Not all dental insurance plans are created equally. If you are covered under Medicaid, this is great; but, it might not be enough. In some cases, you will need a supplemental policy to cover additional dental work, or work which isn’t considered “medically necessary.” If this is the case, this guide will help you find the right policy, insurer, and understand what’s covered with the top dental insurance plans for senior.
What will you pay?
On average a premium monthly dental insurance policy for seniors can run between $20 to $45/$50. It really depends on what type of services you’d like done. If you want more cosmetic work, you’re going to pay a higher premium, but you’ll pay less out of pocket for the actual work. If you just want coverage for cleanings and general routine care, you’ll pay the lower end, but might pay more per visit to the dentist office.
What do these policies cover?
This is a tough one to answer, as the answer varies greatly based on the premium, level of coverage, and insurer you choose. However, on average, most dental policies for seniors will cover
- X rays
- Prophylaxis
- Oral evaluations
- Cleaning
- Vertical bitewings
These are covered under tier I plans. Higher levels of coverage might include
- Resin-based composite fillings
- Local anesthesia
- Occlusion and analysis
- Endotonics
- Sedatives
- Crowns
- Inlays and Onlays
These are tier II and tier III level coverage options. Remember, every insurer has different codes and names for their policy. This will help you in deciding on which insurance policy to purchase, and which insurance company to buy that policy through.
What are your options?
For seniors, you’ll typically have the option of Medicare Advantage or Advantage Plus or Premium. In some cases, for those who want work such as crowns, inlays, want to have oral tooth whitening, or other specialty services performed, Medicaid usually does not pay for those services. This is where the additional policy is going to come into effect.
How often do you get work done?
This is another consideration that you’ll need to weigh so you can choose the right dental insurance policy as a senior. If you go to the dentist more than three times a year, you might need extra coverage. Your Medicaid is only going to pay for so many cleanings annually. So, the added dental plan, can help cover the additional costs. Depending on if you require ongoing medical care, have any conditions which require regular visits to the dentist, or if you simply want to do cosmetic work or general dental work which isn’t covered by your annual coverage under Medicaid, an additional dental insurance policy can help.
Just because you have Medicaid does not mean this is enough for dental work; in fact, more often than not, it is only going to cover a portion of all dental care needs you have as a senior.
With this in mind, make sure you understand your options, compare insurance policies, insurers, and understand what options are available to seniors who are on Medicaid, so you can make an informed decision about the additional dental coverage you will purchase.