Does Health Safety Net Cover Dental? Eligibility, Costs, and Providers

Yes, the Health Safety Net does cover dental care, but the coverage is narrow. HSN pays for a defined list of adult dental procedures delivered at community health centers that offer dental services, and only for Massachusetts residents whose income falls at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.¹ HSN is not insurance. It’s a state-funded payer of last resort for people who are uninsured or whose insurance leaves dental care uncovered.

What Dental Procedures HSN Pays For

The covered services are those listed in Subchapter 6 of the MassHealth Dental Manual, plus additional adult dental services that MassHealth itself doesn’t cover.² The dental manual’s procedure codes span most of what a general dentist would do:

Exams, X-rays, and other diagnostic imaging
Cleanings, fluoride, sealants, and space maintainers
Amalgam and composite fillings
Crowns, including porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, and cast metal
Root canal therapy, pulpotomies, retreatments, and apicoectomies
Scaling and root planing
Complete and partial dentures, plus repairs and relines
Simple and surgical extractions, including impacted teeth
Orthodontic procedures, including comprehensive treatment for children and adults

Individual procedures within these categories may need prior authorization from the dental program administrator.³

What HSN Won’t Pay For

HSN excludes cosmetic procedures, experimental treatments, and anything not medically necessary.² Dental implants and bridges are not covered under the MassHealth dental program either.⁴ The rule of thumb: a service must be medically necessary and must appear in the dental manual’s procedure codes for HSN to pay.

Where You Have To Go for Care

HSN dental care is only available at community health centers that offer dental services. Private dental practices don’t participate.¹ The state keeps a directory of participating locations, with sites in cities including Chicopee, Dorchester, Great Barrington, Harwich, Holyoke, and South Dennis.⁵ You can also find a center through the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers’ online directory or by calling MassHealth Dental Customer Service.⁴

Access isn’t uniform statewide. A 2025 annual report on HSN noted that some parts of Massachusetts don’t have enough dental providers to meet the needs of residents who rely on the program.⁶

Who Qualifies

To use HSN you must be a Massachusetts resident with a Modified Adjusted Gross Income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.¹ For the 2026 benefit year, the 300% FPL cutoffs are approximately:

1 person: $46,950 a year
2 people: $63,450
3 people: $79,950
4 people: $96,450
5 people: $112,950

Each additional household member adds roughly $16,500.⁷

HSN is designed for uninsured and underinsured residents. If you have private insurance without a dental benefit, a participating health center can bill HSN as a secondary payer for covered dental procedures.¹ Eligibility does not depend on immigration status; undocumented residents who meet the income and residency rules qualify.⁸

If You’re Enrolled in ConnectorCare

ConnectorCare enrollees can use HSN for both medical and dental services during the first 90 days after applying. After that window closes, HSN medical eligibility ends, but the person can still be eligible for HSN dental services at a community health center. The same is true if someone loses ConnectorCare for nonpayment of premiums: medical coverage under HSN ends, but certain HSN dental services remain available.⁹¹

What You’ll Pay Out of Pocket

Cost depends on household income:

At or below 150% FPL: no deductible. HSN covers the full cost of eligible dental services at a participating center.
Between 150.1% and 300% FPL: a deductible applies before HSN starts paying. The deductible is the higher of the current annual cost of the lowest ConnectorCare monthly premium, or 40% of the difference between the household’s lowest income and 200% of the federal poverty level.⁹

If you owe a deductible, you pay the provider directly. Both paid and unpaid bills for HSN-covered services count toward meeting it. HSN doesn’t track deductible payments itself, so you’ll need to coordinate with your health center to know when yours is satisfied. There are no copayments for prescriptions under HSN.¹

How To Apply

HSN uses the same application as MassHealth: the Massachusetts Application for Health and Dental Coverage and Help Paying Costs. You can submit it online through the Massachusetts Health Connector portal, by mail, by fax, by phone, or in person at a MassHealth Enrollment Center or Health Connector walk-in center.¹⁰

Have ready your Social Security number, proof of income such as pay stubs or tax returns, and documentation of citizenship or immigration status. Applicants who can’t verify identity online will need a government-issued ID or alternative documents.¹¹ Community health centers typically have enrollment staff who can help you fill out the application on site.¹²

HSN coverage must be renewed every year.¹ For questions about dental services specifically, the current third-party administrator is BeneCare Dental Plans, reachable at 844-MH-DENTL (844-643-3685) or through massdhp.org.¹³

1
Mass.gov. Health Safety Net for Patients
2
Mass.gov. 101 CMR 613.03 Health Safety Net Eligible Services
3
Mass.gov. MassHealth Dental Manual Subchapter 6
4
Mass.gov. Learn About MassHealth Dental Benefits
5
Mass.gov. HSN Health Center Locations
6
General Court of Massachusetts. 2025 Annual Report on the Health Safety Net
7
Massachusetts Health Connector. Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
8
Massachusetts General Brigham. Understanding ACA and Immigrants
9
Massachusetts Health Connector. Program Information
10
Mass.gov. Apply for MassHealth, the Health Safety Net, or the Children’s Medical Security Plan
11
Massachusetts Health Connector. Start Your Application
12
Lynn Community Health Center. Sliding Fee Discount Program
13
Mass Legal Services. Spring 2025 HSN and MassHealth Updates