Q: Does anyone provide discounted dental services for people over 60?
A: We receive many calls about where to find lower cost dental services and coverage for dentures since these are not covered under original Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage health plans provide limited dental and vision services, but most individuals over age 65 don’t have this coverage unless they are already under a private or retiree insurance plan. Also, the Veterans Administration offers dental coverage to limited categories of veterans.
Locally, for persons needing low-cost dental care, there is InterCare Community Health Network with locations in Berrien and Van Buren County, the Van Buren-Cass District Health Department, and the Cassopolis Family Clinic. These organizations offer affordable dental care including routine cleanings and exams, as well as extractions, fillings, and dentures. Most insurance plans are accepted, and a sliding-fee option and payment plans could be available.
The Michigan Donated Dental Services (DDS) program involves volunteer dentists who provide one-time, free dental treatment to the elderly, permanently disabled, or medically fragile individuals who have no other means of getting dental treatment. Applicants must be under 200% of the federal poverty level and be over age 65, legally disabled, or qualify as medically fragile, and need extensive treatment, not just routine dental care. For more information, contact DDS at 517-346-9454 or go to:
www.smilemichigan.com/resources/michigan-donated-dental-services/
Some community colleges and universities with dental degree programs will provide routine cleanings for very low cost at clinics where students have hands-on learning. Additionally, there are some nationwide dental clinics that will work out a payment plan with individuals for extensive dental work or dentures.
Q. Are there resources for home repairs in our area?
A. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development section has loans and grants available, through the Section 504 Home Repair program, for very low-income homeowners, who live in designated rural areas, or grants to very low-income homeowners age 62+. In Southwest Michigan, most of the areas outside of Benton Harbor/St. Joseph and the city of Niles are considered rural.
If you are the homeowner, and you occupy the home needing repair, and have a family income below 50% of the area median income, and are unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere, you can apply for a loan, up to $40,000, to repair, improve or modernize your home, or remove health and safety hazards. Grants up to $10,000 are available for those age 62+, who cannot afford to repay a repair loan, for use only to remove health and safety hazards from the home.
Loan interest is a 1% fixed rate and can be repaid over 20 years. Grants must be repaid if the property is sold within 3 years of the repairs. Applicants can get a combination of loan and grant monies and applications are accepted all year long, as funds are available. To learn more about funding in our area contact the regional USDA office at 616-942-4111 ext. 6 or go online to www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs.
Please call our Info Line for Aging and Disability if you have other questions or needs at 800-654-2810.
Sara Duris is community information liaison of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.