Original Medicare—Parts A and B—does not cover dental implants or routine dental care like cleanings or fillings, limiting its scope to hospital and medical services, which leaves those costs entirely on you unless you have other coverage. This limitation is a big reason more seniors are turning to Medicare Advantage plans, many of which—around 70% in 2025—include dental benefits that can cover implants, depending on the specific plan and provider. I’ve noticed clients often assume Medicare handles more than it does, so if implants are something you need, you’d either pay out of pocket with Original Medicare or look into an Advantage plan that lists them in its benefits.
Wherever you got that idea, please cross that person’s name off your advisor list! That is totally NOT true. The only aspect of Medicare that pays anything are for routine Dental, Vision and Hearing. The reason is that when Medicare was established in 1965, the Feds wanted to only be responsible for the inexpensive healthcare treatments. For example, in the Dental area, Medicare pays for x-rays cleanings and fluoride treatment. But, if you are seeking an umbrella policy that covers the more expensive procedures, buy a “DVH” (Dental, Vision & Hearing) individual policy that covers “some” aspects of implants, root canal, partial dentures extractions, etc. Your best option is one that can cost about $65.00 per person depending on your state.
Medicare Part A & B do not cover dental implants, however, some of the Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) that offer dental benefits may cover implants and/or other services.
There may also be some other standalone dental plans that offer coverage for dental implants.
Medicare does not routinely pay for dental. Only certain dental if it is sustained in an accident. Most dentists do not want to bill Medicare due to limiting charges and not being participating.
Medicare generally does not cover dental implants or most dental care, as it considers them non-medically necessary. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) typically only covers dental procedures if they are integral to a covered medical procedure, like jaw reconstruction after an accident. However, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may offer limited dental coverage, including implants, but this varies by plan and often comes with restrictions or additional costs.
If we are talking about Original Medicare Parts A and B the answer is No. Original Medicare never included coverage for dental expenses. Covered isureds have the option of purchasing individual dental insurance which may or may not cover dental implants. Depending on circumstances, Original Medicare may cover some of the medical costs of implant insertion like prescription medication.
No, Dental Implants are not covered by Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B. However, if you have dental implants already and experience a problem or have health concerns after the procedure Original Medicare may help to pay for some of the cost associated with the issue. There are a few Medicare Advantage plans that will help with the cost of Dental Implants, so I would encourage you to ask your Medicare Specialist if these options are available to you.
