Dental Implant Coverage With Medicare In 2024
Dental implants behave like natural teeth and can last a lifetime, but they are usually very expensive! What can seniors do to obtain them without breaking the bank, and does Medicare offer help? Let’s find out…
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Currently, it’s impossible to get coverage for dental implants under the normal Medicare plan, as it is considered cosmetic and not health related. Efforts are being made to change this. Fortunately, however, there is another type of Medicare available today that can cover dental implant procedures – Medicare Advantage. Sometimes referred to as Type C, Advantage is a premium version of Medicare that provides a much wider and more comprehensive coverage for dental implants and several dental procedures, including cleanings, fillings, extractions, routine X Rays and more. There are also a number of Advantage plan add- ons that you can choose from that offer even more coverage, which are being offered by various Medicare approved health insurance providers.
As we age, issues with our teeth and gums are quite common. By the age of 74, It’s estimated that about 1 out of 4 seniors start losing their teeth due to bad gums or injury. Like all dental procedures, dental implants are very expensive. For all these reasons, it’s crucial to not only take better care of your teeth, but also have coverage for your dental needs. Below is some useful info regarding dental implants themselves and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that offer coverage for them.
Info Regarding Dental Implants
A dental implant is a device that acts as a replacement root for a tooth. Usually, this is a post made out of titanium. The fake replacement tooth is designed to closely resemble your natural teeth both in feel and appearance, and the connector, known as an abutment, connects the two parts.
Dental implants are a very good option for individuals who were born without a tooth or who have lost teeth due to injury or decay caused by smoking or substances that destroy the enamel layer. Although the entire procedure can take months to reach completion, they’re ultimately a more permanent option in comparison to dentures or dental bridges.
The cost of each dental implant may vary to a certain extent, depending on the person’s specific case and needs.
According to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, the total estimated cost for a single implant — which includes the abutment and the crown, or replacement tooth, could range from $3,320 to $6,434. If you require several implants, the total cost will be much higher.
Humana
Humana can be found in 47 states and Puerto Rico. They offer $0 – premium Medicare Advantage plans. In fact, about half of Humana members are in a $0 premium plan. As far as “state coverage” goes, Humana is the second-biggest provider of Medicare Advantage plans and is available in more U.S. counties than any other provider. Humana plans have been awarded good Medicare star ratings, and nearly all of Humana’s members are in these highly rated plans.
Additional benefits of Humana include:
– 89% percent of Humana Medicare Advantage plans offer preventive dental coverage, and 83% offer comprehensive dental coverage.
– Humana offers plans in 85% of U.S. counties, making it a feasible option for more people than any other Medicare Advantage provider.
– 97% of Humana Medicare Advantage members are in a plan rated 4 stars or higher by the CMS (Center For Medicare Services).
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHeathcare is currently available and operating in 50 states plus Washington, D.C. With approximately 100,000 providers nationwide, UHC is undoubtedly a super dental provider amongst the Medicare Advantage companies when it comes to size of network.
UHC has also partnered up with AARP and insures Medicare products with the AARP name. Additionally, many of UHC’s members are part of Advantage plans that have been awarded 4 and 5 star ratings, and UHC comprehensive plans include six services per plan.
Aetna
Aetna comes pretty close to UHC, and arguably surpasses it in certain areas. This CVS health company is available in 46 states and Washington, D.C. Nine out of ten of Aetna MA plans provide comprehensive dental coverage and approximately seven services per plan, from periodontics to extractions and restorative services. Better yet, 97% of Aetna plans offer preventive dental care, which includes cleanings and X-rays.
Aetna is the fourth-biggest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, and 84% of Medicare beneficiaries have the option of a $0-premium Aetna plan. They also offer stand-alone prescription drug plans in all 50 states, which touts one of the lowest-premium plans nationwide.
Cigna
Cigna is available in 26 states including Washington, D.C. Nearly every Cigna Medicare Advantage plan comes with both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage, including coverage for endodontics, extractions and restorative services. The company’s plans come packed with many benefits and perks. They include preventive and comprehensive dental, 24/7 telehealth and meal delivery. Nearly all of Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium, and they’re comprehensive dental coverage includes seven covered services.
One of their noteworthy feats was achieved by Cigna’s subsidiary company, Healthspring, which received a third place ranking on overall member satisfaction in J.D. Power’s latest Medicare Advantage study.
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente offers their coverage in eight states and Washington, D.C. They grabbed the top spot out of nine providers on J.D. Power’s most recent U.S. Medicare Advantage study relating to customer satisfaction.
Kaiser Permanente is the fifth-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, and the company gets high ratings from the CMS as well as outside ratings agencies. Most of Kaiser’s Medicare Advantage plans come with dental coverage. Quite impressively, of the seven Medicare health plans that got a 5 out of 5 rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance in 2021, four of them are Kaiser plans.
Benefits of Kaiser include:
– Virtually every Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan offers preventive dental coverage, and 84% offer comprehensive dental coverage.
– A larger majority of Kaiser’s plans offer access to supplemental dental coverage if needed, starting at just $9 per month.
