Does Medicare cover Implants
Dental implants are usually anchored into your mouth through an anchor inserted into a root of your jaw. They are comprised of synthetic materials, shaped to look and act like teeth, in order to give you the ability to smile and eat the foods you enjoy. The process can be long and daunting, and the upfront costs prohibit many from enduring the journey to a healthy set of teeth. If you are a medicare patient, you may be wondering, can Medicare cover Dental Implants?
Medicare Coverage
Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover Dental Implants. Many Medicare plans to not include Dental Insurance coverage. The benefits of Medicare may help to cover additional expenses in a way that can offset some of the upfront or long term costs of Dental Implants.
How much do Dental Implants cost?
There are many, many materials to choose from when selecting for Dental Implants. Consult with a Dental Professional in order to determine what options will be right for you, and which options you can find coverage for. On average, Dental implants can cost anywhere between 3,500-35,000 dollars. Even some of the best health insurance and dental insurance will not cover the entire cost of operation. Typically only a small part of the surgery cost will be covered.
What is Medicare? Types of Medicare
Medicare is a federally available insurance. As stated on the Medicare website, Medicare patients include patients 65 and older, younger people with disabilities, and people with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Medicare typically has 3 pieces
- Medicare Part A- Medicare Part A covers hospital visits, nursing facilities, Hospice care, and some home care options. Most Medicare patients do not pay premiums for this care. If you do not qualify for Medicare Part A, you can pay a premium to acquire it.
- Medicare Part B- Medicare Part B acts like traditional health insurance and covers doctors visits for preventative, diagnostic, and treatments, and checkups. It also covers certain medical supplies. Everyone pays a premium for Part B, which can be reduced based on income.
- Medicare Part D- Medicare Part D is used to offset and cover prescription drug charges. Some shots and vaccines are covered by Part D as well.
- Medicare Advantage- Medicare Advantage is a packaged plan that includes Medicare A, B, and D, and some additional coverage. The plans may also include some Dental coverage, so you will need to investigate your Medicare coverage to see what options are available to you. Medicare Advantage plans are based on yearly contracts with Medicare and can change.
Dental Implant coverage by Type
Dental Implants with Medicare Part A- Dental Implants in a hospital setting is rare, but it can happen. There are circumstances where parts of your operation may happen in a hospital. Medicare Part A should cover some pieces of Dental Coverage, like checkups and preventative cleanings. Anything further will probably cost you. If you can have your implant operations in a hospital, Medicare will most likely never cover the total cost. They may cover some hospital charges, but not the entire cost of the implants. Check with your Medicare representatives and advocates about what options you have and what coverage for implants may look like. Your supplemental Medicare D coverage may also offset prescription medicine costs post operation.
Dental Implants with Medicare Advantage Plans- The complete coverage of your medicare advantage plan will depend on the plan and when you acquired it. However Medicare Advantage should at least cover Medicare A and D, as well as some supplementary coverage. If it has some dental coverage, check to see what extent the coverage entails Implant surgery. Some plans will also encompass routine dental care, for which parts of implants and implant surgery may be covered. Each case will be individualized based on the exact needs of every patient. The additional dental coverage will also probably be either an HMO or PPO plan, as it will be related to a private plan. This coverage will limit where you can go, and who you can see. It is helpful to have an insurance advocate, whether through Medicare services or additional Private insurance.
Private Insurance Plans and Dental Implants- Medicare does not typically cover Dental Implants. Fortunately, the private insurance industry has recognized this, and offers supplementary plans to accommodate for medicare patients. Additional plan coverage can be purchased, and certain options will cover Dental Implants. Be sure to check the full details of coverage, and ask questions before committing to any single one. Take note of any premiums or deductibles as well, because this will impact whether taking this route will help you to afford the dental implants.
Speak with your Dentist about options before proceeding
You will also want to attend your regularly scheduled appointments, checkups, and cleanings with your dental health care professional. Consult with them about the health of your teeth and your ling term plan for Dental Implants. Based on the preventative screenings and diagnostics that they run, which should all be covered with your Medicare Plan, you will be able to determine if Dental Implants are even a possibility for you.
Dental Implants Process
Dental Implants require mature and developed bone structure and jaw, overall health, lack of infection or risk of infection, and several other criteria. Before you go investing in a private health insurance plan, learn about the process and check with your Dentist. The process usually involves.
- Drilling of a root to place an Anchor
- Allowing up to 6+ Months of healing time while the jaw fuses to this anchor, a process known as osseointegration.
- Attaching an abutment or healing cap
- Some more healing time passes
- A Dental Implant is anchored and attached
This does not include the process of fitting the implant, the adjustment periods in between each step as your body learns to deal with each new development, or the initial pain of new teeth. Your jaw will be very sensitive and the risks for infection can be high. It is important to understand the risk, and be confident in your Dental Health hygiene routine prior to beginning the process.