According to the Kaiser Family, 2 out of 3 people on Medicare have no dental coverage. This is a major problem. Dental care is truly a medical need. Studies show that when a person has no dental coverage, they are far more likely to put off routine dental visits and checkups strictly because they dread having to pay for the entire visit out of pocket.
It’s true that certain Medicare Advantage plans can come with some dental coverage, but in many cases, what they provide simply is not enough for someone with substantial dental expenses. Having dental insurance can be a significant asset. Its most valuable purpose isn’t for the expected routine checkups, it’s for the unexpected big expenses.
Truth be told, Dental Vision & Hearing insurance or DVH plans, can be a bit polarizing. Sometimes they do not look like people expect them to look. At times, people can be underwhelmed with the benefits they actually provide. However, I feel if they are put into proper context as to what they actually do vs what they do not, you can find that they can be very good programs for certain people if they have the needs that a DVH plan can fill.
First things first, it is important to understand that Medicare by itself typically does not cover dental vision or hearing needs. This causes a fairly large hole in terms of what a person might need when they retire. DVH plans can be a great solution to that. Plans exist that act as dental-only insurance plans and plans exist that act as all three built into one plan. Options do exist! First thing we can do here is to understand the characteristics of a DVH plan.
It is common for DVH plans to typically have limitations in the first year of coverage. There are some exceptions to this, but normally, a DVH plan will have waiting periods in the first 12 months of coverage. It is common for a plan to include coverage immediately for things like preventative dental (cleanings, x-rays, and exams), while major dental work like bridges, crowns, and root canals will come with a typical 12 month wait before any coverage will be provided. Some plans will offer same day coverage on these major services but at a reduced percentage.
Normally DVH plans will have a maximum benefit payout amount per year. What this means is that once the plan has paid out this maximum payout amount per year, the plan will not pay any more claims until the next policy year. These maximums, depending on insurance company and part of the country, can be anywhere between $1000-$5000. Plan availability will certainly vary.
Medicare Required Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 76 organizations which offer 2,345 plans nationwide. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Integrity Marketing Partners, LLC and its affiliates (“Integrity”) provide certain support and services to Christian Brindle Insurance Services, which operates independently as a licensed agency. Christian Brindle Insurance Services does not represent Integrity.
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