GIBSONTON, Fla — Like many of those who served this country, U.S. Army veteran Marshall Mathis is a prideful man, never wanting to ask for help despite his struggles since returning home from war.
“Majority of my time was 11 Bravo, which is infantry, and you learn how to cope,” he says, thinking back to his deployments overseas. “I’m an alcoholic,” he admitted. This week he celebrates more than 100 days sober, a huge step for him and his loving family.
Though his struggles aren’t just with alcohol, at 43 he walks with a cane, his smile is not what it once was, and most of his teeth including the top row are gone.
“His whole lifestyle has changed drastically because of it,” his wife Dania said. “I became a shut-in, depressed,” Marshall added, saying he often avoids the public because he’s ashamed of his appearance, and can no longer eat many of his favorite foods
Mathis is considered 20% disabled by the Department of Veteran Affairs, meaning he qualifies for some health care due to service-connected back injuries and disability payments every month. But his oral health is something they don’t cover.
According to a new study from CareQuest and the American Institute of Dental Public Health, of the more than 9 million veterans who are eligible for medical care from the VA, 85% are not eligible for dental coverage.
According to the VA, there are a number of thresholds veterans must meet to receive dental care, case determinations are made on a case-by-case basis.
For years now, Marshall’s wife has been fighting for his other ailments; migraines, knee problems, anxiety and more to be recognized as service-connected, with hopes to get proper care and his smile restored.
“It's sad, because in order for you to get dental [coverage], you have to be 100% disabled, and there's a lot of veterans that are nowhere near 100%, so they go through without coverage,” Dania explained.
“I've heard a lot of horrible stories. Unfortunately, the veterans go through this all the time, they just keep getting denied,” she added.
Dania says her dental insurance through her employer has helped take care of infections and a number of oral problems Marshall has been dealing with, but they do not cover the cost to get implants to restore his teeth, an out-of-pocket cost Dania says is over $20,000.
“If he could wear dentures, he would but he can't because he's not a candidate because he doesn't have the gums to hold the dentures in,” she explained.
In the aforementioned study, researchers say veterans are at an increased risk of oral health problems due to service and things like mental health and substance abuse disorders. They add oral health problems can lead to social, workplace and other physical issues if left untreated.
“I know it's nationwide, and I know it's everywhere that you know veterans are struggling every day,” Marshall added.
The Mathis family is not giving up their fight, and voicing their struggle so people — including Congress who in the end, controls how vets can qualify for benefits — listen to their stories.
“It’s is rough. But he's strong, you know, he's gotten this far. And I hope he continues to keep on trucking, he’s the love of my life,” Dania added.
Right now, they are raising money to help pay for the out-of-pocket costs to restore Marshall’s smile. If you'd like to help, click here.
10 Tampa Bay has also linked the Mathis family with the Florida-based nonprofit, Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, which helps provide critical dental care to qualified veterans in the state. The organization is working on their case right now.