Program. Minnesota Health Access Survey.
In 2019, Minnesotans with 300% or below (lower income) of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) were more likely to not have dental insurance than Minnesotants above 400% (higher income) FPG.
In 2019, a family of four at 100% of the federal poverty guidelines had a total yearly income of $25,100 and a family of four at 400% of the federal poverty guidelines had a total yearly income of $100,400.
Minnesotans without dental insurance by urban and rural residence, 2019
Total sample size = 11,533. Survey Methodology: In 2019, the survey was conducted via telephone, web, and a paper-based survey. In 2017 and prior, the survey was a telephone survey. Statistical weights were applied to dental insurance rates to ensure that survey results are representative of the state’s population. Rural and urban classifications are based on Rural/Urban Commuting-Area taxonomy (RUCA-zip) developed by the University of Washington, Rural Health Research Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. See About the Minnesota Health Access Survey data for more information.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Health Economics Program. Minnesota Health Access Survey.
In 2019, twice as many Minnesotans living in isolated rural areas (43%) reported not having dental insurance, compared to Minnesotans living in urban areas (21%).
Dental uninsurance decreased signficantly among Minnesotans living in urban (21.0% in 2019, compared to 23.2% in 2017) areas and small rural towns (42.6% in 2019, compared to 44.8% in 2017).
For information on health insurance in Minnesota, see: Health Insurance.
Last Updated June 2021. Content is updated when data become available.