Does Medicare Cover Dental?
Preparing Your Plan for Dentistry Under Medicare
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Dental Work & Medicare
Many beneficiaries of Medicare wonder if and how it covers dental work. The short answer is yes, and there are some essential services that Part A will cover, such as preventive care and emergency treatment.
However, it does not cover the total cost of many procedures like teeth cleaning or root canals unless they encounter an urgent situation (during surgery).
Medicare is a government-run health insurance and medical coverage program for people who are 65 or older. It covers many different types of care, including:
- Dental work
- Inpatient hospital care
- Skilled nursing facility
- Lab tests
- Surgery and more
What Type of Medicare Covers Dental?
Medicare Part A covers dental care for people who are in the hospital or nursing facility. However, it does not cover routine preventive services like cleanings, exams, and X-rays at your dentist’s office.
For these types of extra benefits, you need Medicare supplement insurance offered by private companies that sell Medicare plans to seniors. These supplements can pay some or all of what else Medicare doesn’t cover, like dental checkups, preventive services (cleaning), procedures (filling), emergency treatment prosthetics.
Medicare Part B covers preventive dental services like cleanings, exams, and X-rays at your dentist’s office. However, some types of extra benefits on this plan require you to pay an additional premium for them since they are not considered mandatory under the law.
These include items such as Braces or Invisalign Orthodontia Periodontal surgeries Endo treatments Prosthodontics (Denture). Oral Surgery Root Canal treatment not covered by most plans include orthodontia costs such as invisalign treatment since this type of braces requires special equipment and a dentist trained to use it. Furthermore, cosmetic procedures, including teeth whitening, may not be covered at all.
How Much Does Medicare Cost for Dental?
Medicare costs vary from person to person. Many factors go into the cost of Medicare, including location, if it’s a supplement or an Advantage Plan (Part C), whether there is a deductible involved.
The average for Part A premiums in 2017 was $226/month, while the average out-of-pocket costs per month were around $300-$400. Dental coverage through Medicare varies significantly by state. For example, some plans do not cover any routine preventive care such as cleanings, whereas other states allow free checkups twice each year.
In addition, when additional work such as fillings or root canals must be done, insurance companies often do not cover these costs.
What Dental Services Are Covered by Medicare?
The official website for Medicare explains dental services covered by it include preventive screenings, fillings, root canals, and more teeth-related procedures that fall into this category if they’re deemed necessary by your dentist or primary care physician such as an internist.
But, of course, your general health will also be taken into account when deciding whether you need these kinds of dental work done. So, while having cavities may warrant the need for preventative work, it doesn’t mean you’ll be receiving other dental services such as teeth whitening which Medicare will not cover under any circumstances.
How to Get Dental Coverage if Medicare Doesn’t Include It
Medicare provides a lot of coverage for seniors, but dental is often not included. It’s vital to get the correct information about your options if you have Medicare and want to make sure that you can still get treatment from a dentist or insurance company without spending too much.
There are specific plans or policies like PDP (Prescription Drug Plans) and MAPD (Medicare Advantage Plan), which include extra benefits for dentists and allow people on Medicare to go to the dentist without paying out of pocket.
If you are looking into a Part D drug plan, please be sure to understand your options and know how to avoid the Medicare Part D penalty if you need to. In some cases, it may be okay to pay the penalty if the benefits outweigh the costs. But, feel free to give us a call anytime, for free, if you have any questions you can’t find the answers to. We’re available all throughout the weekdays at (888) 352-6672.
Many people on Medicare don’t realize that they still have options for care. It is essential to know your rights as a senior citizen or person with disabilities to make sure you can get all the help you need, even if Medicare does not cover dental expenses.
Is Visiting the Dentist Covered by Medicare?
Dental care, whether for routine checkups or more involved procedures such as teeth cleaning and fillings, is covered by most Medicare plans. However, the coverage varies depending on your particular plan. So it’s best to contact your insurance provider directly with any questions about what dental services are paid for under terms of your specific policy.
One important thing to keep in mind is that Medicare does not cover all dental services. In addition, dental coverage for people on Medicare varies depending on the type of plan purchased and which state you live in, among other factors. For example, suppose a person has original Medicare with no additional supplemental insurance. In that case, they may have limited or no coverage for some types of standard dental care procedures such as fillings and root canals.
Compare Today!
A licensed insurance agent from our team will contact you to discuss your Medicare options.
