Do you ever wonder what Medicare will cover when it comes to dental?
It wasn’t too long ago in 1954 when dental insurance was first introduced. The first plans didn’t have the in and out network benefits, they simply covered preventative care and then certain percentages of additional services.
Now-a-days, you go to the dentist either annually or biannually for your routine cleaning and preventative check-ups. Though coverage isn’t as cut and dry as it was 60 years ago, it’s still not far off from its original inception.
When you turn 64, it’s time for you to start thinking about enrolling in Medicare. This is the time when it’s important to know what dental services will be covered by Medicare as it’s not what you’re used to.
The simple breakdown is that Medicare will only cover medically necessary dental expenses. Medicare will not cover preventative services like your annual or biannual visits to the dentist.
An example of “medically necessary” coverage would be if you’re in a car accident and your jaw is broken and you’ve lost teeth, Medicare will pay for that. Another example would be if you’re undergoing radiation treatment and your molars need to be removed to start the treatment, Medicare will cover that.
Medicare isn’t going to cover those preventative services, it’s just not part of the Medicare plan. Now, you can get additional insurance that covers dental services.
There are two primary way to get additional services for the dental care not covered by Medicare
- Some Medicare Advantage plans include additional dental coverage usually for an additional fee.
- Purchase a separate stand alone dental plan. These plans vary in price depending on where you live and the plan you pick. Many insurance companies offer these plans and we help clients find the plan that fits their dentist, needs, and wallet the best
Make sure you weigh the pros and cons of your options before you pick a Medicare program only for dental benefits. Don’t choose one plan or the other ONLY because of coverage for services like dental, vision or hearing. It’s important to pick a plan that provides you access to your doctors and at the lowest cost.
