As we age, we have to face a number of health problems that simply didn’t affect us when we were younger. One of these issues is the loss of teeth. Many older Americans who are experiencing teeth loss decide to begin using dentures. Studies have shown that adults over 65 have an average of 18.9 teeth remaining. Additionally, 27.27% of adults over 65 have no remaining teeth at all. If you’re considering dentures, then you may also be curious to know, “Does Medicare cover dentures?”
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Original Medicare tends to only cover dental health services and products in very specific situations. These are typically limited to emergency or complicated dental procedures that you receive in an inpatient setting. Unfortunately, this means that Original Medicare does not provide coverage for dentures. If you only have an Original Medicare plan, you’re going to need to foot the entire bill for a new set of dentures.
Medicare Advantage plans almost always cover a good portion of the costs of basic dental care. With one of these plans, you can receive coverage for root canals, tooth extractions, crowns, and, thankfully, dentures as well. That being said, Medicare Advantage plans are sold through private insurers, so your exact coverage will vary.
There are two primary types of dentures, each of which can be covered by your Medicare Advantage plan. The first is removable dentures, which can take the place of an entire set of teeth or just a section of them. The other option is called implant dentures. These are surgically implanted into the jaw with a titanium root and cap. Be sure to talk with your dentist before picking the type of dentures that are right for you. Once you do, as long as you have Medicare Part C coverage, there’s a good chance that the dentures you select will be covered.
However, you may or may not still have to pay a portion of the costs for your dentures. Some types of Medicare Advantage plans have annual limits on the dollar amount for dental care that will be covered. This often lies between $1,000 and $2,000.
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If your Medicare plan won’t cover your dentures, then you really have two options for how to proceed. First, you can simply pay for the dentures that you need out of pocket. Of course, that’s not going to be a possibility for many older adults. Another choice that you have is to try to adjust your coverage or to sign up for a new plan that will cover the costs of your dentures. You may be able to do this through a Medicare Supplement plan or by simply signing up for Medicare Part C if you haven’t already.
How Can Time for 65 Help?
Time for 65 can help you learn more about your coverage for dentures under Medicare and the types of plans that will meet your dental care needs. If you’d like to learn more, or are curious to find out what else does Medicare cover, consider contacting one of our partnered licensed agents today. You can do so by either filling out this form or giving us a call.