Seniors on Medicare have choices for great dental coverage
If you’e a senior on Medicare or approaching your eligibility for Medicare, then you have a number of options for dental coverage. With any decision, there are pro’s and con’s to most choices, so you’ll need to decide what’s best for you. We’ll explain some of your best options for dental coverage.
Original Medicare does not include benefits for routine dental benefits
First of all, many seniors wonder how original Medicare handles dental services. The answer is that original Medicare does not cover routine dental services such and cleanings, x-rays, and other dental care.
Neither Medicare Part A for hospital benefits nor Part B for most outpatient care and professional services include coverage for common dental care.
Fortunately, there are other places that you can obtain dental coverage.
Medicare Supplement plans also do not cover routine dental care
Another common option many seniors choose is a Medicare supplement plan or Medigap plan. These Medicare supplement plans only help fill in the out of pocket gaps of original Medicare. Because they’re based on original Medicare benefits, Medigap plans do not include coverage for routine dental services.
While Medicare supplements can be great for medical care, you’ll still need to look elsewhere for dental benefits.
Medicare Advantage plans can include some dental benefits
Medicare Advantage plans are a newer option for seniors. These plans are actually administered by private insurance companies, and are designed to cover all the services of original Medicare.
However, Medicare Advantage plans can also include additional benefits beyond what original Medicare covers for items such as dental, vision, hearing, and other benefits.
For this reason, some Medicare Advantage plans may include a certain level of dental benefits. However, the level of dental coverage can vary from plan to plan, and may only include limited benefits.
So you’ll want to be sure to review the specific dental benefits of a Medicare Advantage plan to make sure they meet your dental care needs.
Seniors can access private dental insurance coverage
Fortunately, there is a dental solution for members of original Medicare and those with a Medicare supplement plan or Medicare Advantage plan with limited dental benefits. These seniors can access private dental insurance coverage in the open market.
Seniors can find plans on websites like EasyDentalQuotes.com that are available to all adults 18 or older. Seniors can choose from plans with top carriers like Delta Dental and Renaissance Dental to find the best fit for their needs including plans with benefits for crowns, bridges, and dental implants.
Compare your dental options to find the right fit for you
As we’ve discussed, there are a variety of dental options for Seniors on Medicare. It doesn’t matter if you’re on original Medicare, have a supplement, or have chosen a Medicare Advantage plan, there are solutions to meet your dental care needs.
With a little time spent, you can find the best dental plan to keep your smile in check.
