If Medicare beneficiaries want routine dental exams and cleanings, dental insurance is a must-have.
Letting your oral health slide can lead to all kinds of health issues from cardiovascular disease to dementia. Seniors are at an even larger risk, so it’s vital to make sure your teeth and gums are shipshape.
First, let’s take a look at what dental health covered and what’s not with Medicare. Then, let’s see how to plug those gaps with dental insurance.
Only limited dental services are covered by Medicare
The only dental services covered by Medicare are ones provided in a hospital. Mostly, they are only in the event of other healthcare needs such as:
- Oral examinations before kidney transplants or heart valve replacements
- Jaw reconstruction as a result of accidental injury
- If an extraction is needed before radiation treatments as a result of neoplastic disease
Other than these instances, Medicare won’t cover dental services. To get coverage, you’ll either have to purchase a standalone plan or get coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare insurance options for dental care
Medicare Advantage, or Part C, plans that offer dental services typically have different levels of coverage for your oral healthcare.
The most basic ones usually cover routine, preventative services like cleanings and x-rays. More comprehensive plans take care of that as well as fillings, root canals, crowns, and more.
Other benefits are also included in Medicare Advantage, including:
- Wellness programs
- Fitness center membership
- Transportation to doctor visits
- Prescription drug coverage
- Adult day-care services
Plan benefits vary, so be sure to talk to a licensed Medicare insurance agent about what’s included in your offerings. You’ll also want to check to see if your healthcare providers and dentist are in the plan’s network, if it has one.
Standalone dental insurance
If you aren’t wanting to alter your Medicare insurance, you can also purchase a private dental insurance plan.
These plans typically have a maximum coverage amount and may have a deductible. They may also come with a waiting period before they pay for major dental services like root canals and crowns. It may also have a network of providers.
Expert Insurance Team can help you find plans with no waiting period and help you get the best deal for your dental insurance. We won’t trade your trust for money and we will never promote a product that is not right for you.
Our help is absolutely free. Give us a call at (630) 984-2100 or you can send us a message by clicking here.
