At all stages of our lives, taking care of your mouth, teeth, and gums is good practice. But when we age, our dental needs change and dental hygiene becomes even more important as root decay, gum disease, and tooth loss are common conditions many seniors face. Dental health is connected to overall health, with conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and types of cancer showing a relationship to oral hygiene.
To prevent serious health problems and to save money on dental care, it’s essential to have regular dental care. But, even if you take preventative measures by having regular appointments and cleaning, dental bills can add up quickly. After retiring, many seniors no longer have insurance and they’re left to find their own dental coverage.
You might be surprised to find out that Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of most dental care, routine procedures, or supplies. The only service covered by Medicare is under Medicare Part A which pays for some emergency dental services while you’re in the hospital, but routine dental care isn’t covered.
Because there is no coverage for dental care, it’s important for seniors to look into medicare supplemental dental insurances, to avoid being hit with huge dental bills that have to be paid out of pocket.
So, what dental coverage options are available and which one is best for your needs?
Dental Coverage Through Medicare Advantage Plan
Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) are purchased through private insurance companies contracted with Medicare. It includes everything from Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) as well as routine dental, routine vision, and Medicare prescription drug coverage.
The dental benefits are usually limited to cleanings, exams, X-rays, and dentures. Not all Medicare Part C plans cover the benefits in the same way as some of them only cover “Medicare-covered dental benefits,” which refers to the Medicare Part A benefits in the events of an accident or disease of the jaw. But, if you want more coverage, you’ll have to pay a higher monthly premium or you can look into dental insurance options, which are sold by private insurances and they don’t need to be through Medicare.
Dental Insurance
To get complete dental coverage, you’ll have to buy an individual dental insurance plan that’s tailored to your needs. The average cost for these plans is around $175 to $360 per year.
There may also be group dental insurance options if you or your spouse is still employed. When choosing the plan that’s right for you, be sure to read the plans carefully as some plans require you to stay within network for dental care providers. Although the premiums for these plans can be high, you’ll end up paying less out-of-pocket for copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. Some plans allow you to see any dental professional, but you may have to pay more for this service.
Dental Discount Cards
There are some dental care providers that work with dental discount cards, but these shouldn’t be confused with Medicare or dental insurance as there are no benefits associated with them. There are also no pre-negotiated rates or free yearly checkups or cleanings with these cards.
If you’re wondering how they work, participating dentists agree to offer discounts for medical services and seniors pay their dentists directly for the cost of the services.
There is one annual fee, which usually costs around $100-$200, and then you’re able to use the card whenever you need dental care without there being a limit to the number of times you can visit your dentist. With dental discount cards, you’re responsible for paying 100% of your dental care, but you usually end up saving between 20 to 50 percent on each service because the dental professionals who accept these cards charge discounted rates for dental exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, etc.
