Utilization in Alberta's universal dental plan for the elderly, 1974-91

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Alberta's government has funded a comprehensive, premium-free dental care plan for seniors over 64 and their dependents since 1973.
• This plan is unique in North America for covering all eligible residents in a province.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the design, administration, utilization, and costs of Alberta's senior dental care plan.
• To analyze trends in plan usage, provider choices, and financial aspects over time.

Main Methods:

• Review of plan data from 1973 to 1990-91.
• Analysis of utilization rates, services per user, and costs per eligible person.
• Examination of provider participation (dentists vs. denturists) and fee structures.

Main Results:

• Plan utilization increased from 27% to 44% of eligible persons between 1974-75 and 1990-91.
• The mean number of services per user rose from 4.9 to 6.9.
• Costs per eligible person increased significantly, exceeding inflation rates after 1986-87.
• Despite low denturist participation (12%), nearly 22% of patients chose denturists for complete dentures.

Conclusions:

• Alberta's senior dental plan has seen increased utilization and rising costs.
• Denturists play a significant role in providing complete dentures to plan beneficiaries.
• Potential administrative challenges and financial sustainability require ongoing attention.