Medicare provides basic health insurance, such as hospital and medical coverage. You can also add coverage to your original Medicare plan if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). These plans offer additional coverage, and they are provided by private companies that have a contract with Medicare. You are not required to enroll in Part C, but doing so gives you more options if you need dental care.
Medicare and Dental Coverage
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not provide dental coverage or any additional treatment other than helping you pay for hospital, skilled nursing facility and medical costs, such as doctors' visits and preventive care. The coverage provided through Medicare Part A and Part B is very basic. However, you can have more complete coverage if you add a Medicare Advantage Plan to your original coverage. Some plans provide dental coverage in addition to other medical benefits in the policy. If you want dental coverage through Medicare, you must choose the right Advantage Plan.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) must provide all of the coverage you receive in your original Medicare plan, plus extra coverage that is not included in Medicare Part A and Part B. You are required to pay an extra monthly premium to get the additional coverage that these plans provide. Extra coverage that Advantage Plans provide includes dental, hearing, vision and prescription drug benefits and health and wellness programs. However, not all plans include all this extra coverage. You must choose the plan that offers the coverage you are looking for.
Premiums
You need to pay an extra premium for the dental coverage you get through a Medicare Advantage Plan. How much your premium is depends upon how complete the dental coverage that the plan provides is and whether it also includes more coverage besides dental. How much you have to pay in deductibles and copayments also influences your extra coverage premium. Where you live and the services provided, through your plan, can also have an effect. One state might have higher Advantage Plan premiums than another.
Choosing Dental Coverage
To receive dental coverage, you have to pick an Advantage Plan that includes it in its policy. You can look on the Medicare website to find providers who offer service in your area. Your option of getting dental coverage with Medicare depends on whether or not plans in your area include this coverage. Once you find a plan that offers dental coverage and provides service in your state, you can call the plan to enroll. You can also do this on the plan's website or Medicare's website.
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