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Written byLindsay Frankel
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Lindsay FrankelInsurance Writer
5+ years in auto insurance and personal finance writing
Featured in top personal finance publications
Lindsay is a widely published creator of auto insurance content. She also specializes in real estate, banking, credit cards, and other personal finance topics.
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Edited byAshley Cox
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7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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Updated June 7, 2024
Reading time: 4 minutes
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Table of contents
Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew and speak properly, but dental implants can make a difference in your quality of life and help maintain your oral health.[1] The bad news is that dental implants can be expensive — the average endosteal implant costs just over $2,000, according to the American Dental Association.
Unfortunately, original Medicare Parts A and B don’t typically cover the cost of dental implants. But some Medicare Advantage plans may offer comprehensive dental coverage that would include their cost. You can also shop for dental insurance policies from a private insurance company, and a small share of Medigap plans also provide dental benefits. Here’s what you need to know.
How Medicare plans work
When you enroll in Medicare, you have a couple options for getting the insurance coverage you need:[2]
Original Medicare: This includes hospital insurance (Medicare Part A) and medical insurance (Medicare Part B). You can also add a prescription medication plan (Part D). Original Medicare comes with a deductible and co-insurance, so some people also purchase Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) to help with out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Advantage: Medicare Advantage plans are bundled policies that offer Part A, Part B, and often Part D. Private insurance companies offer these plans, but they must follow federal rules for coverage. Many plans include additional benefits, such as vision, hearing, and dental coverage.
Important Information
You can choose either original Medicare, with or without Medigap, or a Medicare Advantage policy — but not both.
Medicare Advantage plans often come with lower premiums and more covered services when compared to original Medicare plus Medigap and Part D. But they may come with higher out-of-pocket expenses and a more limited provider network.
Medicare and dental implants
Original Medicare doesn’t typically cover dental care, leaving you to foot 100% of the bill for most dental services. But Medicare covers dental treatment in a few situations:[3]
Medicare covers inpatient hospitalization when it’s medically necessary after a dental procedure.
Medicare pays for dental care that it deems “inextricably linked” to the success of another healthcare service that Medicare covers, such as treatment for a mouth infection prior to an organ transplant. Even in these scenarios, Medicare doesn’t pay for dental implants.
If you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, your state may cover some dental services.
You can get coverage for dental implants by enrolling in certain Medicare Advantage plans.
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Learn More: The Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid Explained
Will a Medicare Advantage plan cover dental implants?
Some Medicare Advantage plans cover the costs of installing a dental implant. You should reference the summary of benefits when researching plans since some insurers only cover routine dental or basic services. Coverage and premiums also vary by state.
For example, in some states, the Aetna Medicare Choice PPO plan covers dental implants up to an annual maximum of $3,750, with a $0 copay when you visit an in-network dentist. Some Medicare insurance providers, like Kaiser Permanente, offer a dental, vision, and hearing package as an optional add-on to a Medicare Advantage plan for an extra premium instead.
What role does Medicare Part B play in dental care?
Medicare Part B pays for dental care that’s necessary to ensure the safety and improve the success rate of another medical procedure or treatment, like chemotherapy or cardiac valve replacement, that original Medicare covers. You may even have coverage for multiple visits to a dentist if required to fully treat the condition.
Medicare Part B pays for a range of services in these scenarios — from oral exams and routine dental care to dental ridge reconstruction — but it doesn’t pay for dental implants. Medicare Part A covers medically necessary dental care in a hospital setting.
Medigap and alternative ways to cover dental implants
If a Medicare Advantage policy doesn’t seem like the right plan for you, you have a few other options for covering the cost of a dental implant:
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Rarely, a Medigap plan may include dental coverage. Medigap Plan G is most likely to come with extra benefits. Some Medigap insurance companies also offer an add-on package that offers additional coverage for dental, vision, or hearing services at an additional premium.
Private dental insurance coverage
Many dental insurance companies offer private dental plans to people of any age. Some companies also offer senior-specific plans. For example, Spirit Dental offers a senior plan that covers up to 65% of dental implant costs in the third year of coverage. Private dental plans may have higher out-of-pocket costs for complex procedures like dental implants, and they may come with waiting periods.
Dental discount programs
Dental discount plans don’t provide insurance coverage. Instead, they provide a predetermined discount at participating dentists in exchange for a membership fee. These typically have no annual limits or waiting periods.[4]
Medicare dental implant coverage FAQs
Older adults have several options for covering the cost of dental implant treatment. If you’re still unsure what’s best for your specific needs, explore this additional information about Medicare coverage for dental implants.
Does Medicare Part A or B cover dental implants?
No. Medicare Part A and B don’t cover dental implants, but they may pay for other dental services in some scenarios. If you require a hospital stay after your dental implant procedure due to a health condition, Medicare Part A may help pay for it.[5]
Are there any situations in which Medicare will cover dental implants?
The main components of traditional Medicare don’t cover dental implants. But some Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) offer coverage for dental implants. These policies, provided by Medicare-approved insurance companies, offer an alternative way to get your Medicare coverage, and many plans come with extra benefits not covered under original Medicare.
Can you get coverage for dental implants through a Medicare Advantage plan?
Yes. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage for dental implant surgery and other additional expenses.
When viewing plans on Medicare.gov, the plan benefit details will indicate whether the plan covers dental prostheses, but you may need to look up the summary of benefits to see if the plan specifically covers dental implants. Some Medicare Advantage plans will cover a dental crown or bridge but not an actual implant.
What other options are available if Medicare doesn’t cover dental implants?
If you have a missing tooth, you can get coverage for a dental implant from a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Supplement plan, private insurance plan, or dental discount program.
Before making a choice, compare the total cost of each option against the benefits. It can be helpful to ask an insurance agent or use an insurance-comparison site when shopping for plans.
Can supplemental insurance cover the cost of dental implants if Medicare doesn’t?
It’s possible. A supplement to a Medicare insurance plan may offer coverage for dental implants and other services, like fillings and extractions. Coverage varies depending on the specific Medicare plan and supplemental benefits you choose.
Sources
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. "Dental Implants: What You Should Know."
- Medicare.gov. "What's Medicare?."
- Medicare.gov. "Medicare Dental Coverage."
- Delta Dental. "What is a dental discount plan?."
- Medicare.gov. "Dental services."
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Lindsay FrankelInsurance Writer
Lindsay Frankel is a content writer specializing in personal finance and auto insurance topics. Her work has been featured in publications such as LendingTree, The Balance, Coverage.com, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and FinanceBuzz.
7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
Featured in