Assessment of Barriers to the Utilization of Oral Healthcare Services and Public Insurance Awareness among the Rural Population of Maval Taluka, Pune

Oral health is highly neglected in India's rural public health landscape due to socioeconomic inequalities and fragmented services. While state-sponsored financial safety nets exist, their real-world utilization and impact on community health need localized assessment. Objectives: This community-based, cross-sectional study evaluated oral healthcare access barriers using Penchansky's 5-A framework, while assessing public awareness of the state-sponsored Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) in rural Maval Taluka, Pune. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of 315 adults was conducted across selected rural clusters. Oral health status was measured using the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. A validated, structured questionnaire was used to collect data on healthcare access and insurance literacy. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Clinical findings revealed a severe burden of untreated disease, with a mean DMFT of 5.69 ± 4.12, characterized by high levels of untreated decay. Financial constraints were the primary barrier to care, affecting over 69% of participants. A significant gap in insurance literacy was observed: 95.9% of the sample was unaware of the dental benefits under the MJPJAY scheme, resulting in very low utilization rates. A statistically significant association was observed between low insurance awareness and higher prevalence of untreated dental disease (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrate a critical gap between insurance availability and actual access. Providing health insurance coverage requires complementary community-based awareness programs to improve uptake. This study identifies specific access barriers to assist health authorities in shifting from emergency-based care to preventative oral health strategies.