Farmers are less likely to have dental insurance

Farmers have always recognized the impact medical costs can have on their finances, but a new study by The Access Project found that dental care accounts for more than 25 percent of those medical costs.

Among farmers and ranchers, 42 percent had dental insurance, compared to the national average of 60 percent. "The researchers also found that when factoring in the estimated costs of dental premiums, having dental insurance did not result in a major reduction in average costs," writes Lynda Waddington for The Iowa Independent. "It did, however, make dental expenses more predictable, made it less likely that people delayed care and made it less likely that health care costs contributed to financial problems."

"A lot of attention has been paid to the high cost of prescription drugs," said Carol Pryor, the report's primary author and The Access Project's policy director. "We hope this report grabs the attention of the policymakers since it shows that average dental costs can consume an even greater part of the family’s budget." (Read more; read the report)