Losing Pays, Sometimes

Losing Pays, Sometimes https://aepc.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/iStock-1021583776-scaled.jpeg 2560 1875 AEPC Health AEPC Health //aepc.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AEPC-LOGO-v1.png August 23, 2025 August 23, 2025

August 22 is no ordinary day on the calendar. It’s World Plant Milk Day, National Eat a Peach Day, National Pecan Torte Day, and even National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day. But stealing the spotlight is the most magical holiday of them all: National Tooth Fairy Day—so special it shows up twice a year, on August 22 and again on February 28.

Where the Fairy Took Flight
The Tooth Fairy’s story stretches back centuries. Vikings once paid children for their lost teeth, while in medieval Europe, little teeth were buried to keep them safe from witches. She crossed the Atlantic in 1908, making her U.S. debut in the Chicago Daily Tribune. By 1927, a playwright gave her wings in The Tooth Fairy: Three-Act Playlet for Children. Disney’s fairy-filled films sealed the deal, and by 1979, she had earned a spot in the World Book Encyclopedia.

The Tooth Fairy doesn’t arrive with on a set date. Instead, she slips in quietly to mark a personal milestone—bringing comfort, wonder, and a bit of sparkle for every lost tooth. Maybe that’s why she’s managed to keep her magic alive for more than a century.

Fast Forward to Today
She’s still hard at work today. According to Delta Dental’s 2025 Tooth Fairy Poll, she visited more than 8 in 10 U.S. homes last year—a bump up from 2024. Parents say her visits spark imagination and tradition, while kids rank her among their favorite surprises. She even sneaks in life lessons: encouraging brushing habits, teaching the value of money, and making losing teeth a little less scary.

But even fairies aren’t immune to economics. The going rate for a tooth dropped 14% this year, from $5.84 to $5.01—the biggest dip in the poll’s history. Usually, Tooth Fairy payouts move with the stock market, but in 2025 she bucked the trend: the S&P 500 climbed 26%, while her payments shrank.

Magic Meets Reality
Here’s the thing: in real life, losing something usually costs you. Keys, glasses, wallets—you pay to replace them. Health insurance is no different. Lose coverage, and you’re not waking up to money under your pillow—you’re facing medical bills, debt, or putting off care until it’s urgent.

Meanwhile, healthcare costs keep rising. Hospital bills, drug prices, and insurance premiums don’t follow any Tooth Fairy “dip.” Employers and unions are bracing for higher plan costs next year, Medicaid faces cuts, and families with ACA or Medicare plans see steeper premiums ahead.

The Fairy Takeaway
The Tooth Fairy is delightful because she flips loss into gain. Healthcare does the opposite: lose coverage, and costs soar while options shrink. Her shrinking payouts are charming—but rising medical bills? That’s all too real.

In healthcare, there’s no magic under the pillow—just the need for solutions that keep coverage strong and costs within reach.

Happy reading,
Suzanne Daniels

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