Take a Bite Out of Dental Costs

Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental care, but there are restrictions.

- THE NEW WORLD OF RETIREMENT BY SANDRA BLOCK

I RECENTLY received a shock when I went to the dentist for my six-month checkup. Not because I had a mouthful of cavities or needed another root canal. (I floss!) The unpleasant surprise occurred when it came time to pay the bill. This was my first appointment since I retired and lost my employer-provided health insurance, and I was on the hook for the entire cost.

As I mentioned in an earlier column, I opted for original Medicare and a medigap plan when I retired. I made this decision because with a Medicare Advantage plan, I would have been limited to using in-network doctors and other providers. Likewise, while many Medicare Advantage plans include dental care, the coverage is usually restricted to providers in their network. In addition, Medicare Advantage plans often impose waiting periods of six months to two years before they pay for expensive procedures, such as crowns and dentures. Preventive care is usually covered immediately, but you'll typically face an annual cap on coverage—an average of $1,300, according to a 2021 survey by health-policy research organization KFF.