Health & Fitness The Truth About Medicare Dental Implants: What You Need to Know Uneeb KhanOctober 24, 20220146 views You may know that medicare dental implants has two components: Part A and Part B. Part A covers hospitalization and other medical services, while Part B covers outpatient services like doctor visits, lab tests, and home healthcare. If you’re a senior who needs dental coverage, you may wonder if you can get dental care under Medicare. The answer is yes! Many people are surprised to learn that Medicare has a dental plan called “D’s Pricing Plan” or more commonly known as the “Medicare D’s”. (And no, the D doesn’t stand for dentures – it stands for dental.) As you research your treatment options during retirement, it may be helpful to understand how the “Medicare D’s” work in conjunction with traditional Medicare plans to help you have healthy teeth for as long as possible into your golden years. Table of Contents What Is the Medicare Dental Plan?How Does the Dental Plan Work?What Are the Benefits of a Medicare Dental Plan?Is There a Copay for Dental Visits and Services?Do You Have to Join the Dental Plan to Get Coverage?What Are Some Good Reasons to Join the Plan Anyway?Who Should Join the Medicare Dental Plan?Who Should NOT Join the Medicare Dental Plan?Final Words: The Bottom Line What Is the Medicare Dental Plan? Medicare dental implants is the federally funded dental insurance plan that all Medicare beneficiaries are eligible to join. The plan’s benefits depend on the type of plan you choose. There are several types of plans, each with its own benefits and coverage options. The standard plan, however, is a basic dental coverage plan that is provided at no cost to all Medicare beneficiaries. These plans are a great way to get dental care if you don’t have any other coverage. If you have other coverage that would cover dental care, though, you generally can’t use both at the same time. How Does the Dental Plan Work? Medicare dental implants is a type of insurance coverage that helps you pay for the cost of dental care. You can enroll in a dental plan when you first become eligible for Medicare. The coverage under the dental plan is secondary to your medical coverage. Plan premiums depend on the type of coverage you choose. If you don’t choose to enroll in a dental plan, you won’t get any dental coverage. It’s important to note that you can’t add a dental plan to your Medicare coverage after you’ve already enrolled in Medicare. You must enroll at the time of eligibility. You can select a dental plan during the initial enrollment period (IEP) for Medicare. This is the period during which you can switch from an original Medicare coverage plan to a Medicare Advantage plan. What Are the Benefits of a Medicare Dental Plan? One of the main benefits of a Medicare dental plan is that it covers the cost of dental cleaning under the plan. The plan also covers other basic services, like fillings and tooth extractions. You’ll need to select a plan that offers comprehensive coverage. This means that the plan will cover more of your dental care costs than a standard plan. A Medicare dental plan also covers medicare dental implants, dental crowns, and dentures. It does not, however, cover tooth whitening or orthodontics. It also does not cover the cost of replacing missing teeth with dentures, only the cost of getting the dentures in the first place. Is There a Copay for Dental Visits and Services? There is no copay for the first dental cleaning during the year. You can then get another cleaning at any time during the year. If you have to get fillings or extractions, though, you may have to pay a copay. This is generally $50 per visit, but this amount may change. Do You Have to Join the Dental Plan to Get Coverage? You must join a Medicare dental plan in order to get coverage. You don’t have the option of taking out the plan and then cancelling it later. If you want coverage, you need to enroll. What Are Some Good Reasons to Join the Plan Anyway? If you have other dental coverage that would cover more of your dental care costs, you may want to consider joining the Medicare dental plan anyway. This way, you’ll still have dental coverage in case your other dental insurance plan doesn’t cover a specific need. If you don’t have any dental coverage, though, it’s a good idea to enroll in the dental plan anyway. If you have other medical coverage, the dental plan only covers dental care that can’t be treated with your other medical coverage. There are a few specific types of dental care that only the dental plan will cover. These include medicare dental implants, dentures, and crowns. Who Should Join the Medicare Dental Plan? If you don’t have dental coverage, it’s a good idea to enroll in the Medicare dental plan. This way, you’ll still have coverage even if you can’t afford dental insurance of your own. It’s important to note that the dental plan won’t cover as much of your dental care costs as dental insurance would. If you have other dental coverage, it may make more sense to enroll in the Medicare dental plan so that you’ll have a dental plan if your other coverage doesn’t cover a specific need. If you have other medical coverage that covers dental care, though, the dental plan only covers dental care that your other plan won’t cover. Who Should NOT Join the Medicare Dental Plan? If you have other dental coverage that would cover most of your dental care costs, it may not make sense to enroll in the dental plan. If you don’t have dental coverage, though, it’s a good idea to enroll in the dental plan. If you have other medical coverage that covers dental care, you should generally use that coverage first. This way, you’ll get the best use out of your medical coverage. You can still use the dental plan for dental care that your other coverage doesn’t cover. Final Words: The Bottom Line If you’re a senior who needs dental coverage, you can get dental care under Medicare. The Medicare dental plan is a federally funded dental insurance plan that all beneficiaries are eligible to join. The plan has a standard dental coverage plan that is provided at no cost to all beneficiaries. If you have other dental coverage, it may make more sense to join the Medicare dental plan anyway.