Adding a Dental Benefit to Medicare Part B: What About Medicare Advantage or Medigap Plans?

Today, Medicare excludes coverage of routine preventive and restorative oral health care except in limited circumstances. As a result, only half of Medicare enrollees saw a dental provider in the last year, and millions of enrollees cannot afford the care they need to stay healthy. Adding oral health coverage in the Medicare Part B benefit would be the most inclusive and equitable approach for incorporating a dental benefit in Medicare. We often get asked why offering oral health coverage through Medicare Advantage plans or Medigap plans is not the solution to meet these needs. This fact sheet from Justice in Aging, Families USA, and Center for Medicare Advocacy explains the numerous limitations of Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans that would prevent these health plans from providing comprehensive oral health coverage to all Medicare enrollees.