What Dental Services Are Covered by Medicare: Many Medicare recipients are unsure if dental procedures are covered under their plan. Routine dental treatment is not covered by Original Medicare, which is a shame.
You do, however, have options when it comes to dental coverage under Medicare. If you choose to keep Original Medicare, you can add a dental plan to cover cleanings, exams, and other dental procedures.
Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan with dental benefits is another option for dental insurance. Dental coverage is not available in all Medicare Advantage plans, although it is available in a large number of them. We’re here to assist you in making the best Medicare dental care selection and to clarify when Medicare pays for dental services.
Find Medicare Plans in 3 Easy Steps
We can help find the right Medicare plans for you today
Find Medicare Plans in 3 Easy Steps
We can help find the right Medicare plans for you today
Does Medicare Cover Dental Care?
Routine dental care is not covered by Medicare. Dental services are only covered by Medicare Parts A and B if they are required for another medical procedure and deemed medically necessary by a physician.
Additionally, dental work may be covered by Medicare Parts A and B as part of or in connection with an emergency. For example, tooth extractions as part of reconstructive jaw surgery following an accident would be covered by Medicare. To be clear, most dental treatment does not fit within the narrow exceptions.
Any of the following dental services or treatments are not covered by Medicare:
Oral surgery
Dentures
Dental implants
Wisdom tooth removal
Oral exams
Teeth cleaning
Orthodontics
Invisible aligners
Root canal treatment
Abscess tooth
More than half of Medicare enrollees in the United States do not have access to dental treatment. You have several alternatives if you have Medicare and need assistance paying your dental bills:
A Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental coverage.
A dental plan that is self-contained
Plans for dental, vision, and hearing
A dental discount plan isn’t insurance, but it does save you money on services.
Find Medicare Plans in 3 Easy Steps
We can help find the right Medicare plans for you today
Find Medicare Plans in 3 Easy Steps
We can help find the right Medicare plans for you today
Medicare Supplemental Dental Coverage
You must acquire a separate dental plan or use dental discount programs if you are enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan. Because a Medicare Supplement plan is a supplement to Original Medicare, it will only cover medical expenses not covered by Original Medicare. Dental coverage is not included.
For people on Medicare Supplement plans who also require dental coverage, there are a variety of excellent options. Cigna, Manhattan Life, Aetna, and National General are all popular carriers providing dental coverage.
Dental insurance is included in certain Medicare Advantage plans, although it is not included in others. Dental benefits differ from one plan to the next. Some plans simply cover basic dental care, while others cover a broader range of operations.
The simplest method to figure out what your plan covers is to do some preliminary research. On Medicare.gov, each Medicare Advantage plan provides a summary of coverage. You can examine what benefits your plan provides as well as where those benefits are accepted in this section. You should never go into Medicare Advantage without knowing what you’re getting yourself into. When it comes to enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, knowledge is essential.
