title: Underserved elderly issues in the United States: burdens of oral and medical health care.
abstract: The elderly represent approximately 12.4% of the general population (2000 Census), yet their health care expenditure and consumption represent 14% of the total (2003). Although 10% of the elderly had no medical insurance in 2000, 78% had no dental insurance. Elderly Americans' burden of medical care overuse is worsened by their out-of-pocket expenses for oral health, because this is usually not a covered benefit. In underserved communities, the management of the oral health and dental care needs of older Americans approaches negligence.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, School of Dentistry, 925 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, USA. vgreene@usc.edu
authors.forename: Veronica A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors