Medicare Advantage dental benefits in Kingwood (Seniors 65+)

Although there aren’t many options available for seniors, this portion of the American population paid over $28 billion for essential dental services in the year 2016. The American Dental Health Policy Institute conducted a study that showed more and more seniors are seeking out dental health care than ever before. A study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation discovered that nearly 50% of the people who are enrolled in Medicare failed to see a dentist. In addition, 19% who did manage to see a dentist managed to incur $1,000 or more in out-of-pocket expenses. To get a good idea of the costs of dental health care, we have provided you with a list of common prices for dental procedures in our area.

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.

Can You Tell Me About Dental Insurance Options for Seniors?

If you are a senior in need of dental benefits in Kingwood, you can rest assured that there are options out there that will work for you. At the age of 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare. This government funded medical coverage is offered to all seniors over the age of 65. It is also available to those who have been found to be permanently disabled. Once you have received your red, white and blue ID card, you will be able to receive medical coverage. While many medical procedures are covered, traditional Medicare does not offer any kind of dental care benefits. If a dental procedure is considered to be a necessary portion of a Medicare covered procedure, then it will be covered under Part A hospital benefits. Since traditional Medicare doesn’t provide seniors with dental coverage, most seniors have to find some other way to assist them in paying for their dental expenses. 25% of seniors wind up signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan, while 10% opt for private insurance.

How Does a Medicare Advantage Plan Work?

You can purchase Medicare Advantage Plans from private insurance companies like Aetna, Humana and UHC. These supplemental plans are utilized to expand upon the care offerings available to you through via traditional Medicare. You will receive access to qualified health and dental health care providers, while still having limitations on out-of-pocket expenses. You will also have low deductibles. Your chosen insurance provider will reimburse your health care provider, rather than the government paying for the reimbursement. Medicare Advantage plans also provide vision and prescription benefits. The premiums are typically low. In fact, the website MedicareAdvantage.com states that most seniors only pay a premium of around $420 per year for their supplemental plan.

Should I Consider Purchasing Standalone Dental Insurance?

Seniors in need of more comprehensive dental benefits in Kingwood might want to consider enrolling in a standalone dental insurance plan from a private company. The private insurance option will allow you to customize your plan based on the types of coverage you need. Your premiums, the percentage of your procedures covered and the type of services covered will all be determined by the plan that you pay for. Basic Plans: These types of plans offer you coverage for things like cleanings, examinations and basic diagnostic X-rays. Mid-level Plans: Mid-level plans expand on the top of services that are covered. Some services that you can expect to be covered at this level include specialty X-rays, dentures, fillings, emergency treatments and orthodontics. Premium Plans: If you opt for a premium plan, you can typically expect that at least part of your procedure will be covered by your plan. Some of the more advanced services that are covered in these types of plans are: • Onlays and inlays • Partial and complete dentures • Crowns • Periodontics • Oral surgery • Endodontic procedures Most insurance companies provide their customers with “100-80-50” tiered coverage. This means that advanced procedures are 50% covered, basic procedures are 80% covered and basic procedures and examinations are 100% covered. According to Bankrate, the average premium for seniors for private dental health insurance was $320 per year. While this is a bit cheaper than what most people paid for supplemental Medicare plans, you have to keep in mind that vision and prescription drug coverage generally are not included with a privately insured dental plan.

Are Dental Discount Plans a Good Option?

A dental discount plan is a type of benefit that is sold by a private company. It is not the same thing as dental health insurance. A discount plan requires you to pay an enrollment fee and a monthly membership fee in order to access pre-negotiated discounts with dental health care providers. Once you have signed up for a dental discount plan, you will pay your dentist directly at the rate that has been negotiated for you by your discount company. A discount plan is an affordable route to go if you only need basic services. Some of the advantages that come with having a discount plan include: • There is a lack of deductibles, required coinsurance or copays. • There aren’t waiting periods before you can utilize all of your benefits. • You aren’t limited on the number of times you can come into your dentist’s office per year. • You can change your dentist. • There aren’t claim forms to fill out. • Unlike with private insurance, you won’t have to worry about age limits or exclusions based on any pre-existing condition you may have. It’s important to understand that you won’t have as much coverage under a discount plan as you would with a traditional insurance plan. You can, however, expect to receive significant discounts on common services like:

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

Smile Alliance Club, and other discount companies like it, also tend to provide customers with additional discounts on vision services, hearing services and prescription drug services. For seniors who aren’t in need of significant dental work, a dental discount plan may be the way to go.

Is Financing Available for Extensive Dental Expenses?

While dental benefits in Kingwood can help to keep the costs of your dental health care down, you may still incur out-of-pocket expenses. However, there are usually payment plans or other financing options that you can pursue when this occurs. CareCredit is a medical credit company that is accepted by over 200,000 health and wellness providers in America. Medical credit companies offer short-term and long-term financing arrangements that require you to be approved via an application process. Interest rates tend to be incredibly high for these types of financing arrangements. If you are seeking out other resources on how to receive senior citizen discounts on insurance plans and professional services, get in contact with AARP.