Dental, Vision & Hearing Coverage for Seniors
Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental, vision or hearing care. Here are your options, including the all-in-one plan our clients like most.
Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
It's one of the questions we hear most often. The short answer: Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, eye exams for glasses, eyeglasses, hearing exams or hearing aids. It only helps in limited cases, such as dental work needed as part of certain medical treatments.
That leaves two main ways to get coverage:
- A Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental, vision or hearing benefits. Many do, though how much they cover varies a lot.
- A separate dental, vision and hearing plan that works alongside Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan.
The all-in-one plan we recommend
For clients who want separate coverage, we often recommend an all-in-one dental, vision and hearing plan from Manhattan Life. Our clients like that it covers all three in a single plan with one premium.
- No network: see any dentist, eye doctor or hearing provider you choose
- No health questions to qualify
- Preventive and basic dental care covered from day one
- Benefits that grow the longer you keep the plan
- Month-to-month coverage with no long-term contract
- A short application we can complete with you over the phone
Prices and benefits vary by state. Call us for current rates and details where you live.
Dental benefits
Because there's no network, you can keep seeing the dentist you already know and trust. The plan helps pay for preventive care, like checkups and cleanings, and basic care, like fillings, x-rays and simple extractions. Major work such as crowns, bridges, root canals, dentures and implants is covered too, after a waiting period.
Vision benefits
Stand-alone vision plans for seniors can be hard to find, so having vision built in is a real plus. The plan helps pay for eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses, and you can use any eye doctor you like.
Hearing benefits
Hearing often changes as we get older, and hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars without coverage. The plan helps pay for hearing exams, hearing aids and hearing aid repairs. Even if your hearing is fine today, it's reassuring to know the coverage is there when you need it.
Is it worth having vision and hearing too?
If you mainly want dental coverage, that's a fair question. In our experience, an all-in-one plan often costs about the same as a dental-only plan, and people get more value from it because they're more likely to use all three benefits.
What if my dentist doesn't bill the insurance company?
You're still covered. Ask your dentist for an itemized receipt and send it to the insurance company to be reimbursed.
Are there waiting periods?
Preventive and basic care is covered right away. Major services, such as crowns, bridges, root canals, dentures and full-mouth extractions, usually have a 12-month waiting period. Cleanings are typically covered once every 6 months. We'll go over the exact details for your state before you apply.
What if I change my mind?
The plan includes a 30-day review period. If you're not happy within the first 30 days, you can cancel for a full refund.
How do I sign up?
Call Thrive 65 at 702-768-7999 or email medicareadvisor.scott@gmail.com. We can usually complete the application with you over the phone in a few minutes.