Does Medicare Cover Dental?

If you’ve been enrolled into Medicaid Part A and Part B, you’re likely wondering if these health care plans cover dental care. Before you obtain any dental treatment from us at Gage Dental Care, it’s important that you understand if it’s possible to have dental coverage with Medicaid and how to obtain this coverage.

What Is Medicaid?

When you reach the age of 65 or have been diagnosed with a disability, you will have the opportunity to enroll into Medicaid. This type of health care can cover a wide range of expenses. However, it doesn’t cover everything, which is why it’s important to determine if your dental costs can be covered with Medicaid. The plans that you’ll automatically be enrolled into when joining Medicaid include Part A and Part B plans. Medicaid Part A plans are designed to cover the expenses associated with hospice care, home health care, and inpatient hospital stays. As for Part B, this aspect of Medicaid covers expenses related to outpatient care, preventive services, medical supplies, and various health care services provided by a doctor. You could also think about obtaining Medicaid Part D if you want to cover the costs associated with prescription medications.

Does Medicaid Cover Dental Services and Procedures in Los Angeles?

In most cases, Medicaid won’t provide coverage for dental services and procedures, which include such services as dental fillings, dental crowns, tooth extractions, and standard cleanings. However, Medicaid Part A is able to pay for dental services that you might obtain when you’re in the hospital, which includes complex dental procedures or emergency dental procedures. Otherwise, you will need to pay every cost pertaining to the dental treatments that you obtain.

How to Obtain Coverage for Dental Through Medicaid

While standard Medicaid doesn’t provide coverage for dental care, there are ways that you can obtain this kind of coverage through Medicaid as long as you know what to look for. The best way to obtain dental coverage via Medicaid is through a Medicaid Advantage plan, which is a type of Medicaid plan that’s available through private insurance companies and is designed to bundle all Medicaid plans into a single policy. If you purchase a Medicaid Advantage plan, you can likely obtain Part D coverage in the same plan as Part A and Part B coverage. Since these plans are provided by private insurance companies, many of them will also include extra services, which are referred to as Medicaid Part C. Some of the dental services that can be covered with a Medicaid Advantage plan include:

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

You could also think about selecting a standalone plan that’s not directly attached to your Medicaid plan. There are many dental plans available from private insurance companies that you can purchase as a standalone plan, which means that no other health care would need to be purchased alongside it. These plans typically come with a relatively low monthly payment that you’ll be required to pay. The only downside to such a plan is that the dentist you see will need to be in-network. If your spouse has yet to obtain Medicaid but already has a dental plan, it may be possible for you to join this plan for the moment. In the event that your insurance doesn’t cover dental treatment, we offer financing and low monthly payments that will help you get the treatment you need when you need it. With this information in hand, you should know how to cover your dental costs with Medicaid in Los Angeles, CA. If you require a dental filling or a crown, contact our offices today at Gage Dental Care to schedule a dental consultation.