Dental Insurance Articles
Dental Insurance and Medicare
2010-06-02
Medicare, the public health insurance program used by most senior citizens, does not cover routine dental services. In fact, Medicare has very limited dental insurance benefits. Generally, the only dental services that Medicare will reimburse are for those services that are necessary as part of another covered procedure, such as jaw reconstruction after an accident, or in preparation for certain radiation treatments. Most seniors, therefore, face the prospect of paying for dental services on their own.
Many seniors use traditional Medicare (essentially an 80-20 indemnity plan), with or without a supplement plan. Even with a supplement plan, these individuals have no coverage for most dental services because the supplement plans generally deny coverage for anything not approved by Medicare. Other seniors have moved to a Medicare HMO plan. Under some of these plans, certain dental services beyond those reimbursed by traditional Medicare may be covered. In some circumstances, Medicare HMOs may cover such items as routine check-ups, X-rays, fillings and tooth extractions. It is essential for seniors who have a Medicare HMO to review their plan descriptions carefully. Many HMOs may have offered some dental coverage several years ago, but more and more are eliminating this benefit as costs have increased.
If a senior has either traditional Medicare or a Medicare HMO without dental coverage, one option may be to purchase an individual plan with dental insurance benefits. Such dental plans are widely available and generally affordable. In fact, dental insurance is often much less expensive than other types of health insurance because the costs of dental services and the number of yearly visits to the dentist are typically lower. Premiums for these dental plans can vary based on the extent of coverage and the deductible or co-pays amounts. Some plans will cover all or most dental services; others will limit coverage to only the more routine services.
Another alternative may be a discount dental plan. These plans are not insurance; you will remain responsible for paying the costs of any dental services. However, for a monthly or yearly fee, you are provided access to a list of dentists who will provide services at a discounted rate, potentially saving a significant amount of money. For those people interested in a discount plan, it is crucial to choose a reliable company. Some companies have a number of complaints against them for fraudulent or questionable business practices.
Seniors must remember that Medicare will generally not pay for most of your dental needs, unless the services are required as part of certain medical treatments. Still, there are a number of reasonable and affordable options for providing seniors with coverage for most dental services.