How Medicare Beneficiaries Can Gain Coverage for Dental and Vision Care
When you first enrolled in Medicare, you might have been surprised to learn that the program doesn’t offer coverage for dental and vision care. You are financially reponsible for those services, whether you self pay or enroll in a separate dental and vision care insurance policy. And since our eyes and teeth often need more care as we get older, these expenses can really add up over time. You might find yourself wishing you could enroll in one healthcare plan that covers everything you need.
As it turns out, that might indeed be possible for some Medicare beneficiaries. It is true that Medicare Part A and Part B do not include services like vision and dental care. But some Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage plans as they are commonly called, have begun to include vision and dental care services as part of their packaged healthcare plans. Additionally, some Medicare Advantage plans also offer Part D (prescription drug) coverage. And a few even offer extra benefits beyond those, such as gym memberships and other services that can help you stay healthy.
Aside from Medicare Advantage plans, there might be another way to get help with expenses like vision or dental care. Some people enrolled in Original Medicare choose to add a Supplemental plan, also called Medigap, that can reduce some of their out-of-pocket expenses. These plans are designed to help with copayments and deductibles, and some of them also address the cost of vision and dental care. Or, the plan might at least offer a discount program that can help you access more affordable providers and services.
It’s important to work with a health insurance broker who can walk you through all of the different options available to you. For some, the convenience of having everything rolled into a Medicare Advantage plan is a big plus. Others find that Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan is the better choice. Give us a call, and we can help you address these gaps in your insurance coverage and then decide what to do about them.
Filed Under: