Original Medicare, which includes both Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance), unfortunately, does not cover routine dental care, such as cleanings, fillings, crowns, and dentures. If you have Original Medicare and want dental coverage, there is good news! You can purchase a separate dental plan or enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) that includes dental benefits.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage Plans bundle together Part A, Part B, and often Part D (prescription drug coverage). Many plans also include other coverage such as dental, vision, and hearing.
Did you know that 67 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a separate Medicare Advantage Plan? You can save money on your dental coverage too!
Find your best Medicare Advantage plan with Medicare World today!
While you are comparing your Medicare options, be sure to check the coverage to make sure that you are getting the care you want and need, without incurring additional costs that may offset the upfront savings.
Here are 2021’s top 6 dental insurance providers for seniors in Medicare:
Best Overall: United Healthcare
Best Customer Service: Kaiser Permanente
Best Online Tools: Humana
Best National Coverage: Aetna
Best for Potential New Offerings: WellCare
Best for Special Needs: Cigna
Source: Data was collected from Medicare Advantage Plan providers and close to 100 individual plans. Medicare’s CMS Star Rating, J.D. Power customer service ratings for Medicare Advantage Plan providers, and geographic availability were also considered.
Dental benefits & costs
Some people prefer a Medicare Advantage Plan because it bundles all coverage under one plan that often includes a prescription drug program and added benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing care. Also, many prefer a lower monthly premium (sometimes $0) based on how they feel they will access the coverage.
The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium for 2021 is $21, although the monthly premiums for a Medicare Advantage Plan can range from $0 to over $100. There are also out-of-pocket costs such as copayments and coinsurance. For some plans, out-of-pocket costs can also be impacted by going to doctors who work out of your network.