Many Joliet general dentist offices (including ours here at Smile League) accept Medicaid — the easiest way is simply to call and ask. Alternatively, you can search for the phrase “dentist near me that accepts Medicaid” in a search engine, such as Google.
Searching the internet works better than you might expect for this. That’s because most dentists publish the fact that they accept Medicaid.
If you are enrolled in a managed care plan, check your membership card. There should be a phone number on the back that you can call to get a list of dentists in your area who accept Medicaid.
DentaQuest
DentaQuest is recommended by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services for people who are enrolled in Medicare but do not have a managed care plan. DentaQuest works if you want a broad range of possible options.
Keep in mind that DentaQuest might update its interface at any time. If you need help, feel free to contact us here at Smile League or ask for advice the next time you come in for an appointment.
Searching the DentaQuest Database
There are a number of ways to access the information, but the easiest way is typically to enter “DentaQuest” on Google or navigate to DentaQuest.com and use the main website’s search wizard.
Once you have found the official website, you’re ready to start searching. Currently, if you are using a laptop or desktop computer, you should find the option to “Find A Provider” in the upper-right-hand corner of the website’s front page. If you are using a mobile device, such as a tablet or a cell phone, you will probably have to select the menu in the upper left to find this option.
You should be prompted to select the option for Medicare/Medicaid. You’ll then get a list of the different states.
Once you select Illinois, you’ll see an option to select the type of plan you have. After you select the right category, you’ll finally be able to enter your ZIP code and search for dentists who provide the types of services you need. DentaQuest is a bit of work, but there are some advantages:
- You can search by dental specialty
- Dentists can indicate whether they are accepting new patients
- Each office provides a list of plans that it accepts
Pick Up the Phone
As you can see, you need to have a lot of information at your fingertips to use DentaQuest. Additionally, once you find a list of providers, you will still need to call in order to confirm that they do accept your specific plan.
Unless you need the advanced information in DentaQuest, we would generally recommend that you just call dentists you find on online directories such as Google Maps. The benefit of this approach is that you can read reviews and contact the dentist without going through a complex search process. Of course, you can also feel free to contact us here at Smile League at 815-782-6243.
Recent Comments