Some Groups Propose Expanding Medicare To Include Dental Coverage

Health Affairs (1/21, Pope) states that the majority of Medicare Advantage plans include preventive dental care, whereas standard Medicare coverage excludes “routine dental care.” According to the article, “As only 21 percent of Medicare beneficiaries purchase standalone dental insurance, while coverage for the 14 percent also eligible for Medicaid is threadbare to non-existent in most states, the majority of seniors lack dental coverage.” Given this, some groups have called for expanding “Medicare to include dental coverage, with Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders introducing legislation to cover dental care under Medicare Part B.”

        Meanwhile, Steve Chapman of the Chicago Tribune (1/20) discussed Sanders’ proposed “Medicare for All” plan, that would cover “‘the entire continuum of care,’ including long-term care and dentistry.”