Found out that this year my Medicare Advantage includes dental care at no extra cost

[question everything]

Last edited Tue Jan 5, 2021, 12:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Yes, with Delta Dental which is what I have now, paying separately.

Will check with my dentist office - the finance person is excellent - to compare benefits but it seems the same.

Lack of dental insurance has been a complaint by many seniors. Wonder whether all plans added this.

Oh, and if you ask - it is local.

[beachbumbob]

1. medicare is not run local and as far as I know, no such thing as dental coverage under Medicare

you need to recheck,

[WheelWalker]

4. Under Medicare Advantage, yes. Depending on plan.

Under original Medicare, w/ or w/o Medigap/Medicare Supplement, not that I know of.

[question everything]

11. Thanks. Yes, Medicare Advantage. Always had a supplemental plan that became

Advantage.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Haven't heard that here, could desperately use it...

I'm OK with medical, I get it at the VA, but they don't give me dental either.

[Timewas]

3. Which One??

What supplement plan are you on??

[WheelWalker]

7. Probably Medicare Advantage, not original Medicare w/ supplement (medigap)

Medicare Advantage not for everyone, but probably best choice if you have minimal income and can't afford medigap coverage and don't expect to travel much.

[nancy1942]

5. Medicare Advantage?

I know they advertise that they cover dental; they also lie. Medicare Advantage plans are not to be trusted according to my insurance agent.
Medicare does not offer dental or optical coverage.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. This is what I was told as well.

I have a supplemental policy and am on my my husband's dental and vision insurance he is still working. I was told that medicare does NOT cover dental and vision and the advantage plans lie.

[WheelWalker]

8. I've had Medicare Advantage since I started Medicare. I could never afford a Medicare Supplement

plan. I have some out of pocket for copays, but my drug coverage is rolled into the plan, I have a $300 annual deductible, no monthly premium. I also don't travel so I'm always in network. For people like me, Medicare Advantage is the only affordable choice, and it's better than a poke in the eye.

[Eyeball_Kid]

9. Those TV ads that promote "free dental" with medicare...

are financed by a consortium of health insurance providers. If you call the toll-free line, they refer you to a provider like Humana or United Health Care. Those and others are national providers. The hot line does NOT refer you to local providers. They channel you to one of the national groups that pay for the ads. Once you get referred to a provider, you'll find that dental insurance is an extra cost.

The ads are a great example of "bait and switch."

[question everything]

12. Yes. Had it for several years.

Had another one, called “cost” and then for 2019 the carrier was not allowed to offer it. Something about how many others in the area were offering similar plans.

The new one did not have my primary care provider, only four miles away so I switched carrier.

They have many plans and I had the most expensive one. For open enrolment I looked at all dozen of them and decided that with my history I could choose a cheaper one. Really chose the “Goldilocks” option. And really all of them now include dental at no additional cost.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. I've had a Medicare Advantage plan since I turned 65. My provider does include some dental care...

routine stuff like yearly office visit, a cleaning, and one set of x-rays. I buy a Metlife dental plan for around $45 a month since I have complicated teeth issues due to cancer radiation treatment.

[msongs]

13. kaiser offers dental/vision/hearing but of course it costs hundreds a year more nt

[LiberalFighter]

14. Medicare does not offer Medicare Advantage plans

Private health insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans which includes your regular Medicare coverage and a plan incorporating Medicare.

When you research plans make sure you look at the costs for co-pays, deductibles and out-of-pocket max. That is where they can get you.

[question everything]

15. Well, it is the supplemental private insurance for Part B and D which I have had for many years

I had a good one, at "cost" I think where Medicare still paid some but then that plan had to be cancelled because there were too many of it in the same city. Or something. The new one did not have my physician so I had to switch carrier.

And... that Delta Dental is different, too. My dentist say they are not in that network and, indeed, the ID is the same as the medical one. The dentist said that they can offer me a 10% discount - as a senior, I think - but that I'd had to pay and then submit it to the insurance. The main point is that health care providers have agreement with insurance and have to accept what they get. Thus, I may end up paying more. Was going to compare but may not do this..