Medicare offers a ton of coverage for various health services as we are all aware, but dental has typically held a different status with Medicare. Medicare Pars A & B alone do not cover routine dental care that we all need. Routine dental can be defined as; cleanings, fillings, extractions, check-ups, ect. These services can end up being quite costly when paying for them out of pocket and many Medicare beneficiaries are living on a fixed income. This issue typically leaves beneficiaries looking for supplemental options to cover these dental services that Original Medicare does not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Dental Coverage:
The ancillary benefits that Medicare Advantage plans offer are often the biggest factor that incentivizes an individual to enroll in one of these plans. Dental is typically included as an ancillary benefit within this plan type. The level of dental coverage varies from plan to plan and carrier to carrier, but most plans cover routine preventative dental services, and some plans even offer coverage for more extensive work like root canals and dentures.
Stand-Alone Dental Coverage:
Stand-alone supplemental dental insurance is another option for those individuals who need dental coverage while receiving the benefits of Original Medicare and a Medigap plan, as opposed to the all inclusive Medicare Advantage plan. There are various carrier options and coverage levels offered with supplemental dental insurance, and these plans will often cover the same services described in the MA plan section above. It is extremely important for beneficiaries to understand their dental plan, and use in-network providers as many of these plans do not offer out of network benefits.
The Future of Medicare Dental:
As the healthcare landscape continues to change, understanding Medicare's current dental benefits is of extreme importance for individuals seeking comprehensive healthcare coverage. The current scope of Medicare's dental coverage does have gaps, but advocates and policymakers are pushing for a more comprehensive oral package for beneficiaries in the future. Knowing your level of dental coverage and understanding these gaps and how you can avoid them, or limit their extent, can really save your dollars down the stretch.
