Nebraska families are struggling to access dental care despite having dental insurance through Medicaid. Alicia Dieckhoff’s 7-year-old son cracked a tooth in February, leaving him in pain. She tried to schedule an appointment, but no dentist would see her or her children, even though her family has coverage through Molina Healthcare, one of Nebraska’s Medicaid providers.
Dieckhoff contacted more than 15 dental offices in Lincoln, but most said they did not accept Molina, and those that did were phasing out Medicaid patients. She is not alone; many Nebraska residents report similar difficulties.
Dr. Farrah Plate, a Lincoln dentist volunteering at People’s City Mission, receives calls daily from patients seeking care. “You can’t, as a human being, just turn those people away,” Plate said. The clinic is fully volunteer-run and provides free dental services to Medicaid patients despite receiving no state or federal funding.
Dr. Patrick Hupp, manager of People’s City Mission dental clinic, said they prioritize emergencies such as severe toothaches and broken teeth. “Any type of extractions, we’ll do for Medicaid patients if they can’t get in elsewhere,” Hupp said. The clinic serves patients who cannot find care through their dental insurance.
Credentialing requirements for dentists have contributed to the access problem. In 2024, Nebraska switched from a single dental benefits manager to three managed care organizations: Molina Healthcare, Nebraska Total Care, and UnitedHealthcare. Dentists now need separate approval from each company, which many find time-consuming and discouraging.
Even with a streamlined website for credentialing introduced in 2025, dentists say Medicaid reimbursement rates remain low. Many report losing money when seeing Medicaid patients. “One dentist retired because he was losing money on every Medicaid patient he treated,” Hupp said. Nebraska has increased reimbursement rates slightly, but dentists still earn more with private insurance, leaving many patients without dental care.
Nebraska’s Medicaid program covers some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. Nearly half of the 400,000 enrollees are children, and about 12% are people with disabilities. Kenzie Watkins Biggers, a 29-year-old woman with disabilities, faced tooth removal after repeated denials for care through her dental insurance. Her mother emphasized the struggle to find providers willing to accept Medicaid patients and ensure proper treatment.
Despite reforms, many Nebraska families continue to face obstacles accessing dental insurance benefits. Clinics like People’s City Mission provide essential services, but long-term solutions require more dentists to participate in Medicaid and improvements to reimbursement processes.