Millions of adults have no dental coverage, and Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care. If that is you, there are four ways to pay for the dentist. Here is how they compare.
You pay the office’s full fee for each visit. Simple, but a year of cleanings, checkups, X-rays and a couple of emergency visits averages about $1,041 before any treatment.
Marketplace and individual plans charge monthly premiums, then add a deductible, waiting periods of 6–24 months for crowns and root canals, and an annual maximum around $1,000–$1,500. Many people pay more in premiums than the plan pays out.
Third-party discount cards give a reduced fee list at participating offices. They usually do not include cleanings, and the discount depends on which dentists sign up.
You pay your own dental office one yearly fee. Cleanings, checkups, X-rays and emergency visits are included, and treatment is 30% off, with no deductibles, waiting periods or maximums. It works best when you want a regular dentist you can call when something goes wrong.
| Insurance | Membership | |
|---|---|---|
| No deductibles | — | ✓ |
| No waiting periods | — | ✓ |
| No annual maximums | — | ✓ |
| No pre-authorizations or denials | — | ✓ |
| No surprise charges | — | ✓ |
Original Medicare does not include routine dental care. Many Medicare Advantage plans do. If you have Keystone 65, Personal Choice 65, Aetna Medicare, Humana or AARP dental, call your office and we will check your benefits for free. If your plan has no dental, W Smile Club is often the simplest way to keep up with cleanings.