Does Medicare cover dental care?

Oral health is an important part of living a healthy life, especially as we get older. There are many ways to maintain good oral health including practicing good oral hygiene, quitting smoking or chewing tobacco, limiting alcoholic drinks, working to maintain control of diabetes and regular dental visits. If you are looking for a Medicare coverage option that helps you focus on taking care of your oral health, it is important to know what choices are available to you.

Does Medicare cover dental care? Yes and no. Let’s break down dental coverage by Medicare type:

Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B)

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care aka care you receive in a dentist’s office. This includes cleanings, dentures, dental plates, fillings, tooth extractions, etc. It may cover emergency or complicated dental procedures received in a hospital. For example, if you were in a serious accident and your injury affected your face, jaw and mouth.

Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C)

Generally, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are the only way to get dental services covered under Medicare. Plans cover the same emergency or complicated dental procedures as Original Medicare, plus routine dental care services. Coverage options vary by plan and can include both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage. Some plans offer this as an enhanced benefit and others include it in their core product.

Medicare Supplement plans (MedSupp)

Medicare supplemental insurance plans (aka MedSupp or Medigap) cover costs not covered by Original Medicare including copays, deductibles and coinsurance. There is no dental coverage available under a MedSupp plan.

As you get closer to age 65, there are important choices you’ll need to make about your healthcare. To make the most of Medicare, you need to understand your options and how they work. Aspire Health Plan is here to answer any Medicare questions you may have. Give us a call at your convenience for friendly, no-obligation advice. Call (855) 378-9680. (TTY users call 711.)

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