[Proposal and thoughts on establishing and improving multi-level dental insurance in China]

Oral diseases are highly prevalent in China, while oral health services are generally underutilized and public health resources are wasted. Lacking oral insurance may be one of the leading causes. The basic medical insurance of China does not cover dental care in most cities, which is worthy to further discuss. To better understand the experience of dental insurance from international dental care practice, the dental coverage scope, content, co-pay ratio, and effects of oral insurance on oral health improvement from the abroad countries with typical health insurance systems were summarized by using scoping review. Then, we discussed the coverage scope for dental health of basic medical insurance and private insurance in China. We also analyzed the current issues of dental care coverage and cost-share. At last, we proposed thoughts and suggestions to establish and improve a multi-level oral health insurance system with Chinese characteristics under the basic medical insurance frame. In particular, we gave suggestions on increasing the coverage for high dental care xpenditure by ebasic medical insurance, supplying children and teenagers with preventive dental care, and encouraging private insurance companies to cover dental care expenditure.