Is there a Dental Supplement for Medicare Supplement Plans?

Unfortunately, Original Medicare doesn’t offer dental coverage and neither do Medicare Supplement plans.

Medicare is a Federally-funded healthcare program that doesn’t include any coverage for dental, vision, or hearing expenses.

So, you don’t have coverage for routine dental care, supplies, or dental procedures.

Medicare beneficiaries must cover the full cost of fillings, cleanings, extractions, root canals, crowns, and dentures.

Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital care, will sometimes cover the costs of dental procedures during a stay in the hospital, depending on the circumstances.

For instance, if you’re involved in a vehicle accident and experience a traumatic injury to your jaw or teeth, Medicare covers the cost of surgeries required to recover from the damage.

One of the reasons Medicare doesn’t offer dental coverage is the American Dental Association consistently opposes the proposal for adding dental coverage into Original Medicare policies, citing low reimbursement rates for dental services rendered to beneficiaries.

Understanding Medicare and Dental Coverage

Original Medicare, comprising Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), primarily focuses on providing coverage for hospital stays, doctor visits, and medically necessary procedures.

Unfortunately, routine dental care, such as check-ups, cleanings, and fillings, is not covered under Original Medicare, leaving beneficiaries responsible for dental expenses.

The Importance of Dental Coverage

Maintaining good oral health goes beyond having a bright smile. Dental problems can lead to various health issues, including gum disease, tooth loss, and even systemic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Regular dental visits allow for early detection and prevention of oral health problems, ensuring better overall health and quality of life.

Dental Insurance to Supplement Medicare

While Original Medicare may not cover routine dental care, individuals can explore several dental plan options to supplement their Medicare coverage and receive comprehensive dental benefits.

Here are some common dental plans available:

1. Standalone Dental Insurance:

Private insurance companies offer standalone dental plans that provide coverage for routine dental services, including check-ups, cleanings, fillings, and more.

These plans usually have a network of dentists and offer various levels of coverage and premium options to meet individual needs.

2. Medicare Advantage Plans:

Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Part C plans, are comprehensive private health plans that combine Medicare Part A, Part B, and often Part D (prescription drug coverage) into a single plan.

Medicare Advantage Plan Dental Benefits

A Medicare Advantage plan may also include dental benefits, offering benefits like preventive care, basic procedures, and sometimes even major.

Dental insurance and coverage vary:

3. Dental Discount Plans

Dental discount plans, often known as dental savings plans, provide discounted rates for dental services when individuals visit participating dentists.

While not insurance plans, these can be an affordable option for individuals looking to reduce their out-of-pocket dental expenses.

4. Employer-Sponsored Dental Insurance:

Retirees who had employer-sponsored dental coverage during their working years may have the option to continue that coverage through a retiree dental plan.

These plans can provide comprehensive dental benefits and often have a wider network of dentists.

Medicare supplement plans, also known as “Medigap” policies, assist with covering the 20% of out-of-pocket costs involved with Medicare Parts A & B. However, like Original Medicare, standardized Medigap plans don’t cover dental services.

What Does Medigap Cover?

Medigap plans come in ten versions, Plans A, B, C, D, F, G K, L, M, &N. These plans aim to bolster your Original Medicare Parts A & B policies.

Since Original Medicare doesn’t offer any support for preventative treatments and services, such as dental costs, Medigap policies don’t make provisions to cover these services in their standardized offerings.

All Medigap plans offer the following benefits.

• Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 days after using Medicare benefits.
• Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment.
• Part B coinsurance or copayment.
• Blood transfusion costs for the first three pints of blood.

Plans F, G, and N offer additional Medicare Parts A & B benefits.

• Part A deductible.
• Part B excess charges (Plan N doesn’t cover these charges).
• Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance.
• 80% of emergency healthcare costs when traveling outside the US for 60 days. ($250 deductible and $50,000 maximum apply).

Some Medigap Providers Offer Dental Plans as a Perk or Additional Policy

The Federal government regulates the Medigap industry, ensuring all insurers offering Medigap plans have the same coverage for Part A & B out-of-pocket expenses.

So, you get consistency across all plan offerings from all providers.

While Medigap plans consist of standardized benefits, some insurers offer additional discounts, perks, and secondary benefits relating to healthcare expenses – such as dental costs.

There is no Federal oversight on these secondary offerings and perks; healthcare insurers use them to attract new beneficiaries to their Medigap plan.

If you need assistance finding a Medigap plan with supplemental dental care, call us at 1-888-891-0229. Our fully licensed agents can help you find a provider in your state offering dental care benefits. Call us or leave your details on our contact form, and we’ll get back to you for a free consultation and quote.