Medicare dental coverage
Medicare supplemental dental insurance: Your options
Your oral health is a vital part of living a healthy life. So to make sure your smile is protected, it’s a good idea to know whether your Medicare plan covers dental care. And if dental care isn’t covered, knowing your options can make a big difference.
Does Medicare pay for dental?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover most dental services. With a private Medicare plan, dental coverage can vary.
At HealthPartners, many Medicare plans include built-in dental allowances or coverage:
- In Minnesota, all
Medicare Advantage plans have built-in benefits - In Wisconsin, all
Medicare Advantage plans have built-in benefits - In North Dakota and South Dakota, most
Medicare Cost plans have built-in benefits
If the HealthPartners Medicare plan you’re interested in doesn’t offer built-in dental benefits – or you want more dental benefits than what’s included – you have options. Adding supplemental comprehensive dental coverage to your Medicare plan can bring more peace of mind in knowing you have the coverage you need when you visit the dentist.
Medicare supplemental comprehensive dental coverage for 2023
When you add on supplemental dental coverage, you’ll get more benefits than what’s already included with your HealthPartners Medicare plan:
- You’ll get 100% coverage for in-network preventive and diagnostic care.
- After a $50 deductible, you’ll get 50% coverage (up to an annual maximum) for other in-network dental care, including sealants, fillings, periodontics, oral surgery, dentures and more.
- All your Medicare dental coverage will be in one place and one plan, making things easier to keep track of.
- There aren’t any waiting periods after enrollment – your dental benefits start at the same time as all your other benefits.
How to enroll in supplemental dental coverage
You’ll have the option to add supplemental dental coverage for an additional monthly premium when you enroll in an eligible HealthPartners Medicare plan. Eligible plans include:
- In Minnesota, all
Medicare Advantage plans (except the Journey Metro-Central Dash plan, where comprehensive dental coverage is already built in) - In Wisconsin, all
Medicare Cost plans (except the Freedom WI Basic plan)
If the HealthPartners Medicare plan you’re interested in isn’t eligible for supplemental dental coverage, don’t worry – we also offer separate
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Original Medicare covers dental services only when they’re part of a hospital stay. Adding supplemental dental insurance coverage alongside Medicare can help you pay for cleanings, exams and other essential dental care.
Original Medicare doesn’t cover dentures. Some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Cost plans may have coverage for dentures built in, but coverage varies by plan.
Adding supplemental dental insurance coverage can be a smart move to help you get more benefits, like dentures and other comprehensive care.
Supplemental dental coverage is a Medicare plan add-on. That means you can only sign up for it during a Medicare enrollment period.
First, you’ll need to sign up for a Medicare plan that offers the supplemental dental coverage you want (alongside, of course, the medical perks and benefits you’re looking for). Then, you can add optional dental coverage during the enrollment process.
Medicare enrollment periods include:
- Your
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) when you turn 65 - The
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) every year from October 15 through December 7, when you can switch Medicare plans - Certain other enrollment periods if you sign up for Medicare after you turn 65, have a Medicare Advantage plan or have a special circumstance
Legal information
Last updated October 2022
H2422_002804 Approved
H2462 H4882_002804 Accepted