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RIte Smiles and RIte Care - health benefits & dental care for Rhode Island children

Did you know that 87,562 children age 15 and under in Rhode Island currently receive their dental benefits and care through the RIte Smiles program? 

RIte Smiles is the managed care oral health program for children enrolled in RIte Care, and provides oral health benefits and dental care to more than a third of all Rhode Island children. RIte Care is Rhode Island’s Medical Assistance program for children under age 19, parents, and pregnant women.

Any child born after May 1, 2000 who is enrolled in RIte Care is also automatically enrolled in RIte Smiles.  Needed dental services and care are covered by UnitedHealthcare Dental. RIte Smiles members can access dental services and get help with benefits by calling UnitedHealthcare Dental member services at 1-866-375-3257.

RIte Smiles prioritizes access to preventive dental care for young children, in order to reduce dental disease and the need for costly restorative treatment later in life. To achieve this goal, RIte Smiles covers a wide variety of services, including the age one dental visit, routine dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, x-rays, and medically necessary fillings and crowns. In addition, RIte Smiles ensures that eligible children have a sufficient network of dental providers. As of October 2014, there were 351 dentists in 608 locations participating in RIte Smiles. 

How to Enroll
Eligibility for RIte Smiles/RIte Care is based on household income and size and other factors. People can determine eligibility and apply at any time in one of three ways:

1. Online www.HealthSourceRI.com

2. Over the Phone 1-855-840-4774

3. In Person

     a. Community-based Navigator (Call 2-1-1 to find a navigator in your community)

     b. RI Department of Human Services Offices (Click here for a directory)

Get Covered Now
Insurance is a strong predictor of access to health and dental care –  more than one in five (21%) uninsured U.S. children have unmet dental needs, compared with 5% of those with Medicaid and 4% with commercial health insurance. Children do better when their oral health needs are met routinely and in a timely manner.

If you know of someone who is in need of dental insurance, please share this TeethFirst! resource.

 

TeethFirst! Creating healthy smiles for a lifetime.