50 signatures reached
To: Illinois Governor/State Representatives
Fix Illinois Medicaid Dental Access: Coverage Without Providers Is Not Care
To Whom It May Concern,
We, the undersigned residents of the State of Illinois, respectfully submit this petition to bring urgent attention to the severe lack of access to dental care for adults covered under Illinois Medicaid.
Across large regions of the state—particularly in Southern and rural Illinois—there are little to no dentists or oral surgeons who accept Illinois Medicaid. In many cases, Medicaid recipients are forced to travel several hours, cross state lines, or forgo care entirely because no providers are available within a reasonable distance. Even when care is technically “covered,” the absence of participating providers makes that coverage meaningless in practice.
This issue is especially critical for medically necessary dental procedures such as treatment of infections, impacted wisdom teeth, oral pain, and conditions that directly affect overall health. Untreated dental issues can lead to emergency room visits, systemic infections, lost work, and long-term health complications—placing a greater burden on both individuals and the healthcare system as a whole.
We respectfully urge the State of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to take immediate action by:
- Increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental providers to encourage participation
- Expanding provider networks, including oral surgeons and specialists
- Ensuring reasonable geographic access to care across all regions of Illinois
- Improving transparency so Medicaid recipients can accurately locate providers who truly accept their coverage
Access to dental care is not a luxury—it is a fundamental component of healthcare and human dignity. Illinois Medicaid recipients deserve the ability to obtain timely, necessary dental treatment without facing impossible travel distances, financial hardship, or prolonged suffering.
We ask our elected officials and relevant agencies to prioritize this issue and implement meaningful reforms so that Medicaid dental coverage in Illinois functions as it was intended: to provide real, accessible care.
DENTAL IS HEALTHCARE
DENTAL IS HEALTHCARE
Thank you for your time, consideration, and commitment to the health of Illinois residents.
Why is this important?
Why This Petition Matters
Illinois Medicaid dental coverage often exists in name only. In many parts of the state, especially rural and southern Illinois, there are no dentists or oral surgeons who accept Medicaid, leaving patients without real access to care. Untreated dental problems become medical emergencies, increasing suffering and healthcare costs. This petition calls on Illinois to ensure Medicaid dental coverage provides real, timely, and geographically accessible care.