Medicare is the government health insurance provided for elderly and young people with critical health conditions and disabilities. Medicare helps in covering specific medical services which are divided into three main parts. The first is Part A, which covers the hospital insurance; the patients’ stay in the hospital, and all the services provided during this time. Part A also provides home health care if needed. Part B provides preventive services, a very important factor in the early detection of diseases and illnesses. It also covers doctors’ services and medical supplies. Medicare Part D provides coverage for prescription drugs as well as some of the required vaccines. However, are there ways to know whether dental care is covered through the Medicare program or not? And what are the best options to get dental care coverage at a convenient rate and plan?
Original Medicare
Dental routine examinations and services are not covered by Original Medicare unless your dental problem results from an injury or an accident. If you are infected by a disease that causes dental problems, Original Medicare might provide coverage for this particular damage. If you suffer a dental emergency that requires a hospital stay, Part A will only provide coverage for your hospital stay but not for the dental procedures. Some surgical operations like kidney transplants require a dental examination, in this case, it can be covered either in Part A or B, depending on where it’s going to be performed. Since Original Medicare does not provide coverage for dental care, you are the one responsible for the cost of dental health care unless you have other dental insurance.
Medicare Advantage Plan or Part C
Medicare Advantage plans may include additional medical services and benefits. In this part, you can get dental care coverage for basic dental procedures like routine X-rays, extractions, fillings, and teeth cleaning. Now you need to understand that not all Medicare Advantage Plans cover dental care. Before signing your Medicare Plan contract read all the details of the coverage to make sure that dental care is included with a suitable budget and services that fit all your needs.
Options for Dental Care Coverage
As mentioned before the only way to get dental care coverage is through Medicare Advantage Plan, but what are the other options? Dental insurance and dental discount cards are other options that you might need to consider. For complete dental insurance coverage, a decent article about best dental insurance for seniors might help you learn about dental insurance plans that are appropriate for your needs and budget. You need to consider important issues when choosing dental insurance like the monthly premium, annual limit, and out-of-pocket amount. Read through the insurance policy carefully before you jump into something you’re not capable of covering financially.
Dental Discount Cards
Dental discount cards are different from Medicare Advantage Plans and dental insurance. It is exactly how it’s described, you will pay the dental service cost but with a discount rate or percentage. In order to receive dental discount cards, you have to be a member of a network of dentists who agreed to offer dental services at a discounted rate. In this program, you get to pay an annual payment and then receive your discount card, which can be used at any time whenever dental care is needed. When you consider dental care you need to calculate your budget; the annual and monthly amount you’ll pay. A dental discount plan can be a good alternative based on your dental health condition.
Dental care is a major concern for everyone, especially for elderly people, however, it is unfortunately not covered in all parts of the Medicare program. You need to have a Medicare Advantage Plan for your dental coverage, which basically provides limited dental services. There are other options for you to choose from, like dental insurance or a discount plan. If you decide to consider dental insurance, you need to be careful with the budget in comparison to the dental services it provides. The premium or monthly payment can be a bit high when compared to the offered plan. If you are planning to buy dental insurance make sure you pick a plan that best fits your needs and budget. Another option to consider is the dental discount card, which also has an annual fee in addition to the cost of the service for each visit. You have to calculate the benefits of the amount of money you’re going to spend on any dental plan. A smart way to make a decision that best complies with your needs is to research how many dental procedures you need to do.
