Dental Van offers free dental care
If you have dental needs and do not have the resources necessary to receive treatment, you have an opportunity to apply for care before noon, Feb. 24.
On Thursday, Feb. 27 and March 6, the ASUCC Student Leadership funded Dental Van will arrive at UCC to give dental services to students without insurance who are under 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
“Because of a lack of income or insurance, they are unable to have their dental needs resolved. The van provides students the opportunity to have their issues addressed,” Marjan Coester, director of Student Life, said via email.
In order to qualify, students would need to make, before taxes, under $22,980 for an individual, $31,020 for a family of two, $39,060 for a family of three or $47,100 for a family of four, according to 2013 guidelines.
Those who are enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan, may no longer be eligible, as the recent expansion to the program has entered most members into the OHP Plus benefit package, which offers basic dental services like fillings and extractions, according to the Oregon Health Plan website.
The van can only serve a limited number of people. According to Coester, only 12 people can be served each time the van visits campus.
Regardless of the limits, the program has been helpful for students in the past.
“From my conversations with students who are served by the van, they express not only satisfaction, but gratitude for being able to access the service,” Coester said. She anticipates the van returning in spring term as well.
Students can apply by contacting Marjan Coester at 541-440-7749 or marjan.coester@umpqua.edu. People can also visit Coester at the Student Life Office in the Campus Center.