Does dental care have an age limit?
Unfortunately for a lot of seniors in America, traditional Medicare does not cover dental services, and any type of dental coverage under Medicare would require supplemental coverage or a Medicare Advantage Plan.
A 2015 report by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reported that 23 percent of seniors, or almost one-quarter of the senior population 65 and older, have not been to the dentist in the last five years. And half of all seniors 65+ haven't seen a dentist within the past year.
As a result, people are seeking other solutions to meet their needs. One such alternative is a dental savings plan or discount dental plan, which is an alternative to traditional dental insurance.
"Seniors represent a significant part of our customer base," said Bill Chase, vice president of marketing for :DentalPlans. "And we find that our customers, and seniors especially, understand the direct connection of oral health to overall health and well-being."
According to Oral Health America, nearly 70 percent of seniors do not have dental insurance. And with 47.5 percent of dental expenditures paid out-of-pocket, seniors on a fixed income may find it more difficult to afford care. As a person ages, they often require more costly dental procedures like crowns, root canals, extractions, and dentures and the costs of some of these procedures exceed $1,000.
A dental savings plan is an alternative to dental insurance. Participating dentists agree to accept a reduced fee from dental savings plan members for a variety of dental procedures. Members pay an annual fee and get access to the reduced rates on dental services including cosmetic dentistry and orthodontia. For more information, visit DentalPlans.com.