The Best Dental Insurance for Seniors on Medicare in 2021

Faq

How To Buy & Compare The Best Medicare Dental Plans

Follow a few key steps to find the best plan.

1. When you sign up for Medicare, decide if you want to purchase a Medicare Advantage Plan with dental coverage. Not all Medicare Advantage plans come with dental coverage, and since Original Medicare does not cover oral health, you’ll want to check if your plan explicitly lists dental coverage and what coverage it provides.
2. Find Medicare Advantage plans in your service area. Using the plan search on the Medicare website or your provider’s plan comparison, you’ll need to enter your zip code and possibly other personal information (such as date of birth) to see which plans may be available to you.
3. Decide on the dental services you think you need. Dentures? Dental extraction ? Regular cleanings? Not all dental care is created equal. If regular cleanings are all you think you need, you may not need more intensive coverage, like the one that covers dentures. It is worth taking a close look at which plans cover which services.
4. Compare the difference in cost between the plans. Cost is always a determining factor, especially for insurance. When it comes to dental insurance, oral care can quickly become very expensive. Since different plans will provide coverage for different services, choose carefully – you don’t want to pay for care you don’t need. Consider the prices of different providers and different levels of coverage, and consider your current level of oral care to determine what you may need in the future.
5. Get a second opinion from a knowledgeable resource. An insurance broker or an agent can be a valuable asset during your decision making process. Not only do brokers have a wealth of knowledge and experience, they sometimes have better access to more plan options or at lower costs than you would find elsewhere. The best part? Brokers are completely free to consumers and are required to follow strict regulations, so they cannot provide you with more information than what you are specifically wondering about.
6. To register. You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan when you become eligible based on your age or disability, or during the open enrollment period.

What dental benefits are covered by Medicare?

Neither Original Medicare nor Medicare Advantage is required to cover dental care, but many providers will include dental and vision care in their Medicare Advantage plans.

Is It Cheaper To Buy Dental Insurance Outside Of Medicare?

It depends on the dental coverage you need. In addition to the different prices offered by these plans, if you buy through Medicare, you can take advantage of packages that lower the price and allow you to easily pay a single provider. If you do not need or wish to obtain your dental coverage through your health insurance provider, it may be worth considering separate dental coverage, particularly if you have more specific needs than what Medicare Advantage plans can offer.

How Much Should I Expect to Pay for Medicare Dental Insurance?

It varies according to the level of coverage, both for the medical aspect and for the dental aspect. Medicare Advantage plans can be as low as $ 0 or more than $ 100 per month, and some providers only offer dental care at an additional cost (from $ 14 to almost $ 100). These prices can also vary widely depending on the drug coverage you purchase and the drugs you are prescribed, as some plans add a premium for Part D prescription drug coverage. Many factors are part of the overall cost of Medicare Advantage plans, but overall total costs can range from less than $ 100 per month to over $ 300 or more, depending on the level of care and coverage you select for each aspect different from your plan.

Is Dental Insurance Through Medicare Advantage Worth It?

According to the plan, yes. If you don’t anticipate needing a lot of dental care, with the possible exception of occasional cleaning or an x-ray, then a simple plan that covers preventative dental care may be right for you. If you know you will have certain dental needs (for example, dentures), it is worth buying different Medicare Advantage plans and exploring exactly what each plan covers, as all Medicare Advantage plans that provide care Complete dental work does not cover all aspects of dental care. . Some plans do, however, and it’s worth considering the comparative costs of those plans, especially for surgery and similar expenses. However, most of these plans have a maximum annual coverage amount, so if you know you have big dental bills ahead of you, it may be worth looking for a plan specifically designed for dental care. Prices may be more affordable for more detailed care.

How We Choose the Best Medicare Dental Insurance for Seniors

When we looked at the best Medicare Advantage plans for dental coverage, we first looked at the geographic range of services. We looked at plans that serve at least 40 states or that offer dental coverage in as many states as they offer medical coverage. Next, we compared premiums and co-payments, website ease of use, coverage and care details, and more. We favored companies that included comprehensive dental and preventive care, as well as services such as implants and bridges. Our attention to cost detail allowed us to compare both a monthly premium level and an overall deductible-based cost to help you make the best choice for your budget.