The Original Medicare plan is good coverage but it is not complete coverage. Generally speaking, its members are responsible for 20% of the cost of their health care.
So, what about dental care? Is it also covered by Medicare? In a few words: usually no but sometimes yes.
Original Medicare (and the Medigap plans that supplement Original Medicare) do not cover routine dental care. You must pay the entire bill out of your own pocket or with the help of a separate dental insurance policy.
Routine care includes things like getting a yearly cleaning, having a cavity filled and needing a crown or bridge.
Dentures and cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening are other examples of routine dental care not covered by Original Medicare.
Emergencies are different.
Imagine you fall on the ice and break a tooth from hitting the ground. Medicare considers this a dental emergency and will pay a portion of the cost through Medicare Part B.
Medicare Part C, more commonly known as Medicare Advantage, handles dental care in a different way. More than 60% of these plans have dental benefits.
Often, the coverage is basic – maybe an annual cleaning or a simple filling – but some Medicare Advantage plans cover more things at no extra cost or in exchange for paying a higher monthly premium.
Many insurance companies offer dental-only plans. These are popular with Medicare supplement enrollees.
The largest dental insurance providers include Delta Dental, Cigna, Humana, United Healthcare and Physicians Mutual.
Other companies sell non-insurance discount cards that give the cardholder special discounts when they're at the dentist's office. Dental discount cards are typically less expensive than dental insurance.