Health Insurance For Umemployed Louisiana Residents

When paychecks slip, dental care does, too

Little surprises the six dentists employed at Family First Health clinics across York and Adams counties -- especially during economic hard times, when dental care is one of the first things cut from family budgets, said executive director Jenny Englerth of Family First Health.

The dentists have seen patients who required corrective dental work because they tried repairing chipped teeth or filling cavities on their own to save money, said Englerth.

"Self dental care is on the rise. People go online and try to find out how to do their own dental work," she said.

Family First Health operates five facilities across York and Adams counties to provide medical and dental services to low-income residents of both counties.

Similarly, Englerth said many patients are waiting until infections in their mouths cause intolerable pain or their rotted teeth have to be immediately pulled.

"The dentists are certainly seeing more people going without dental care and needed restoration work for many years," said Englerth.

The reasons: Unfortunately, dental care is the oft-ignored cousin of health care because people look to save money and decline to pay for optional dental

coverage through their employers' health insurance, said Englerth.

In fact, nearly one-third of Americans reported skipping dental checkups and care because of the cost, according to a recently released Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

And according to a recent national Gallup Poll, health insurance appears to play a role in whether Americans go to the dentist.

States where residents are the most likely to visit the dentist also have some of the lowest uninsured rates in the nation, according to the poll.

Regionally, people living in states in the Northeast and upper Midwest are the most likely to say they visited the dentist in the past year, according to the report.

Southern states, on the other hand, have the lowest percentages of people who say they visited the dentist. The nine states with the lowest incidence of dentist visits were in the South.

St. John Parish 5th District candidates want to join council to ...

Three candidates for St. John the Baptist Parish Council's 5th District will make their political debut in the Oct. 22 election. Councilwoman Darnell Usry is not seeking re-election. The candidates, Damon K. Davis, Clifford A. Hebert and Michael Wright, said serving on the council gives them the opportunity to be a voice for their community.

The 5th District consists of Peavine, new and old U.S. 51, River Forest, McReine Road, Walnut Street, Montegut, Riverland Estates, and parts of West Fifth to the St. Charles Parish line. The position pays $8,230 annually, and council members are eligible to participate in the parish's health insurance program.

Damon K. Davis

Damon K. Davis, a longtime LaPlace resident, said joining the council would be a good way to serve the community.

"As a barber for many years, I have been a public servant in business. I have enjoyed attending to the needs of many people. I have great interest in working for the betterment of the community. I see myself as a leader who will help the people and get the parish moving forward."

If elected, Davis, said he will push to refurbish a park in River Forest as well as improve recreation for children and older people parishwide, encourage beautification projects to make the district more attractive to homeowners and businesses, and continue work on the hurricane protection levee, drainage and other infrastructure matters.

"I will provide honest and good service for all residents in the district," he said. "I will be a strong voice for everyone in District 5."

Clifford A. Hebert

If elected, Clifford A. Hebert said his goal as a councilman would be "to speak up and make a difference in the community."

"I feel that if I'm sitting back and keeping quiet, I'm not helping anyone," he said. "I want to get involved to help make the district and the parish a better place for everyone."

Hebert, a Garyville native and LaPlace resident for 46 years, is retired from E.I. DuPont. Community service has always been important to him, he said. He has been involved in several civic activities, including serving as president of the Ingleside Homeowners Association, a board member of the Old U.S. 51 Civic Association and a member of the steering committee for the newly formed St. John Parish Citizens for Ethical Government.

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