District of Columbia Medicaid Dental Coverage
Updated August 2026
DC Medicaid covers dental services for adults as part of its standard Medicaid benefit package. Per DHCF's service description, dental services and related treatment are explicitly covered. Adult dental coverage in DC is delivered through DC Healthy Families managed care plans.
Comprehensive
Adult dental coverage
Full EPSDT
Children's dental coverage (under 21)
319% FPL
DC's Medicaid/CHIP income threshold for children
2 MCOs
AmeriHealth Caritas DC & MedStar Family Choice DC
DC Medicaid covers comprehensive dental for adults — one of the strongest adult dental programs in the country
DC Medicaid explicitly lists dental services as a covered benefit for all eligible members, including adults. Per DHCF, covered services include "dental services and related treatment." Adults receive more comprehensive dental coverage than in most state Medicaid programs. Children receive full EPSDT-scope dental. Per DHCF, the District currently contracts with two managed care plans for the DC Healthy Families Program: AmeriHealth Caritas DC and MedStar Family Choice DC. Contact your MCO for the current covered services list.
Dental coverage for adults in DC Medicaid
The specific covered service list and prior authorization requirements are set by each managed care plan and updated periodically. Contact your MCO's member services for the current dental benefit schedule. Provider directories for each MCO list enrolled dental providers in DC.
- Preventive dental care — exams, cleanings, x-rays
- Restorative services — fillings
- Extractions
- Emergency dental treatment
- Some prosthetic services — verify with your MCO for current coverage
Dental coverage for children through DC Healthy Families
Children enrolled in DC Medicaid receive comprehensive dental under the EPSDT mandate (42 U.S.C. § 1396d(r)). DC's high income threshold (319% FPL) means that many DC children who would not qualify for Medicaid or CHIP in other states receive full EPSDT dental coverage in DC.
- Dental exams and cleanings
- X-rays and diagnostic services
- Fluoride treatments and sealants
- Fillings and restorations
- Extractions
- Emergency dental treatment
- Orthodontic treatment when medically necessary
Finding a Medicaid dental provider in DC
Because DC Medicaid uses managed care, your dental provider must be enrolled with your MCO's network. Per DHCF, the District contracts with two managed care plans for the DC Healthy Families Program — AmeriHealth Caritas DC and MedStar Family Choice DC — and each publishes its own dental provider directory. Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN) is the separate plan serving the Child and Adolescent Supplemental Security Income Program (CASSIP). Contact your plan's member services to find a dental provider near you.
DC also has Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that provide dental care regardless of insurance. Unity Health Care is the primary FQHC system in DC, operating multiple sites across all eight wards.
DC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC: 800-408-7511 (TTY 800-570-1190)
- MedStar Family Choice DC: 888-404-3549 (TTY 711)
- HRSA Health Center Finder (FQHC dental): findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
Related guides
Dental Coverage
What's covered for kids versus adults, and how it varies by state.
Read more →What Medicaid Covers
The services every state must cover, plus benefits that vary by state.
Read more →Find a Provider
How to find a Medicaid doctor near you through your state's provider directory.
Read more →