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A healthy smile at any age
Get the most out of your Medicare dental benefits from teeth cleanings to dentures, and more.
By Devoted Health Team
June 17, 2024
Getting the dental care you need is an important part of a healthy smile. But it can be difficult to navigate all of your Medicare benefits. Especially when it comes to dental cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, and dentures. That's why we’re here to help you understand your dental coverage and all the services you can get.
3 paths to dental coverage
If you have Medicare, you may be wondering if you automatically get dental benefits. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) generally doesn't include dental coverage. But there are still plenty of options to get the dental benefits you want:
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans: Some of these plans offer dental benefits. If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, check if dental services are included.
- Stand-alone dental plans: Consider buying a separate dental insurance plan that specifically covers the dental care you need.
- Medicaid: If you have a limited income, Medicaid may help pay some of your dental bills, depending on your state.
All the dental services explained
When it comes to all the types of dental services out there, here are a few examples to think about to keep your teeth in check:
- Preventive care: This may include 6-month cleanings, routine exams, and even X-rays.
- Basic procedures: For problems like cavities, you might have coverage for fillings and tooth extractions.
- Major services: Some plans may partially cover more complex procedures like root canals, crowns, or even dentures.
Be sure to check If you have a Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental benefits. Depending on who you have, there may be cleanings and X-rays, procedures like fillings and extractions, and even more advanced care and major services included.
Remember that if you’re on a standalone fee-for-service dental plan, you’ll typically pay a premium. The plan will cover part of the dental services cost that you receive (though terms may vary from plan to plan, so be sure to read the fine print).
Navigating Medicare coverage limits and restrictions
Even if your plan does cover dental, there’s often some limits involved, so be sure you understand all of your coverage. Have questions? Call us at 1-800-483-8066 (TTY 711) to help. Lots of plans have important info like:
- Annual limits: Many plans have a cap on how much they'll pay in a year. It's important to know this limit, so you can plan your care.
- Waiting periods: Unless you’re brand new to a plan, you may have a waiting period. This means you’ll have to wait for some time before you can use dental benefits.
- Frequency limits: Your plan may limit the number of times you can get a service during a certain period of time. For example, your plan may only cover teeth cleanings twice a year. Or, if you get a set of dentures, you may have to wait another five years before you qualify for a new set.
- Network restrictions: You may have to see a dentist within your plan's network to get your full benefits.
When it comes to coverage, the more you know, the better. Plan out your preventive care visits and use that time to talk to your dentist about any concerns.
If you have other questions, you can talk to your health plan as well. Plans like Devoted Health have agents to help answer your dental benefit questions at 1-800-483-8066 (TTY 711)
How Devoted can help
We have licensed representatives available to help you with your questions or answer more questions about Devoted Health Medicare Advantage plans. Call us at 1-800-483-8066 (TTY 711) for personalized assistance.
You can also learn more about your Medicare options in this free Medicare Comparison Guide.
Additional reading
New to Medicare? Here’s where to start