subject: Medcare Dental And Vision Benefits [print this page] US Medicare helps millions of Americans pay for health care. It is the government health plan for people over 65, and for some younger disabled people. While it offers comprehensive health care benefits, many recipients wonder about how Medicare healps with dental and vision care.
Even though dental and vision services are usually not provided by MDs, they are provided by doctors of their own respective specialties. And these health care services can end up being very needed, and they can also cost a lot of money.
But normal, routine care of the teeth and eyes is not usually covered by original Medicare plans. Only care that is associated with a medical considtion, like an illness or accident, would be covered. For more information, the resources on medicare.gov, the official CMS website, can be very helpful.
Some Medicare beneficiaries may have dental and vision coverage through other insurance plans. Some Medicare Advantagge plans, for instance, may have dental and vision benefits included. Some retirees, with company retirement benefits, may also have coverage. But normal routine coverage for dental and vision needs is not part of original Medicare, or even part of many Medicare Advantage or Medicare supplement plans.
So what options do people have. It is certainly important for older people to be able to take good care of their teeth and eyes. Is there any way to get help?
Dental insurance is sold by private companies. Some actually target seniors in their marketing because they know that it is not covered with the basic benefits. This may be a good option for some.
Dental isurance will not cover everything though, and even with a good plan, most people will have some out of pocket expenses. These expenses include deductibles and copays that are set out in the policy. Also be wary of yearly limits that most dental insurance plans have. Before you take a dental insurance policy, make sure you compare different plans and understand how they work.
Many Medicare recipients can be helped by dental discount plans too. These plans are not insurance, but they can be big money savers.
Discount plans usually cost a lot less than a dental insurance policy does. Rather than actually covering services, they provide access to a network of dental and vision care providers. The providers offer set discounts to plan members who seek treatment.
And even though these plans are not insurance, some actually provide the same network access as major insurers. So a member may be entitled to the same negotiated prices as insured people, and a lot of times, this is where the real savings come in.
The dental providers, in return, get to take advantage of new patients from these dental discount plans. The service providers can enjoy savings because they have new clients so that helps their bottom line. So many top dentists and vision care sources are willing to participate in these plans.
Good oral and vision health is important for everybody, and may be a key to health and happiness as we age. Make sure you understand how your benefits will help you, and what you can do to make your benefits better.
by: Marilyn Katz
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