Dental Coverage For Seniors On Medicare

Why Is Dental Coverage Important

Oral health is an important part of living a healthy life. If youre looking for Medicare dental coverage, some kinds of Medicare Advantage Plans may offer basic dental coverage, but not all. Original Medicare doesnt include dental.

There are also plenty of standalone dental plans to consider. Shop carefully and make sure to read the details of any plan before you enroll.

Supplemental Insurance Covers Dental

Medicare Parts A and B are excellent options for seniors who need hospital care or medical care, however, for dental and vision, individual dental insurance through Guardian Direct might be a more affordable option for seniors to receive comprehensive care and a large network from which to choose a provider that they trust. For more information on Medicare, please visit www.medicare.gov.

Get more answers to your Medicare supplemental dental insurance questions, as well as useful insurance information, tips, and resources.

* Coverage begins on the first of the month following enrollment. Dental provider networks vary by state, by market and by plan type.

Best Medicare Dental Plans For Seniors

Find Cheap Medicare Plans in Your Area

Original Medicare does not provide comprehensive dental care, and Medicare Part A will only cover select dental services that require hospitalization. For most types of dental care, such as cleanings, X-rays or root canals, you’ll need dental coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, a standalone dental plan or Medicaid.

• Best Medicare plans for dental coverage

Also Check: Government Cell Phones For Seniors

How To Get Medicare Coverage For Dental Care Vision Benefits And Hearing Services

Medicare Supplement plans can cover the 20% youd otherwise be responsible for paying on covered services. Some Medigap insurance plans can help you by covering your Part A or B deductibles. If Medicare approves the claim, Medigap approves the claim.

Whether you need help finding additional Supplemental Insurance for Medicare or dental, vision, and hearing insurance, our licensed agents can help you.

Call us today. Or you can fill out our online rate form to get rates for plans available in your area.

Recommended Reading: How To Get 20/20 Vision

Which Is An Example Of A Supplemental Health Insurance Policy

Asked by: Melody Goyette

There are many different types of supplemental health insurance, including vision, dental, hospital, accident, disability, long-term care, and Medicare supplemental plans. There are also supplemental health insurance plans for specific conditions, such as cancer, stroke, or kidney failure.

Recommended Reading: Knee Strengthening Exercises For Seniors

Affordable Dental Plans For Seniors On Medicare

For seniors on Medicare, most dental care is not covered through Medicare Part A or Part B. However, you may be able to get dental coverage through a Medicare Advantage, Part C, plan².

Dental insurance is preventive care, you typically pay a small amount to get routine care like x-rays and cleanings. This allows you to maintain good oral health without paying a ton. Medicare, on the other hand, is set up as a health insurance plan, and like most health insurance plans, it is meant to be for major medical conditions rather than preventative care. Often Medicare plans have higher deductibles that you will have to meet before your insurance will kick in. Please visit https://www.medicare.gov/ for more information.

Dental insurance and medical insurance operate differently. Depending on your policy, dental care is often designed to be preventive, you typically pay a small amount for going in for routine visits and to receive care like X-rays, cleanings, and check-ups. Health insurance is typically designed to cover major medical and surgical costs. This difference may seem small but when you bundle dental and medical insurance, you may run the risk of paying more for your dental insurance than you would normally, even if the monthly premium is lower when bundled.

Services For Waiver Members With Developmental Disabilities

Dental benefits are available for adult SoonerCare members served through the In-Home Supports Waiver or Community Waiver. Adults with developmental disabilities served in these waivers are evaluated by their case managers for initial services such as a general exam, cleaning and x-rays. Requests for additional treatment may now be directed to the case manager to include up to $1,000 per plan of care in services.

All services must be prior authorized by the members case manager. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services has prepared information packets about the benefits to distribute to interested dental providers. Packets are available upon request from Julie Whitworth at the DHS state office, 405-521-2237.

You May Like: Is 20 100 Vision Legally Blind

Don’t Miss: Part Time Work At Home Jobs For Seniors

Are Dental Discount Plans Worth The Money

If you are looking for an affordable option to traditional insurance, you may want to enroll in a dental discount plan. You purchase discount plans from private companies that have locked in discounted rates for dental and other types of services with participating providers. You simply pay a small fee at the time of enrollment followed by your monthly membership fee to the plan provider and then pay the dentist a flat discounted rate at the time of service. In addition to the low price, discount plans do have some advantages over insurance, including:

• You can see the dentist as many times as you want during the year.
• Your benefits go into effect right away.
• You dont have to worry about additional fees, such as copays.
• You can switch dentists at any time.
• You can add family members to your plan.
• There are no claim forms to complete.
• You cannot be denied because of age or preexisting conditions.
• You can cancel the plan within 30 days and receive a full refund minus a small processing fee.

While the coverage may not be as extensive as private insurance, discount plans can lower the cost of many dental services, including:

The Best Dental Plans For Seniors In 2020

The best dental plan for seniors is the dental plan that is best for you. That said, there are some standout policies and providers worth investigating.

Seniorliving.org is one source that has compiled a list of the best dental plans for seniors in 2020. Humana is ranked as the best overall, while Cigna offers the best coverage in terms of actual benefits, and Guardian has the best value.

To see the complete list and rankings, go here.

ConsumersAdvocate.org also has a list of the 10 best dental insurance companies of 2020. Guardian tops the list at #1. To see where others rank, go here.

Another site offering up reviews is The Senior List. Aetna earns the top spot with the best overall plans. AARP offers the best senior discounts. Others are ranked according to other criteria. Go here to see the rest of the reviews.

Benzinga Money rates Delta Dental the highest while Humana is the most affordable. To see more, go here.

You May Like: Affordable Housing For Seniors On Social Security

Read Also: Temporary Assisted Living For Seniors

Does Medicare Cover Dental Care

Yes and no.

Original Medicare doesnt provide coverage for routine dental, vision or hearing benefits.

Original Medicare will only cover dental work if its deemed medically necessary, i.e. you were hospitalized after a traumatic injury that also affected your jaw, teeth or mouth.

Starting Jan. 1, Medicare will begin covering the following dental procedures:

• Reconstruction of a ridge when performed at the same time as the surgical removal of a tumor.
• Stabilization or immobilization of teeth when done in connection with the reduction of a jaw fracture.
• Dental splints when used in conjunction with a medically necessary treatment.

Here are the other dental services covered by Medicare Part B:

• Dental services that are critical to a larger procedure like facial reconstruction after an accident.
• Tooth extraction that is needed to prepare for radiation treatment.
• Oral exams and treatments that are done to prepare for a kidney transplant, heart valve replacement or organ transplant procedures.

So if youre looking for standard dental care like teeth cleaning, X-rays, fillings, extractions, dentures and more the cost comes out of your pocket.

Dental Insurance For Dentures Crowns & Root Canals

Dentures, crowns, and root canals are common dental procedures that seniors may need. And because Medicare Part C typically doesnt provide any coverage for these types of treatments supplemental insurance might be an option for seniors. Tooth loss can impact your quality of life and losing teeth may leave you more vulnerable to infections, which if untreated may be life-threatening.

No one wants to have a root canal, and the typical high cost of a root canal can make it even more unappealing. But unfortunately, root canals are sometimes necessary. Dental insurance cant make a root canal any more pleasant, but it can help defray the cost of the procedure.

Don’t Miss: What Is Senior Discount Age

How To Choose The Best Dental Insurance For Seniors

While no dental insurance specifies it is only for seniors, some dental insurance policies are better for seniors than others. For example, some cover preventative care one day one with no deductible, but nothing else. Others cover preventative and other routine restorative treatments like fillings also. And some policies are more comprehensive and cover common treatments for seniors, like crowns, bridges, and dentures.

There are several critical elements to consider when comparing shopping for the best dental insurance for seniors in 2022. Here are a few of the most essential factors:

Other Options For Dental Coverage Or Discounts

First, look to your company or spouses employer if either of you is still working. Half the people 65 or older who had dental coverage were employees, spouses of employees or retirees, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging. In some cases, employers may offer retirees access to a dental benefits plan or provide a referral to a company that offers benefits, says Richards of Delta Dental.

Second, you may be able to get dental coverage or a dental discount program through a Medigap policy. In 2020, about 1 in 8 Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Medigap plans with additional dental, vision or hearing benefits, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a century-old foundation that focuses on better health care. Some dental programs offer 30 percent to 40 percent discounts for services such as cleanings, crowns, exams and fillings using eligible dentists and have no copays, coverage limits or waiting periods.

Also:

Recommended Reading: Low Income Senior Housing Nyc

Original Medicare Dental Coverage

Original Medicare covers limited dental care. It does not cover most dental care or supplies, such as:

However, Medicare Part A will typically provide some coverage if you receive any dental services in a hospital as an inpatient.

• For example, Part A may cover the cost of a tooth extraction that is necessary to prepare your jaw for radiation treatment.
• Or if you are admitted to the hospital with severe injuries to your mouth and emergency care is required, Part A might again provide limited coverage.

Part A can pay for inpatient hospital care if you need to have emergency or complicated dental procedures, even though the dental care isnt covered, according to Medicare.gov.

If you need dental coverage for routine dental care services and supplies, you may want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes that benefit.

Dont Miss: Boerne Vision Center At Fair Oaks

We Have A Plan For You

Find the best affordable dental insurance plan and vision insurance plan for you and your family. We have a plan to fit all ages. Ameritas dental plans and vision plans are great supplemental insurance options for Medicare and Marketplace health care plans. And hassle-free online enrollment and billing make it easy to maintain your dental care and vision care needs.

All plans emphasize preventive dental and vision care, which is important for all ages from kids to seniors.

Add dental and vision plans as supplemental insurance to Medicare coverage.

Choose a basic dental plan, or a more comprehensive dental plan with additional benefits such as LASIK, orthodontia, teeth whitening or hearing care.

Don’t Miss: Free Cognitive Test For Seniors

Is Dental Insurance Via Medicare Advantage Worth The Money

Depending on the plan, yes. If you dont foresee yourself needing much in the way of dental care except maybe the occasional cleaning or X-ray, then a simple plan that covers preventative dental care may be right for you. If you know youll have certain dental needs , its worth shopping for different Medicare Advantage plans and exploring exactly what each plan covers because all Medicare Advantage plans that offer comprehensive dental care do not cover every single aspect of dental care. Some plans do, though, and its worth looking into the comparative costs of these plans, especially in the case of surgery and similar big-ticket expenses. However, most of these plans have a yearly maximum coverage amount, so if you know you have some big dental bills ahead of you, it might be worth it to look for a plan thats built specifically for dental care. Prices may be more affordable for more detailed care.

Best For Potential New Offerings: Wellcare

WellCare

WellCare is our top choice for a newcomer to the field of Medicare Advantage plans. Founded in 1985, it’s an up-and-coming provider.

• Access to a personal emergency response system

• Easy to navigate website

• Only available in 36 states

• Not as established as some other providers

Founded in 1985, WellCare is a relative newcomer compared to other insurers. We picked them as one to watch for potential new offerings in their Medicare Advantage Plans for two reasons: In 2018, WellCare acquired Aetnas Part D prescription drug plan , and in 2020, they were acquired by Centene, one of the largest providers of Medicaid. This deal-making activity could result in new Medicare Advantage Plan offerings that address specific pricing or feature needs.

Benefits offered with some WellCare Medicare Advantage Plans include over-the-counter coverage and access to a personal emergency response system. The OTC benefit is a fixed dollar amount for non-prescription medications and wellness-oriented items that can be shipped directly to you. The personal emergency response system, for people who live alone or are left alone for long periods, is connected to your phone and allows you to get emergency help with the push of a button.

WellCare has greatly expanded its Medicare Advantage offerings since merging with Centene plans are available in 36 states for 2022. The companies offer a full range of plans .

You May Like: Walk-in Shower With Bench For Seniors

What Are Medicare Advantage Plans

When you become eligible for Medicare, youll be able to choose one of the Medicare Advantage plans, also called Medicare Part C. The plans offer at least the same benefits as Medicare, although they may offer supplemental benefits. Private companies approved by Medicare offer the Medicare Advantage plans. When you subscribe to one of these plans, the insurer will replace your Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B and give you a new card to access services. They may also offer dental, hearing and vision benefits. Most also offer prescription drug benefits. Dental coverage varies among plans some may cover preventative care only while plans with higher premiums may include basic restoration services, such as fillings and dentures. Typically, there is a cap on benefits you can receive each tear.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 34 percent of Medicare beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage coverage. The majority of seniors choose UnitedHealthcare, Humana and BCBS, which are Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliates, plans. In return for lower Medicare Advantage monthly premiums, plans usually have higher deductibles and limit your choice of doctors and hospitals. Even if your doctor accepts Original Medicare, it does not guarantee they will accept your Medicare Advantage plan. Nearly everyone age 65 or older has access to at least one HMO or local PPO plan and many have access to multiple plans.

Best Dental Insurance For Seniors Of 2022

• Best for Low Deductible: Spirit Dental
• Best for Seniors on Medicare: Aetna
• Best for Preventative Care: United Healthcare

• No. of plans: 6 plans available
• Coverage: The range of annual coverage limit is from $1,000 to $2,500
• Availability: in 14 states

Why We Chose It: Anthem is the best dental insurance plan overall for seniors. It has six affordable plans with low deductibles that provide a generous annual maximum for participants and no waiting periods for preventative care.

• $1,000 to $2,500 in annual maximum between 6

• 6-month waiting period for major services

• Waiting period waived with proof of previous coverage

• Several Medicare Advantage Plans with dental coverage

• Rates vary based on geography and demographics

• The most affordable policy doesnt cover dentures, crowns, or bridges

Anthem is an excellent provider with an extensive Dental Prime network. Established in the mid-1940s, the company has won numerous awards, including a place on Fortunes the Worlds Most Admired Companies for 2020. The Indianapolis-based insurer offers plans both directly and through employers and is available in most states.

Read Also: Where To Buy Jitterbug Phone For Seniors

Affordable Dental Insurance For Seniors

There are two main insurance plan options that youll be able to choose from when youre looking for affordable dental insurance for seniors as a retired senior citizen: PPO plans, and Dental Health Maintenance Organization plans.

PPO plans typically give you access to a wide range of dentists, and in some cases, you may be able to continue seeing providers outside the network. PPO members pay a monthly premium, and the plan covers a percentage of your costs after youve met your deductible. If you need individual health insurance and already have a dentist that you know and trust, PPO plans can be a good option.

DMHO plans require you to choose a single dentist or dental office as your in-network provider. If you need to see a specialist, like a periodontist or an oral surgeon, your primary dentist will give you a referral authorized by your insurance company. When you have a DMHO plan, you likely wont have a deductible or an annual cost. Instead, you typically pay a copayment for any dental services you receive covered under the plan. This is typically an affordable type of dental plan, and many basic dental services typically dont have a copay.

Dental insurance covers a portion of the cost of many common dental services, from preventive care to emergency dental surgery.

While coverage amounts vary from plan to plan, most dental insurance plans help cover a portion of the cost of the following dental services:

Read Also: Cheapest Phone Plans For Seniors