Original Medicare does not cover dental services, including dentures. However, Medicare Advantage and private dental insurance plans may help cover or lower your out-of-pocket cost.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reports that
One solution is dentures, which can help improve your health in many ways. They can improve your ability to chew your food, support your jaw, maintain the structural integrity of your face, and give you back your smile.
But dentures can be expensive to purchase out of pocket. Read on to learn about your options for covering dentures through Medicare and private dental insurance plans.
If you have a health condition that requires surgical tooth removal, Medicare may provide some coverage for the tooth extraction. But Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t cover dentures of any type.
Why doesn’t Medicare cover dentures?
The Medicare program was originally designed without including dental care. For this reason, as well as the costs associated with dental care, Medicare still doesn’t cover it. The
What dental services are covered by Medicare?
Medicare doesn’t typically cover any dental services. There are only a few notable exceptions:
Learn more about whether Medicare covers dental.
If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, your specific plan may offer some dental coverage, including dentures.
You can call your insurance provider to check whether you have denture coverage. You may want to ask if you need to meet certain criteria to qualify for this coverage.
If you aren’t currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you can consider switching from Original Medicare (parts A and B) to Part C. But you can only do so during the appropriate enrollment periods.
You can explore the available Medicare Advantage plans in your area online.
Can I purchase a separate dental plan?
You can always get a stand-alone private dental insurance plan.
You might get this type of plan through an employer. It’s also possible to purchase a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Depending on the plan, it may cover dentures.
Can I use Medigap to pay for dentures?
Medigap plans, also called Medicare supplement plans, can help lower the costs of Medicare coinsurance, copays, and deductibles. They can make Medicare cheaper, even though you have to pay a monthly premium for them.
That said, Medigap does not expand the scope of your Medicare coverage. If you have Original Medicare, a Medigap policy won’t change what you pay out of pocket for dentures.
The cost of dentures averages around $1,500 to $2,000, depending on the denture type.
If you have Original Medicare, you’ll need to pay the entire cost of dentures out of pocket. If you have another plan, it may cover some or all of the cost.
You’ll also need to pay for the denture-fitting appointment and any follow-ups, diagnostic tests, or additional appointments with your dentist. Unless you have stand-alone dental insurance in addition to Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental coverage, you’ll also pay for all of this out of pocket.
If you are a member of a union, a professional organization, a veteran organization, or an organization for senior citizens, you may be eligible for discounts with your dentist. Contact your dentist to ask about any membership or club discount programs in which they might participate.
If you average the yearly cost of your dental care and divide it by 12, you’ll have a rough estimate of what your dental care costs you each month. If you can find dental coverage that costs less than that amount, you may save money on dentures and dental appointments throughout the year.
Learn more about where to find free or reduced cost adult dental care.
Original Medicare won’t cover the cost of dentures. If you know you need new dentures in the coming year, your best option may be switching to a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan that offers dental coverage during the next Medicare enrollment period.
Another option to consider is purchasing private dental insurance.