Medicare Advantage dental benefits in New Lenox (Seniors 65+)

What Forms of Dental Insurance Options Are Available for Seniors?

There are three groups of people who are eligible to receive Medicare benefits. This includes people with a permanent disability, those diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease, or anyone 65 years or older. Once you turn 65, you're enrolled in Medicare. But what types of dental benefits can you expect to receive? Unfortunately, Medicare doesn't cover most forms of dental care, such as cleanings, exams, extractions, dentures, or fillings. This can leave Medicare members without a reliable way to pay for dental services. Thankfully, there are other options available, including a Medicare Advantage plan, a discount plan, or private insurance. We also welcome you to call us for more information about dental benefits in New Lenox.

The following list provides an estimate of your average costs for many of the most common dental procedures:

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.

How Do Medicare Advantage Plans Work?

A Medicare Advantage plan is an optional supplement to the coverage provided by basic Medicare. Seniors can purchase these plans from private insurance companies, such as Aetna, Humana, or UHC, and many plans also include coverage for prescription medications and vision, hearing, and dental benefits.

Beneficiaries of Medicare supplement plans can choose from a list of in-network providers, but some plans may allow members to choose any provider. In addition, these types of plans usually have affordable deductibles and premiums, in addition to limits on how much seniors will pay out-of-pocket. Unlike traditional Medicare, these supplemental plans are reimbursed by private insurance companies. This means that healthcare providers are paid by each insurance company instead of the federal government.

As a result of these plans being separate from basic Medicare, members will receive an additional ID card that's separate from their traditional Medicare ID. One of the main benefits of a Medicare Advantage plan is that the monthly premiums are quite affordable for seniors. Based on research conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, beneficiaries will pay an average of $28.00 per month for Medicare Advantage plans in 2019. However, it's important to understand that the benefits are usually restricted to basic dental services, such as x-rays, exams, and cleanings.

Should I Consider Standalone Dental Insurance?

Seniors might want to consider standalone dental insurance if they're interested in receiving comprehensive benefits or want the peace of mind associated with more complete coverage. With a variety of plans available, you can choose your coverage based on your budget and dental health needs.

Basic Plans:

If you usually only visit the dentist for routine procedures that are preventative in nature, you may want to choose a basic plan. These plans are usually very affordable and offer coverage for x-rays, cleanings, and professional exams. Your out-of-pocket costs will be much higher, however, if you require anything other than a basic procedure.

Mid-level Plans:

Mid-level plans are a great mix of basic and expanded services and cover many common dental problems. Coverage for a mid-level plan usually includes specialized x-rays, dentures, orthodontic treatment, fillings, inhalation anesthesia, and emergency treatment. They also cover the same prophylactic services as the basic-level plan.

Premium Plans:

Most premium plans offer at minimum partial coverage for the most advanced dental procedures and treatments, including:

• Oral surgery
• Dental restoration services, including inlays and onlays
• Crowns
• Treatment for gum disease, such as endodontic and periodontal procedures
• Complete or partial dentures

Most providers of standalone plans offered tiered coverage for dental services, meaning that most basic services, such as cleanings and exams, are 100% covered by your provider. In addition, most standard services, including fillings, are covered at 80% and advanced services are covered at 50%. This type of coverage is known as “100-80-50”  tiered coverage.

The cost of your yearly or monthly premiums is determined by which of the three major plan types you choose. If you're a senior who is interested in a plan that also provides prescription drug benefits and coverage for vision and hearing, it's important to understand that most standalone plans don't include these types of benefits. You'll want to choose a Medicare supplement plan instead.

Are Dental Service Discount Plans a Good Alternative to Insurance?

Dental discount plans aren't considered insurance, and they're typically offered by private companies that have pre-negotiated discounted rates with participating dental practices. Rather than paying a premium, members of a discount plan pay an enrollment fee after signing up along with a small monthly membership fee. Members then pay for dental services at the lowered rate.

Here's some other benefits associated with discount plans for dental services:

• You don't have to pay a deductible or copay.
• You're free to change your dentist at any time.
• Your benefits are available to use right away.
• There aren't any restrictions on how many times you use your benefits during the year.
• Most people aren't excluded based on pre-existing conditions or age.

Before purchasing a discount plan, it's important to consider that they usually don't offer the same coverage as traditional insurance. Most discount plans offer savings on basic dental services, such as:

• Checkups
• X-Rays
• Cleanings
• Fillings
• Root canals
• Extractions
• Crowns
• Dentures

If you're a senior who might need extensive dental work, purchasing a comprehensive insurance plan for dental services might be a better option and save you more money in the long run.

Are There Options for Managing Large Dental Expenses?

Whether you have insurance and still need help managing out-of-pocket expenses or if you're without dental benefits in New Lenox, there are options to choose from. You can contact your dentist's office for information about flexible financing options or payment plans available for seniors. You can also apply for CareCredit, which is a financing program that works just like a credit card. Qualified applicants have the option to pay their balance over time with convenient monthly payments, and it's accepted by more than 200,000 healthcare providers throughout the country.

Depending on the total balance owed, most medical credit companies offer financing options ranging from 24 to 60 months. You may even qualify for interest-free payments if your balance is paid within a specific period of time. However, it's important to keep in mind that financing programs have an approval process and not all applicants will qualify. Also, some programs have interest rates of up to 20%, greatly increasing your total costs.

Seniors should check with organizations such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) for potential discounts on dental services and general information about insurance plans. You can also call our office if you have any questions about senior dental services.