Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon (right) takes a look at Marcet Love’s dental history at Mercy Care’s dental clinic off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Schuler-Bacon and her assistant DaJanea Rogers (left) had to pull one of Love’s teeth during his visit to the clinic.
May 19, 2015 Atlanta – Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon (right) takes a look at Marcet Love’s dental history at Mercy Care’s dental clinic off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Schuler-Bacon and her assistant DaJanea Rogers (left) had to pull one of Love’s teeth during his visit to the clinic. Four and a half million Georgians lack dental insurance, and many of them haven’t seen a dentist in decades. The Affordable Care Act aimed to change that, and more than 84,000 Georgians enrolled one of 25 stand-alone dental plans in 2014. Yet dental care was not considered one of the law’s “essential benefits,” and so offerings from insurers were varied. Of the 91 medical policies that included dental benefits, there’s an array of deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses and premiums. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL