Original Medicare — parts A (hospital care) and B (medical care) — don’t typically include dental coverage. That means that the cost for routine services like dental exams, cleanings, and tooth extractions will fall to you. Medicare also doesn’t cover dental supplies like dentures, orthodontic equipment, or retainers.
However, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans do include coverage for dental care. Each plan has different costs and details on how these benefits can be used.
Read on to find out more about your dental coverage options through Medicare.
While original Medicare doesn’t generally cover dental care, there are some exceptions. If you need dental care because of an illness or injury that requires a hospital stay, your dental treatment may be covered.
Some examples of when dental care may be covered include:
- If you fall and fracture your jaw, Medicare may pay for the surgery to rebuild the bones in your jaw and fix any damaged teeth.
- Some complicated dental procedures are also covered if they’re performed in a hospital, but whether they’re covered by Part A or Part B will be determined by whether you’re an inpatient or an outpatient.
- You may receive coverage f you need dental services because of oral cancer or another covered illness.
- Medicare may pay for a tooth extraction if your doctors think it’s necessary to remove the tooth prior to heart surgery, radiation therapy, or some other covered procedure.
Medicare Part A
If you know that you will require a medically necessary dental procedure to treat a medical condition, you may get coverage under Medicare Part A if you are a hospital inpatient.
Medicare Part B
If you need to have medically necessary dental procedure performed on an outpatient basis, Medicare Part B may cover it.
Medicare Part C
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies that have been approved by Medicare. These plans are an alternative to original Medicare and often pay for services that aren’t covered by parts A and B.
With this type of plan, you may need to pay a monthly premium or a coinsurance payment. You also need to check if your dentist is in the plan’s network for the services to be covered.
To determine if your current Medicare Part C plan covers dental, you can talk to a representative from the insurance company or read the details contained in the Evidence of Coverage (EOC) document you received when you enrolled in the plan.
Medigap
Generally, Medigap coverage helps you pay for copays and deductibles related to services covered by original Medicare. Most of the time, Medigap doesn’t provide coverage for extra services like dental care.
Depending on where you live, an annual dental cleaning and examination could cost between $75 to $200. That cost could be higher if you need a deep cleaning or X-rays.
Since most dental services and supplies aren’t covered by Medicare Part A and Part B, If you know you may need dental care in the next year, a Medicare Advantage plan may be a good option.
When you’re making this decision, be sure to consider your future needs as well as your family dental history. If you think there’s a possibility you may need implants or dentures in the future, factor that into your decision-making as well.
Comparing Medicare plans for dental coverage
| Medicare plan | Dental services covered? |
|---|---|
| Medicare parts A and B (original Medicare) | No (unless you have a serious injury that affects your mouth, jaw, face) |
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | Sometimes (not all plans are required to include dental, so check the plan details before enrolling) |
| Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) | No |
You may also want to consider dental coverage outside of Medicare. You may have options, such as:
- Stand-alone dental insurance. These plans require you to pay a separate premium for coverage.
- Spouse or partner employee-sponsored insurance plan. If it’s possible to sign up for coverage under a spouse’s dental plan, that may be a less expensive option.
- Dental discount groups. These don’t provide insurance coverage, but they allow members to get dental services at a lower cost.
- Medicaid. Depending on the state you live in and your financial situation, you may be eligible for dental care through Medicaid.
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). The PACE program can help you get coordinated care within your local community, including dental services.
Good dental care is vital to maintaining your overall health and wellness. Poor dental hygiene has been linked to chronic inflammation, diabetes, heart conditions, and other serious health difficulties.
And studies have also shown that people sometimes neglect their dental care as they get older, often because dental care can be expensive.
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One nationally representative poll conducted in 2017 revealed that cost was the most common reason people didn’t seek professional help in caring for their teeth. Yet good preventive care can help you avoid more serious dental problems in the future.
For that reason, it’s a good idea to consider an affordable plan that’ll cover the dental services you need as you get older.
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy as you age is important to maintaining your overall physical health.
Original Medicare parts A and B don’t pay for dental services, including routine examinations, tooth extractions, root canals, and other basic dental services. They also don’t cover dental supplies like dentures and braces.
There are some exceptions, though: If you need complicated dental surgeries, or if you need dental services because of a covered illness or injury, Medicare may pay for your treatment.
Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans do offer dental coverage, but you may need to pay a monthly premium or use in-network dentists to take advantage of the coverage.