Medicare pays for a wide range of services, including many preventive benefits, however, coverage of dental care is very limited. So where can you turn to in order to have dental care services at a more affordable cost.

On our website shareofcost.com sell dental insurance to individual and family plans. Just because you may have Medicare dose not mean you can not buy dental insurance for yourself and your dental care needs.

We offer lower cost HMO insurance plans as well as PPO insurance plans where you can chose your own dentist. In order to review our insurance plan options just enter your zip code in the quote box provided. If you have any questions about our dental insurance plans options please call our office at 310-534-3444 M-F 8am-4pm Pacific Daylight Time

The Medi-Cal program determines eligibility for benefits on a “means” tested basis. If a Medi-Cal applicant’s property/assets are over the Medi-Cal property limit, the applicant will not be eligible for Medi-Cal unless they lower their property/assets according to the program rules. The Medi-Cal
eligibility worker looks at how much an applicant and their family has each month. If their property/assets are below the limit at any time during that month, the applicant will get Medi-Cal, if otherwise eligible. If a person has more than the limit for a whole month, Medi-Cal benefits will be
discontinued.

A person’s home, furnishings, personal items, and one motor vehicle are not counted. A single person is allowed to keep $2,000 in property/assets, more if they are married and/or have a family. (If a person has a Partnership policy, however, each dollar the Partnership policy pays out in benefits entitles the insured to keep a dollar of his/her assets should he/she ever need to apply for Medi-Cal Services.)

For example, if a person receives an inheritance that puts their property/asset amount to more than $2,000, they would be required to spend that amount down to $2,000 before Medi-Cal would pay for any further care.

Does Medicare pay for preventive dental care as well majors services such as dentures?

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine oral dental care, such preventive care and fillings, dentures, root canals, etc.

Original Medicare however, may pay for dental services that are medically necessary prior to another covered Medicare medical procedure.

Such as, Medicare might pay for a tooth extraction if it is required before heart surgery. Or, a person with oral cancer might get a procedure covered prior to radiation treatment. Even if Medicare does pay for some services as preparation for a medical procedure, it will not cover the cost of implants or dentures.

You can find more information by downloading a copy of “Before You Buy,” found on the Partnership’s web site. This document, which provides an explanation of asset protection and Medi-Cal Eligibility rules, must be provided to consumers when long-term care presentations are made, in compliance with Partnership regulations. “Before You Buy” is updated annually with new figures on current Medi-Cal resource and income limits.

Did you know that dental implants require the same normal oral care routine as teeth because they mimic the natural tooth. You can successfully floss and brush around the implant like a normal tooth. Dental bridges, on the other hand, require meticulous care and you are expected to floss under the false tooth. This is particularly challenging for the elderly who may not be as attentive to details. This makes dental implants easier to manage.

If you are a senior may wonder whether dental implants work just as well for older patients as they do for younger ones. You may also wonder whether your dental implants have a different success rate based on your age.

The answer to that question is that dental implants are just as effective and long-lasting in older patients as they are in younger ones. In fact, dental implants can change the lives of older patients for the better, giving them more confidence and improved physical and mental health.

According to a 2004 study, it reviewed success rates after five years for dental implants in patients over 80 years and those that were under 80. This study found that the two groups had the same success rates.

Generally the implant dentists evaluates an older patients for a possibility of getting dental implants, they look at the following factors:

• General health
• Oral health
• Bone health
• Medications

If you are interested in having dental implants or knowing more about them, don’t let your age be a main factor. Talk to your dentist and go over options that are good for you and your overall all health care.

Dental implants are permanent attached anchors that integrate with your jawbone to provide a stable base for long-term tooth replacement. Customized crowns for the implant are then attached to the implants.

Because dental implants become part of your jaw, they look and feel like natural teeth. They do not move or slip around while you eat or talk.

We offer many Delta dental plans for seniors. Which helps to provide affordable dental coverage’s. We also provide Delta dental plans that do not have waiting periods. So if a larger dental care is needed you be able to have benefits available at the start of the plans effective date. If you do not have any basic or major dental care needs right away you may want to choose one of Delta dental plans that do have waiting periods but offer a lower monthly cost of their plan. Review our dental insurance plan options that include Delta dental just by entering your zip code in the quote box provided. If you have any questions please call our office at 310-534-3444 M-F 8am – 4pm

Because dental is not included in Original Medicare (unless medically necessary) or Medigap supplement plans, seniors must look elsewhere for dental care coverage.

One option is that you could enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, just be aware that dental benefits are usually limited to cleanings, exams, and bitewing X-rays. So make sure you know the benfits offered and the plan limitations on services

Another option is that you buy your own individual dental insurance plan. There are different dental insurance plan types. If you are low income or fixed budget you may want to review a dental HMO insurance plan as they are the more affordable dental insurance option.

However if you have a dentist you like to stay with that dose not accept dental HMO insurance plan the you will want to review dental PPO’s plan instead as they let you choose inside or outside plan proviers.

On our website shareofcost.com we provide both of these options in most states. Just enter your zip code in the quote box to review all our dental insurance options. If you have any question need help please call our customer service line at 310-534-3444 M-F 8am – 4pm Pacific Daylight Time