PUBLISHED THU, SEP 19 20198:30 AM EDT UPDATED THU, SEP 19
201910:58 AM EDT
KEY
POINTS
·
The average Medicare
beneficiary spent an average $922 on out-of-pocket dental costs, according to
the Kaiser Family Foundation.
·
As many as 37 million
people on Medicare don’t have dental coverage at all. Cleanings, fillings,
crowns and dentures aren’t covered by the program.
·
Possible policy fixes
for Washington to consider include adding dental coverage to Medicare Part B
and creating a voluntary dental benefit, according to Kaiser.
Chances are that you’re overlooking a major
retiree health care expense — and it’ll take a bite out of your pocket book.
It’s the cost of dental care.
In all, 37 million people — nearly 2 out of 3
Medicare beneficiaries — have no dental coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Medicare doesn’t cover crowns, dentures,
fillings and cleanings.
Beneficiaries who went to the dentist in 2016
paid an average of $922 in out-of-pocket expenses, Kaiser found.
People who do have dental insurance tend to get
it through private Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and other private plans,
including individually purchased coverage and workplace retiree insurance,
according to Kaiser.
The organization recently examined potential
policy changes that could expand dental coverage to Medicare beneficiaries.
Those changes include adding a dental benefit to
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) and creating a voluntary dental benefit
under a new part of Medicare.
Specialty dental work
Your twice-annual dental visit on its own may be
affordable.
The cost of a simple cleaning for an adult
averages around $129 for patients in Manhattan, according to FAIR Health
Consumer, a site that estimates the cost of medical procedures.
Patients who are uninsured or who are seeing a
dentist that’s out-of-network may expect to shell out $210 for this service,
FAIR Health found.
It’s a different story if you’re getting a
crown, fillings or dentures.
the cost of getting a ceramic or porcelain crown
over metal can run up to $2,000 for patients who see out-of-network dentists or
who have no insurance, according to FAIR Health.
“You’ll want insurance for those higher costs,
including fillings, crowns and dentures,” said Gretchen Jacobson, associate
director with the Kaiser Family Foundation’s program on Medicare Policy.
Expenses despite
insurance
While dental coverage can take the edge off some
costs, patients may still be on the hook for high bills.
Kaiser gave the example of a 72-year-old patient
who received treatment for tooth decay, three fillings and two crowns. This
same patient received additional periodontal maintenance six months later.
He would be responsible for $4,300 in expenses
without insurance, Kaiser found.
Even with dental coverage via Medicare
Advantage, this same patient would be on the hook for up to $3,300.
Deductibles and coinsurance — the percentage of
costs the client must pay for — are the out-of-pocket expenses that drive costs
for these patients.
Ask questions
Retirees need to become empowered consumers to
get the most out of their dental care.
Here’s where to begin, according to certified
financial planner Carolyn McClanahan, who is also a physician and director of
financial planning at Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida
Know your plan: Whether it’s offered to you through a
retiree health plan or as an add-on to your Medicare Advantage plan, get a
solid understanding of your deductibles, applicable co-payments and
coinsurance.
Make sure your dentist takes your coverage: Your insurance won’t help you much if
you’re paying more because your provider is out-of-network.
Grow your emergency fund: Nobody plans for tooth decay. Consider
that surprise implant or crown to be an emergency expense, and save
accordingly, McClanahan said.
If you have a health savings account, you can’t fund it if
you’re on Medicare. However, you can tap it to pay for dental and other
qualified medical costs on a tax-free basis.
Find a second opinion: “Some dentists are more aggressive than
others,” said McClanahan. “If someone is recommending really expensive work,
get a second opinion.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/19/retirees-spend-1000-on-dental-costs-medicare-doesnt-cover-it.html
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