Does Medicare Cover Dentures?

Many Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) include coverage for routine dental care and may help cover the cost of dentures.

Some Medicare Advantage plans cover dentures

Medicare Advantage insurance plans are sold by private insurance companies and combine the benefits of Medicare Part A and Part B (Original Medicare) into one single plan.

Some Medicare Advantage plans may provide additional benefits such as dental, vision and hearing coverage. Many Medicare Advantage plans also provide coverage for prescription drugs.

A Medicare Advantage plan that offers dental benefits may cover some dental services such as:

• Dentures
• Routine dental care
• Oral exams
• Teeth cleanings
• Fillings
• Tooth extractions
• Crowns
• Root canals

The dental benefits offered by Medicare Advantage plans may vary, so you should check with your insurance provider to learn more about your coverage.

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental services or procedures, including dentures. This means that you are responsible for 100 percent of the cost of dentures if you have Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B).

Dentures can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the type of dentures you get.¹

In 2018, the average Medicare Advantage premium was around $35 per month (roughly $420 per year).²

When you consider potential cost of dentures, you may find that enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental benefits could help you save you money in the long run.

What types of dentures can be covered by Medicare Advantage?

Not all Medicare Advantage plans offer dental benefits. If your plan offers coverage for dental services, you can check directly with your plan to see how it might cover your dentures.

There are two primary types of dentures:³

• Removable dentures, which can be complete or partial, depending on the number of teeth that they are replacing
• Implant-retained dentures

Your dentist can help you decide which type of dentures you need based on your bone loss and other specific needs.

How much you pay out of pocket for your dentures depends on the Medicare Advantage plan you enroll in, as coverage and pricing varies widely from plan to plan.

How do I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan?

If you are interested in learning more about Medicare Advantage plans, you can consider speaking with a licensed insurance agent who can help you compare plans that may be available in your area.

Or call 1-800-557-6059 (TTY: 711) 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

¹ Lee, Dave. (Feb. 17, 2017). How much do dentures cost? Bankrate. Retrieved from https://www.bankrate.com/finance/smart-spending/how-much-do-dentures-cost.aspx.

² MedicareAdvantage.com's internal analysis of CMS Medicare Advantage landscape source files, May 2018. Data retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn.

³ American Dental Association. (Aug. 30, 2016). Oral Health Topics. Retrieved from https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/dentures.