What is Aetna?
Aetna is the brand name for healthcare insurance goods and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of companies, which includes Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates. Aetna, a CVS Health company, shares a common mission with CVS Health: bringing compassion to every aspect of individuals' health journeys. They assist their customers—and all those they support—in leading healthier lives. Their combined efforts enhance care for individuals, wherever they may be on their health journey.
They possess the capability to provide healthcare in unique ways unmatched by others. Driven by their mission, CVS Health is constructing an entire healthcare ecosystem tailored to the needs of each individual they serve, regardless of where they are in their journey.
Aetna offers various insurance plans for services related to mental health, behavioral health, long-term care, disability care, medical stop loss, and group life. It provides workers' compensation administrative services, Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare supplement plans, and Medicaid health care administration services.
What is health insurance, and how does it work?
Healthcare in the country can be costly. Seeing a doctor or dentist costs a lot, and staying in the hospital for a few days costs tens of thousands of dollars. Most people wouldn't be able to afford such big bills if they got sick since we can't predict when we might get ill or how much care we'll need. That's where health insurance comes in.
When you get health insurance, you pay an insurance company a monthly amount. This money accumulates over a while, and when the need arises, the insurance company can help lower the burden of medical expenses by paying your medical bills based on the health insurance terms.
There are different health insurance plans in the country, and they all have different rules about what they cover and how they work.
Who is a dentist?
A dentist, also known as a general dentist or family dentist, is a healthcare practitioner who diagnoses and treats oral health conditions. They play a vital role in managing the health of teeth, gums, and mouth areas by providing regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Additionally, dentists can perform various treatments to address oral health issues, such as dental fillings, crowns, and bridges.
Dentists can treat several conditions affecting teeth, gums, jaws, and other mouth areas. They offer services in three main areas: preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry, and emergency dental care.
Understanding the types of dentists near you
Before making an appointment with a dentist, explore the various types of dentists, their specialties, and how they cater to your unique oral health needs. Whether you need general dental care or specialized treatment, knowing who to approach ensures the best care for your teeth and gums. Many general dentists also collaborate with Aetna dentists near you to offer convenient, insured services.
Specialists within dentistry further focus on specific conditions, ensuring targeted and advanced care. These include:
- Oral Surgeons: Experts in complex procedures handle extractions and intricate mouth and teeth surgeries.
- Orthodontists focus on bite alignment using braces, clear aligners, and other dental appliances.
- Endodontists specialize in root canal treatments, addressing issues inside the tooth.
- Periodontists: These specialists treat gum disease and manage conditions affecting the tissues supporting teeth.
- Prosthodontists craft and fit tooth prosthetics such as crowns, bridges, and dentures.
- Pediatric dentists (Pedodontists): Dedicated to treating oral health conditions in children, they provide kid-friendly care.
- Forensic dentists: They assist the legal system by identifying victims and analyzing crime scene evidence, such as bite marks.
- Public health dentists: They develop community-wide dental health programs, focusing on populations without regular access to dental care.
Whether you're seeking general dental care or specialized services, locating a dentist can simplify access to comprehensive oral health solutions tailored to your requirements.
How can you find an Aetna dentist near you?
Finding dentists who accept your insurance can be challenging when searching for dental care. However, you can simplify your search using Zocdoc's advanced options. If you feel stuck somewhere, understand the basics and commonly used terms by reading Zocdoc's Health Insurance 101 guide.
By entering your criteria, such as specialty, location, and insurance plan, in the search bar, you'll receive a comprehensive list of top dentists in your area. If you want to know your insurance plan, upload an image of your insurance card to your Zocdoc account, and we will find and display information regarding your insurance plan (this facility is not available for vision or dental plans). You can even contact the Zocdoc service team if you need help uploading a photo of your card. You can also check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
Each provider's profile includes detailed information on their education, credentials, specialty, and patient feedback. Moreover, you can find out the dentist's gender, the languages spoken, and whether they treat children.
Booking appointments are convenient with Zocdoc. Depending on the dentist's availability, you can schedule them before, during, or after office hours. If the dentist's schedule permits, you can even book appointments on weekends and holidays.
Furthermore, you can book video consultations if you cannot physically visit the dentist's office. Just look for the purple icon on the profiles of dentists who allow online consultations.
Booking appointments with Aetna dentists near you through Zocdoc is easy, quick, and secure!
Statistics on healthcare
According to the United States Census Bureau, the number of insured individuals increased in 2022, with 92.1% of the population, totaling 304 million people, having health insurance at some point during the year. It marked an uptick from the 91.7% insured, or 300.9 million individuals, in 2021.
Notably, the uninsured rate among working-age adults aged 19 to 64 significantly decreased, dropping by 0.8 percentage points to 10.8 percent between 2021 and 2022. This decrease in number occurred due to declining uninsured rates for workers.
Private health insurance was more prevalent than public coverage, accounting for 65.6% of coverage compared to 36.1% for public coverage. Among the subtypes of health insurance coverage, employment-based insurance emerged as the most common, covering 54.5%. Medicaid and Medicare covered 18.8% and 18.7% of the population.
Additionally, about 9.9% of the population utilized direct-purchase coverage, while TRICARE covered 2.4%, and VA and CHAMPVA coverage covered 1%. Over the year, the rate of Medicare coverage saw a modest increase of 0.3% points to 18.7% of the population.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), as of 2023, the country has about 202,304 professionally active dentists, equating to approximately 60.4 dentists per 100,000 people. However, the ratios vary by state. Women make up 37.7% of these dental practitioners, demonstrating a growing participation in the sector. Additionally, about one in five dentists (21.3%) reported their practice, research, or administration area as an ADA-recognized specialty, highlighting the diverse expertise within the profession.
Sources
Aetna
Stanford Vaden Health Services
Cleveland Clinic
United States Census Bureau
American Dental Association
USA Today
