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Find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Pennsylvania

Alex Chen
Alex Chen
Updated August 17, 2026 · 3 min read

Summary: Many Pennsylvania dental offices say they "take Medicaid" but aren't accepting new Medicaid patients — in fact a federal study found about 35% of providers listed as "accepting new patients" weren't when called. In Pennsylvania, dental runs through your HealthChoices plan’s dental administrator, and the only reliable way to know is to call and confirm before you book.

Step by step

  1. Confirm your PA Medical Assistance plan name and member ID — the office will ask for the plan, not just "Medicaid".
  2. Pull a shortlist from the official directory: your HealthChoices plan’s dental administrator’s dentist search, or https://www.healthchoices.pa.gov; InsureKidsNow.gov has a national locator for children.
  3. In the directory, filter by "Dental/Dentist" and look for a "currently accepting new patients" indicator.
  4. Call each office and confirm two things: do they accept your specific plan, and are they taking NEW Medicaid patients.
  5. Ask about wait times and book the first office that confirms both.

Medicaid in Pennsylvania: who runs it

Pennsylvania’s program is Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (HealthChoices managed care), run by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). The member line is 1-800-692-7462 (PA Medical Assistance helpline), and the official plan and provider directory is at https://www.healthchoices.pa.gov.

Dental is handled by your HealthChoices physical-health plan — each contracts a dental administrator (commonly DentaQuest, Avesis or Skygen) that runs the dentist directory.

Plans you’ll see in Pennsylvania

The office will ask which plan you have, not just "Medicaid" — the name is on your card. The main managed-care plans in the state:

  • UPMC for You
  • Highmark Wholecare
  • Geisinger Health Plan Family
  • AmeriHealth Caritas
  • Keystone First
  • Health Partners Plans

Pennsylvania-specific things to know

  • Pennsylvania calls Medicaid "Medical Assistance" — using that phrase with dental offices avoids confusion.
  • HealthChoices plans are regional (Southeast, Lehigh/Capital, Northwest, etc.); a Philadelphia plan like Keystone First does not operate in Pittsburgh.
  • Adult dental under PA Medical Assistance is limited (exams, cleanings, extractions and some dentures); children get full coverage.
  • Each HealthChoices plan’s dental subcontractor runs its own directory — the plan member line will tell you which administrator you have.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Trusting an online "accepts Medicaid" listing without calling to confirm.
  • Not asking specifically whether they take NEW Medicaid patients.
  • Giving up after a few "no"s instead of working down the list.

Let Karen make the calls

Karen calls down the list for you and reports back what it found — you just pick.

If Karen needs a detail she doesn’t have, or someone asks to verify your identity, she’ll add you to the call for a quick warm handoff so you can take over.

Have Karen make the call

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Frequently asked questions

Why is it so hard to find a dentist that takes Medicaid in Pennsylvania?

Many offices cap how many Medicaid patients they take or pause new intake, so directories go stale — a federal study found roughly 35% of "accepting new patients" listings were wrong when called. Phoning to confirm is the only reliable check.

Where are the official Pennsylvania Medicaid dentist directories?

Start with your HealthChoices plan’s dental administrator’s directory and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS)’s site (https://www.healthchoices.pa.gov); InsureKidsNow.gov has a national locator for children.

What is Pennsylvania Medical Assistance?

Pennsylvania’s name for Medicaid. Its managed-care program is HealthChoices; your plan card names the plan (UPMC for You, Keystone First, etc.).

Who handles Medicaid dental in Pennsylvania?

Your HealthChoices plan, through a dental administrator such as DentaQuest, Avesis or Skygen. Call the plan member line to find out which one and get its directory.

Can Karen find one for me?

Yes. Karen calls down a list of Pennsylvania dental offices, confirms which take your Medicaid plan and are accepting new patients, and reports back the ones that said yes.

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