Beyond Basic Medicare: Top-Tier Dental Insurance For Seniors
After retiring and going on Medicare, many seniors are shocked to find out that traditional Medicare does not cover routine dental expenses.
Thankfully, you will read about some popular dental insurance plans tailored for seniors that are available to address this need.
These plans ensure your teeth stay healthy without causing financial stress in your golden years.
With supplemental dental insurance, you can protect both your smile and your savings. In this article, you will discover how you can enjoy dental insurance for seniors with Medicare.
Additionally, Senior Benefit Services offers many dental insurance plans for seniors on Medicare to ensure you can pick a plan that best fits your needs and budget.
Many of our plans use no network of providers, so you are free to use your current dentist.
Of course, if you wish to save even more money on your plan, you can opt to go with one that uses a network of dentists and choose from that list.
The great news is that by us offering so many different plans, the choice is yours!
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Senior Dental Plan Benefits
Looking for the best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare? As a senior, taking care of your teeth is crucial for both your oral and overall health.
However, with so many dental plans and insurance options available, finding the right coverage for your needs can be tricky.
Whether you’re wondering if Medicare covers dental care or if there are any free dental care options available, this blog post has got you covered.
Here, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare, so you can make an informed decision about your oral health.
Check out the benefits that many of our plans offer:
- Up to $5,000 in annual coverage
- Choose your own dentist
- No underwriting (this means there are no health questions and you are guaranteed to get the plan)
- Preventive and Basic services are covered immediately with no waiting periods
Does Medicare Pay Anything on Teeth?
Firstly, let’s address the most pressing question: Does Medicare pay anything on teeth? Unfortunately, no. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover routine dental care, such as cleanings, fillings, extractions, and dentures.
However, there are some exceptions. For instance, if you require a dental procedure due to an injury, a medical condition, or hospitalization, Medicare may cover it as part of your inpatient or outpatient treatment.
Additionally, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer dental coverage, although the benefits and costs vary widely by plan and location.
Do Seniors Get Free Dental Care in the USA?
In general, no. While there are some government-funded dental clinics, such as those run by the Department of Health and Human Services or the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, they have limited availability, eligibility requirements, and services.
Some states also offer dental coverage under Medicaid, but again, the benefits and criteria vary by state. Your best bet for affordable dental care as a senior is to shop around, negotiate rates, and ask for discounts or payment plans from your providers.
You can also consider joining a dental savings club, which typically offers discounts on a wide range of dental procedures with no waiting periods, annual limits, or paperwork.
The option that gives you the flexibility to get the benefits you need at the price you can afford is a stand-alone dental plan.
What Is A Discount Dental Plan?
The key point to understand is that a discount dental plan is NOT insurance. You are basically paying an annual fee to receive ‘discounted’ dental services.
You are required to use a dentist that is part of the discount plan’s network. Before signing up for a discount dental plan it is wise to first make sure that your current dentist is in their network.
Best Dental Plan
The best dental plan is one that your dentist takes. Make no mistake, this is the first priority since most plans use a network of dentists.
If your dentist is not in that plan’s network, you could be looking at either bills not being covered at all, or a reduced amount being paid out for being out-of-network.
The next thing you want to make sure is that the dental insurance for seniors plan covers more key procedures than it excludes.
Case in point, some dental plans will not cover implants, while others will.
If the plan covers implants or another major procedure, does this mean that you can simply wait until the dentist tells you that you need this service and then go get a policy to immediately pay for it? This is a resounding No!
We would all love to be able to pay a monthly premium of around $40 to have $5,000 of expenses paid. The reality is that insurance doesn’t work this way.
Most dental plans have waiting periods for major services that can be up to 12 months.
This protects the insurance company from having someone simply sign up, pay $40 and then get the expensive procedure done (and then maybe cancel their policy afterwards).
Last but not least, the dental plan you choose should be within your budget. Plan premiums can vary based upon the carrier and the benefits they will pay out in a given year.
This doesn’t mean you should simply shop for the lowest premium plan.
The reality is that one of the lowest priced plans on the market also offers the most basic of benefits and has a low annual maximum benefit.
Read our article on Best Dental Insurance for Seniors on Medicare to see our top picks.
Who Has The Best Dental Insurance Plan for Seniors on Medicare?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, some dental insurance for seniors can offer comprehensive coverage including APEX Dental, Cigna, Mutual of Omaha, Manhattan Life, and Humana.
These plans typically cover preventive care, basic and major services, with options to customize your deductible, coinsurance, and premiums.
However, be aware that some plans may exclude certain procedures or providers, have waiting periods or limitations on coverage, or require preauthorization for specific treatments.
Breaking Down The Plans
Manhattan Life
The Manhattan Life dental, vision, and hearing plan has been on the market for a number of years and continues to be a client favorite.
While you can choose your dentist, you will get the most bang for your buck by using one that is in their network. The plan uses the Careington network which is quite robust.
What we like about it:
- Built in hearing benefit
- Built in vision benefit
- Monthly premiums as low as $40.23 for individual
- Guaranteed Issue (no health questions)
Mutual of Omaha
If you seek a budget-friendly, no-frills dental plan, this might suit your needs. The plan works best for folks whose dentist is in the network. This plan does not offer any hearing or vision benefits.
What we like about it:
- Large network of dentists
- Issued up to age 99
- Monthly premiums as low as $25.76 for individual
- Guaranteed Issue (no health questions)
APEX
The APEX dental plan is a newer plan that came onto the market in recent years. It uses one of the largest PPO networks of dentists and is currently available in 13 states with more being added almost each month.
What we like about it:
- Up to $5,000 in annual benefits
- Coverage for implants
- Waiting period waiver for major services if coming from another dental plan that has been effect.*
- Built in hearing benefit
- Optional stand-alone vision plan can be added.
- Monthly premiums as low as $44.01 for individual
- Discounted rate for spouse
- Guaranteed Issue (no health questions)
Guarantee Trust Life (GTL)
The dental plan from GTL is one of the only plans on the market that does NOT use a network of dentists. This means you can literally go see any dentist that you want. While your chosen dentist may not file the claim, this plan still permits you to see them. Simply pay the dentist upfront, then provide your agent with the itemized billing to file the claim.
What we like about it:
- See any dentist that you want.
- Built in hearing benefit
- Built in vision benefit
- Monthly premiums as low as $46.25 for individual
- Guaranteed Issue (no health questions)
Finding the right dental insurance for seniors on Medicare can be challenging, but not impossible. By understanding your dental needs, budget, and preferences, and comparing various plans and options, you can make an informed decision that suits you best.
While we have outlined some great plans above, be sure to contact us at (800)924-4727 to see what other plans we have available in your state.
Does Medicare cover all dental Issues?
That is a Yes & No question.
Fortunately, Medicare provides coverage for quite a bit of our healthcare, and even some dental when it is truly health related.
Medicare covers dental services such as routine dental care, emergency dental, dentures and much more.
Medicare and Dental Implants
Is it true that Medicare now pays for dental implants? Unfortunately, no. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover routine dental care or dental implants.
However, some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) might offer dental benefits, including coverage for dental implants.
To find out if your Medicare Advantage plan covers dental implants, check your plan summary of benefits or call your plan provider.
Keep in mind that even if your plan covers dental implants, you might still have to pay a portion of the cost as a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible.
Besides dentures, dental implants are one of the other concerns that many retirees are concerned about. While dental implants permanently anchor prosthetic teeth into the gum line, this procedure is also NOT covered by original Medicare
Private Dental Insurance For Seniors
Some stand-alone dental insurance plans for seniors on Medicare actually provide benefits for dental implants. These benefits typically range anywhere from $1,000 – $5,000 per year.
The cost for these plans are very affordable, but the pricing will be directly related to the amount of annual benefits the plan will pay out each year. In other words, the higher the annual maximum of benefits equates to a higher monthly plan premium.
Does a Medicare Advantage Plan cover dental benefits?
Yes. Many Medicare Advantage plans offer a limited benefit for dental coverage. Typically these services must be provided by a dentist that is in their network.
What is the best dental plan for seniors on Medicare?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best dental plan for seniors depends on various factors, such as your budget, oral health needs, and personal preferences. Before choosing a dental plan, do your research, compare costs and review benefits.
Can I get additional dental coverage if I have a Medicare Advantage plan?
Yes! Many times the amount of coverage a person may have with a Medicare Advantage plan is less than what they desire.
An example of this would be a person who has dental benefits with their Medicare Advantage plan, but it only provides up to $1,000 in annual benefits.
This individual could purchase a stand-alone dental plan that provides them with an additional $1,000 of benefits each year for a minimal monthly expense. Of course they could also choose to add up to an additional $5,000 per year in benefits if it is affordable to them.
Are dental implants worth the expense?
The answer to this question depends on individual circumstances and preferences. While dental implants are usually more expensive than other tooth replacement options, such as dentures or bridges, they also offer several advantages, such as improved comfort, function, and aesthetics.
In addition, some seniors on Medicare do not like the feeling of dentures. Moreover, dental implants can last for decades, which can make them a cost-effective long-term investment.
Why do full mouth dental implants cost so much?
Full mouth dental implants refer to the replacement of all teeth with implants. This procedure is more complex and time-consuming than single tooth implants and may require additional treatments, such as bone grafting or sinus lift.
The cost of full mouth dental implants can vary depending on many factors, such as the number and type of implants, the surgeon’s skill and experience, the geographic location, and any associated fees. It’s important to ask for a detailed treatment plan and cost estimate from your dentist.
Does Medicare Part B cover any dental services?
Medicare Part B may pay for a dental exam if it is required to be completed before a procedure is able to be performed such as open heart surgery. In addition, for these services to be covered you must have an underlying health condition. Our advice is to always ask if the service will be covered by Medicare prior to having services performed.
What are my coverage options for dental care?
Private dental plans are one of the most popular options that we see people use to cover dental care. Many of these plans also offer additional benefits to help cover vision and hearing as well.
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan you can check your plan benefits to see if dental is a benefit, or if you can add additional coverage for these benefits. Since Medicare Advantage plans typically are network driven you will most likely have to use a dental provider who is in that plan’s network. Some other key points to keep in mind:
- Most dental coverage under Medicare Advantage Plans have a coverage limit which may be lower than a private dental plan.
- Most costs incurred will require you to pay a co-insurance rather than a small co-pay.
- May restrict how often they cover a particular dental benefit.
Does Medicare cover teeth cleanings?
No. Traditional Medicare nor Medicare Supplement plans cover teeth cleanings. This is another reason why it is advisable for seniors to look at dental insurance plans.
Do Veterans receive any dental benefits?
Veterans may be eligible for reduced cost dental care or insurance. If you are a veteran, then you can start here to see if you qualify for those benefits. The VA does have clinics that provide dental care and those locations can be found here.
Take Action!
Hopefully, this article helped to alleviate some of your fears about who would end up paying for dental care, implants, and dentures.
Medicare coverage of dental services can sometimes be a bit confusing.
Senior Benefit Services has been in the Medicare business for decades and understands your concerns.
To make sure everything is understood correctly, give a Senior Benefit Services Expert a call today at (800)924-4727.
How To Get A Dental Insurance Plan
It is really simple. All you need to do is either call us at (800)924-4727 or complete the form below to request a FREE…No obligation quote.
*Not all plans are available in all states.
Contact To Us To Discuss Your Dental Insurance Options
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