Tips to Find the Best Dental Plans For Medicare Beneficiaries
Here are some ways to find the best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare. Original Medicare does not cover oral health so you’ll want to consider options for dental coverage. Here are some tips to help;
- Think about what dental service you need?
- Do you need dentures or implants?
- Are your teeth in relatively good or bad shape?
- Consider Medicare Advantage plans with dental benefits.
- Separate dental insurance for seniors can cover more.
- Review policy coverage carefully.
- Read all limitations.
- Call companies advertising their products.
- Get a second opinion from a local insurance specialist.
Shopping and Comparing To Find The Best Dental Insurance
Seniors on Medicare have many options for dental coverage.
Two in three seniors 65 and older have gum disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And 1 in 5 adults 65+ have lost all their teeth.
Gum disease increases the risk of heart disease. Older adults with poor dental hygiene who smoke are at increased risk of bacterial pneumonia. They also face increased risk of oral cancers. While rare, some 54,000 cases or oral cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year.
Brokers Offer Dental Insurance for Seniors
Click here to access the directory of Medicare insurance brokers
Many local Medicare insurance brokers and agents help seniors compare available dental plans. Those who offer Medicare Supplement (Medigap) very often also offer senior dental plans.
Agents who offer Medicare Advantage (MA) plans should be a resource you turn to as well. Dental coverage within these plans is often included (free). But benefits can vary significantly and are rarely outlined in the promotional material.
You can find a listing of local Medicare agents by using the Association’s national directory. It is free and completely private. Simply enter your zip code.
Click the link to access the Free Medicare Insurance Agent Directory.
5 Tips To Get Best Dental Plan For Seniors
- Add dental considerations when you first sign-up for Medicare. Most people only focus on the medical or health-related aspects of Medicare when they turn 65. That is understandable because deciding what’s the best health-plan option can be confusing enough. But, dental is an important component and should at least be weighed as a factor when comparing options.
- When weighing Medicare Advantage plans dig deeper than just the promotional material. Today, more Americans sign-up for Medicare Advantage coverage (than for Medigap). And, these plans often advertise the fact that they include free added benefits. Dental is commonly mentioned as one of the added benefits. But that’s where the similarity ends. What plans cover and what limits exist can vary. And they can be quite significant. Ask for details to be spelled out in writing. Or you may be very surprised (and disappointed) when you need dental care.
- Consider what dental care providers you care to use. Chances are you already have a dentist. If you like your dentist, do you want to continue using them? Check carefully to see if your dentist is coverage by a particular dental plan you are considering.
- Call your dental office and speak to the office manager. He or she likely knows better than anyone what dental insurance for seniors plans are best. Which best cover the types of care you generally need? Do any of them have issues (such as denying claims)? It could be a very worthwhile quick call to make.
- Talk to a local Medicare insurance broker. The terms insurance agent and insurance broker seem to mean the same thing. That’s not true. An agent generally represents just one insurance company. A broker typically is independent and represents multiple insurance companies. Is one better than the other? No. But at least know why they may be recommending a particular insurance plan.
Top Dental Insurance Plans
Multiple insurance companies offer dental plans to seniors with Medicare. There are pros and cons for each plan. Some insurance companies offer multiple plans to compare. It pays to work with someone who can help you compare plans from these providers:
- Aetna
- Aflac
- Cigna
- Delta Dental
- Humana
- Renaissance Dental
- United Healthcare
Best Medicare Insurance Resources
Find Local Dental Insurance Agent
Latest Medicare Insurance Statistics
Find Best Medicare Advantage plans
Learn more about Best Medicare drug plan options