Do Medicare Supplement Plans Cover Dental Care?

Medicare Benefits Solutions
Aug 24, 2021

Do Medicare Supplement Plans Cover Dental Care? Original Medicare coverage offers a range of healthcare benefits to seniors and those individuals under the age of 65 with qualifying disabilities. Most plans are affordable for those on a fixed income, but some individuals may have a hard time making ends meet if/when frequent medical care is required.

Part of the reason for this is that Medicare plans generally have a deductible to meet before benefits begin to apply, and this is on top of the monthly premium required for most Part B coverage options. Most people qualify for premium-free Part A. If you aren’t eligible, you may have to pay a monthly premium for Part A as well. 

Original  Medicare does not have an annual out-of-pocket maximum limit. Copayments or co-insurance may be required for some medical services, equipment and prescriptions. If you require medical care on a regular basis, these costs can add up quickly.

A Medicare Supplement plan may help

To ease the financial burdens associated with Original Medicare coverage, some people turn to Medicare Supplement insurance plans. These are often referred to as Medigap plans, and they are designed to cover expenses associated with using Original Medicare.

Many Medigap plans provide coverage for things like deductibles and copayment costs, but some may provide coverage for things like medical care while overseas. In order to take part in a Medicare Supplement plan, you must carry both Original Medicare Part A and Part B. Important to note – you can’t have both a Medicare Supplement insurance plan and a Medicare Advantage plan. 

Do Medicare Supplement plans cover dental?

Although Medicare Supplement plans offer coverage to fill in gaps that may be left by Original Medicare, these plans do not typically provide coverage for medical care in and of themselves. Instead, they cover costs associated with using Medicare benefits, like helping pay coinsurance costs.

As such, Medigap plans do not cover dental care. Original Medicare also limits coverage when it comes to routine oral health care. It should be noted, however, that Original Medicare does provide benefits for certain oral surgical procedures and treatments associated with medical concerns like oral infections and injuries.

Medicare Advantage plans may provide some dental care options, but each plan and plan provider may offer different benefits. In order to know what options are available to you, you’re encouraged to compare plans available in your area.