If you’re on Medicare, your mailbox has probably been busy lately. Open enrollment started October 15 and runs through December 7, and whatever you pick now takes effect January 1, 2027. Most people look hard at drug costs and doctor networks. Fewer people look at the dental page, and this year that’s a mistake.
Why dental deserves a closer look this year
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t pay for routine dental care like cleanings, fillings or dentures. Most dental coverage for seniors comes through Medicare Advantage plans. Early reports on 2027 plans show many insurers scaling dental back, with lower yearly limits or less coverage for bigger work like crowns and dentures. Some plans are also leaving certain areas altogether.
So a plan that covered your partial denture this year may not cover it the same way next year. The only way to know is to read your Annual Notice of Change, the letter your plan mailed this fall.
A 5-minute dental checklist for your plan
When you compare plans for 2027, ask these questions:
- What’s the yearly dental maximum? Some plans cap out at a few hundred dollars. Others go much higher.
- Is it preventive only? Some plans cover two cleanings and an exam but nothing for fillings, root canals or extractions.
- Are crowns, bridges and dentures covered? And at what percentage?
- Is there a waiting period for major work?
- Is Olive Branch Dental in network? A great benefit doesn’t help much if you have to drive to Indianapolis to use it.
Use what you have before December 31
If your current plan includes dental, any benefit you haven’t used this year usually disappears at midnight on December 31. If you’ve been putting off a cleaning, a cracked filling or a crown your dentist mentioned in the spring, now is the time. Our calendar fills up fast in November and December as folks across Bartholomew County try to beat the deadline.
We’ll help you make sense of it
Our front desk team talks with Medicare Advantage patients every day. Bring your plan card or your Annual Notice of Change to your visit and we’ll help you understand what your dental benefit actually covers. We can also give you a written treatment estimate so you can compare plans with real numbers instead of guesses. Not insured? Ask about our new patient special and flexible financing options.
Book before the rush
Olive Branch Dental is on W Jonathan Moore Pike, a quick drive from downtown Columbus, Edinburgh, Hope and Seymour. Call (812) 516-5777 or book online to get your checkup in before your benefits reset.
This post is general information, not insurance advice. For plan-by-plan help, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov.
