Why Dental Is Important!
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.
Are Dental Vision & Hearing Plans Worth It?
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.
What Do These Plans Look Like?
A dental, vision and hearing plan is a separate policy with its own small monthly premium. Dental benefits usually cover cleanings and X-rays at 100%, basic work such as fillings at a percentage, and major work such as crowns, root canals and dentures at a lower percentage up to an annual maximum, with a waiting period for major work on many plans. Vision benefits are a yearly exam and an allowance toward glasses or contacts. Hearing benefits are an exam and an allowance or discount on hearing aids.
Two things decide whether a plan is worth it: the annual maximum against the work you expect, and the waiting period. KFF reports that two in three people on Medicare have no dental coverage at all, which is why we show the DVH options alongside every Medicare Advantage comparison. Source: KFF, Medicare and dental coverage.
Hours of Operation
MON – FRI
9:30am – 5:00pm
SAT & SUN
We are closed