DENTAL INSURANCE FOR SENIORS

Medicare Beneficiary Discussing His X-Rays With His Dental Professional

Dental health is very important for everyone, but especially for older Americans. having an infection or decay can actually have severe effects on other parts of the body. I have always believed that if you take care of your teeth, they will take care of you. Now it is true that heredity is a factor. But, if you get 2-3 cleanings a year, your Dentist can spot a cavity in its earliest stages and a simple filling is not expensive. For this reason, you may want to ask your Dentist about what plans they offer in-house for Preventative care.

ORIGINAL MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER ROUTINE DENTAL

Most everyone understands that Original or Traditional Medicare does not offer coverage for routine Dental, Vision, or Hearing. This means that seniors who prefer the Quality and Choice that comes with Original Medicare, especially when coupled with a Medicare Supplement/Medigap policy, are usually forced to look for Dental and/or Vision insurance on their own.

THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES OF DENTAL INSURANCE PRODUCTS

TRADITIONAL DENTAL INSURANCE

Traditional Dental Insurance requires a monthly premium and they typically cover Dental expenses from an In-Network Dental provider in amounts from $1,000 – $2,000. These plans typically do not always cover Orthodontics or Endodontics and they usually require a waiting period of 6-12 months for Major Dental work such as Root Canals, Crowns, Bridges, Implants, etc.

DENTAL SAVINGS PLANS

The other form of Dental Coverage is not Dental Insurance in the Traditional way as described above. This other form of Dental coverage are Dental Savings Plan. For many people, they provide more coverage for major services, without the high cost of many Dental premiums. Many plans are available for about $100 per year.

The idea is that you use their network of Dentists, but you will generally pay 40-60% less than someone without insurance. And, there are no maximums, so if a Root Canal and Crown costs $3,000 and you have a traditional Dental Insurance plan, with a $1,00 Annual Maximum Benefit Amount, you are still on the hook for $2,000. And, with a Dental Savings Plan, the rate may be $1,500. You not only save on the procedure, but you save by not having somewhere between $500 – $700 in monthly premiums throughout the year. Many people like Nerd Wallet, Suze Orman, and Dave Ramsey are bullish on these plans.

DVH PLANS

One of the latest trends for Seniors is plans that bundle Dental/Vision/Hearing together, these are often referred to as DVH plans. Most major companies have these available, and they are more advantageous for individuals who do use prescription eyewear.