Learn More About Dental Insurance Plans In Your Area

The need for dental insurance continues to grow, especially for Medicare beneficiaries. Many people are unaware that Medicare doesn't cover many costly dental services.

Medicare doesn't cover most dental care, procedures, or supplies, such as cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, dentures, plates, or other dental devices. The right dental insurance can help with these more preventative and routine costs and provide coverage for basic and major services.

Medicare may cover:

• Certain dental services you get when you're admitted as a hospital inpatient for your dental procedure, either because of an underlying medical condition or the severity of the procedure. In addition, Medicare Part A (hospital 80%) may pay if you need emergency or complicated dental procedures, even though the dental care isn't covered.
• Specific inpatient or outpatient dental services directly related to certain covered medical treatments. In these cases, you must get the dental service because it's linked to the success of the medical treatment you need, like:
  • An oral exam and dental treatment before you get a heart valve replacement or a bone marrow, organ, or kidney transplant.
  • A procedure (like a tooth extraction) to treat a mouth infection before you get cancer treatment services like chemotherapy.
  • Treatment for a complication you experience while getting head and neck cancer treatment services.

Many Americans struggle to obtain proper dental insurance, which can lead to a mouth full of trouble. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five adults over 65 has untreated tooth decay, which can lead to more severe health complications if not corrected.