Dental Insurance in Los Angeles, Including for Seniors

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, and Medigap policies generally do not cover it either. Common routes for people 65 and older are a separate dental plan beside Original Medicare and Medigap, a Medicare Advantage plan with a dental benefit, or Medi-Cal Dental for people who qualify for Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal can also pay for dental care that Medicare leaves out, including for people who have Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Benefits, dentist networks and yearly limits differ from plan to plan, so compare them against the care you expect to need. Lara Goulson compares your options at no cost at (818) 472-5484.

Mostly no. Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings, dentures or implants. It pays only in narrow cases, such as dental care that is inextricably linked to a covered medical treatment, like treating an oral infection before an organ transplant or heart valve surgery. Medigap policies generally do not cover dental care either. Many Medicare Advantage plans include a dental benefit, but it differs so much from plan to plan that the coverage you get depends on the plan you choose, not on Medicare itself.

It depends on the plan. Some dental plans work only with a set list of dentists, some cost you more when your dentist is outside the network, and some let you see any dentist. Some Medicare Advantage plans have dental networks that members must use, and work done out of network can be billed to you in full. Before you enroll, check the plan's provider directory and ask the dental office whether it takes the plan. Call Lara Goulson at (818) 472-5484 with the name of your dentist, and she will show you which plans work there at no cost.