Does Medicare Cover Dental Health Expenses? What You Need to Know
Tuesday, January 18th, 2022
Many Medicare Advantage plans cover at least part of the cost of a dental exam and cleaning, as well as some of the cost of fillings, extractions, and dentures. You can locate these plans on the website of your Medicare plan provider, or you can call Medicare and ask about Medicare Advantage plans.
How does Medicare cover dental health?
Medicare doesn’t pay for routine dental care, including cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and dentures.
You do have the option to buy a supplemental dental insurance plan, but it’s important to understand that these policies don’t cover everything. Dental care that’s considered elective typically isn’t covered, such as cosmetic procedures, orthodontics, or dental implants.
To avoid subjecting patients to unnecessary dental work, only services determined to be medically necessary are included in Medicare Part A and Part B (also known as Original Medicare).
Therefore, dentists should evaluate a patient’s condition to determine if dental services are required and, therefore, covered.
There are three options are available to you if you need assistance with dental bills:
- Dental coverage as part of a Medicare Advantage plan
- Dental insurance that stands alone
- Discount dental plans that are not insurance but give you a discounted rate for dental services
Medicare Part C
Medicare Part C, also called Medicare Advantage, is a managed care alternative to traditional Medicare. Plans must cover all Original Medicare benefits but may offer additional coverage, such as dental, vision, and hearing. The coverage may be more comprehensive than Original Medicare, but prices may be higher.
Medicare Dental Benefits: How to Get Them
People tend to visit the dentist more often as they get older. Dental bills also go up. An exam might cost around $30, but fillings or crowns generally cost between $200 and $500. A good dental plan can make it easier for you to keep up with regular checkups and preventive care, and it can save you money on elective procedures. And, like medical health insurance, it can help you avoid paying for treatments that you don’t need.
Before signing up for any kind of insurance, make sure you know what the plan covers.
Some plans have a network of providers and pharmacies. If you stay in-network this will keep your expenses lower than if you see an out-of-network provider.
Plans may also have limits on how much you can spend on care in a year, so you’ll pay more if you go over that limit. Also, make sure you know what the copay and deductible are – these will be the charges you pay for each visit.
For assistance in finding a plan that fits your needs contact one of our insurance specialists today to discuss your dental care options. Medicare Insurance Advisors (MIA) is a independent broker and offers insurance products from numerous companies.
