Medicare Advantage dental benefits in Alexandria (Seniors 65+)

Are you aware that seniors over 65 years old are part of the population that is most in need of dental health care? Were you also aware that despite this need seniors have the least amount of access to affordable dental care? This is due to the fact that most people in the United States are offered dental insurance through their employers. When seniors retire, they are left without affordable dental health care. An estimated 65% of seniors go without coverage every year. This percentage is growing every day as over 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day.

In addition to suffering from a lack of options for dental benefits in Alexandria, seniors across America spent over $28 billion on dental health care services in the year 2016. They also had the highest rate of growth in spending for dental health care. The American Dental Association Health Policy Institute states that there has been a steady rise in seniors who sought out a dentist. However, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly half of those seniors who received Medicare hadn’t seen a dentist within the past year and those that had paid over $1,000 out of pocket. Some common costs for dental procedures include the following and illustrate how expensive it can be for basic dental care services:

Checkups and Cleanings:

• Basic exam–$50 to $100
• Dental X-ray–$20 to $250
• Standard cleaning–$70 to $200

Fillings:

• Silver amalgam–$50 to $300
• Composite–$90 to $450

Extractions:

• Simple extraction–$75 to $450
• Surgical extraction–$150 to $650
• Wisdom tooth extraction–$75 to $3,000 based on the number and complexity of the extractions

Crowns:

The cost of a crown can range from $500 to $3,000 based on the type of material used.

Root Canals:

The cost of a root canal can range from $300 to $2,000 based on the location of the tooth and the complexity of the procedure.

What Kind of Dental Insurance Coverage Is Available to Seniors?

If you have already turned 65 or you are considered to be permanently disabled, then you are probably already aware that you are entitled to health care coverage with Medicare. You are automatically enrolled in this program on the day that you turn 65. Traditional Medicare coverage comes with a red, white and blue identification card and doesn’t provide you with benefits for standard dental health care procedures like cleanings, fillings or extractions. While there are instances when dental services are covered under the Part A hospital benefits section, these instances are few and far between. For example, your dental procedure may be covered if it is considered to be necessary for presurgical clearance. This lack of Medicare dental benefits in Alexandria and across America has left many seniors looking for other ways to afford their dental health care expenses. Some enroll in supplemental Medicare plans, while others sign up with private insurance companies.

What Do I Need to Know About Medicare Advantage Plans?

A Medicare Advantage plan is a form of supplement plan that can be purchased from a private insurer such as Aetna, Humana and UHC. These plans expand on the types of benefits provided by traditional Medicare plans. When you enroll for these types of plans, you are given access to qualified providers. You will also benefit from out-of-pocket spending limits, low deductibles and cost-sharing measures. With traditional Medicare plans, the government pays back the health care provider. With Medicare Advantage plans, the insurance company pays the health care provider back. Oftentimes, you can receive vision, hearing and prescription drug coverage through your Medicare Advantage plan as well. Once you have enrolled, you will receive a separate card from your insurance provider. Most supplemental plans have low premiums. However, this means that your coverage only consists of basic dental care procedures like cleanings, exams and standard X-rays. You can expect to pay around $420 per year for your supplemental Medicare plan.

Is a Standalone Dental Insurance Plan Right for Me?

Standalone dental insurance is a good option for seniors who are in need of more advanced forms of dental health care coverage. By utilizing a private insurance company, you will be able to choose the level of coverage that you wish to pay for. Your premiums, co-pays and the types of services that will be covered will vary according to the type of plan that you choose to purchase.

Basic Plans:

Opting for a basic plan will typically grant you coverage for evaluations, cleanings and standard X-rays. Prophylactic services may also be covered under these types of plans.

Mid-level Plans:

If you opt to purchase a mid-level plan, services such as emergency treatments, orthodontics, specialized X-rays, dentures and fillings will probably be covered.

Premium Plans:

Patients who opt for a premium plan are given partial coverage (and sometimes more) for advanced dental services. These plans are perfect for seniors with significant needs in the dental health care arena. The following services may be offered under a premium plan:

• Inlays and onlays
• Crowns
• Endodontic procedures
• Oral surgery
• Periodontic procedures
• Complete and partial dentures

If you decide to go with a private insurance plan, you can expect to have what is known as “100-80-50” tiered coverage. This means that basic exams are 100% covered, fillings and other basic services are covered at 80% and complicated services are covered at 50%. Most people pay an average of $350 per year for a private dental plan. While this is cheaper than what most people pay for a supplemental Medicare plan, you are not provided with additional hearing, vision or prescription drug coverage.

Are Dental Discount Plans a Good Alternative to Insurance?

If you are a senior seeking out dental benefits in Alexandria, you may be interested in learning more about discount plans. A dental discount plan is a type of plan that is sold by a private company. It is not insurance. Dental health providers who accept these types of plans have agreed to provide discounted rates for members of these plans. If you opt for this kind of plan, you will pay an enrollment fee, as well as a small monthly membership fee. You will then pay your dentist directly at the discounted price.

A discount plan is usually pretty affordable. You will notice some advantages to having a discount plan over an insurance plan. These are:

• No deductibles, no copays and no coinsurance obligations.
• No waiting periods before you can utilize all of your benefits.
• No limitations on how many times you can visit the dentist per year.
• No paperwork or claim forms to fill out.
• No age limits or exclusions based on pre-existing conditions.
• No restrictions on changing your dentist.

While your discount plan probably won’t provide you with as much coverage as a traditional insurance plan, the cost you will have to pay for basic services will be a lot lower. You can expect to receive the following services at a discounted rate:

• Cleanings
• X-rays
• Extractions
• Crowns
• Root canals
• Fillings
• Dentures

A variety of popular discount plans also provide their customers with discounts on prescriptions, vision and hearing services. If you are already in good dental health, this type of plan could be a great way for you to receive benefits and save money. However, a private insurance plan may be a better option for you if you are in need of extensive dental work.

What Kind of Options Are Available for Managing Extra or Large Dental Expenses?

You may be able to utilize flexible payment plans and financing options to help you afford your out-of-pocket dental health care expenses. A popular financing option such as CareCredit can help you by giving you a line of credit to finance your procedure. Short-term financing and long-term financing are available. However, you should note that these types of financing arrangements require you to apply and then be approved. You may not qualify for medical credit financing. Also, your interest rates could be from 15% to over 20%.

If you would like to learn more about the various options available to assist seniors in receiving affordable dental health care, contact AARP or other organizations dedicated to seniors.