Unfortunately, most health insurance plans do not cover dental care. It's often covered only through separate insurance specifically for dental care. Health insurance may cover dental care in some extreme emergency situations. Whether or not you're covered depends on the type of health insurance you have.
In this article:
Does employer-sponsored health insurance cover dental care?
An employer-sponsored health insurance plan likely won't cover routine dental care. In most cases, it's only provided by some sort of separate dental insurance plan.
This is because health insurance usually only covers dental treatments and procedures that are medically necessary to keep you in good health.
Don't take that to mean your job-based health plan will pay to have your cavity filled or your crown replaced. Typically, the situation needs to be a lot more serious than that.
Standard health insurance policies usually limit this kind of coverage to dental or oral surgeries that involve:
- diseases to the facial bones
- physical trauma to the tissue and structures of the face
- treatment of jaw disorders
- correction of facial deformities
Some health plans cover more common types of oral surgery, too, such as the removal of wisdom teeth. Even then, though, those wisdom teeth often have to be impacted before they'll pay part of the bill.
If you have employee-sponsored dental coverage, here's what you need to know about it:
- They usually cover the basics. In other words, routine checkups and cleanings, as well as fillings, bridges, crowns, and root canals.
- They don't cover all of these procedures fully or equally. In fact, most dental plans only pay for 100 percent of cleanings and preventative care. For fillings and root canals, they typically pay about 80 percent of the cost, and for things like crowns, they often contribute just 50 percent.
- They only chip in these amounts after you pay the deductibles and copays associated with your particular plan. Most of these plans also have annual benefit limits. Once you hit that coverage cap (commonly $1,000 to $1,500), you have to pay for the rest of that year's dental work out of your own pocket or put it off until the next policy year begins.
- They don't often cover cosmetic procedures, such as teeth whitening or veneers. Nor do they tend to cover orthodontic work.
Don't assume the dental coverage or plan your employer offers is identical to what's described above. Review your policy, talk with someone in human resources, or call the insurance company directly before you make an appointment with a dentist so you know which treatments or procedures it will or won't cover.
How do Marketplace plans cover dental care?
You may have heard that the Affordable Care Act requires all plans sold via the government-run health insurance marketplace to cover "essential health benefits."
What you may not have heard: dental care isn't among them. Or at least dental care for adults isn't among them. Dental care for children, however, is among the essential health benefits Obamacare requires marketplace plans to cover.
The law says that Americans 18 years old or younger must have access to dental coverage via the marketplace. As a result, sometimes that coverage is included in marketplace health plans, and sometimes it's provided by stand-alone plans.
Also worth noting here: the law doesn't say children must have dental insurance coverage. It simply says they need to have access to it. So, you don't have to buy it for your child if you can't afford it or don't want it.
Obamacare doesn't prohibit marketplace plans from providing dental care coverage. It just doesn't require them to provide it. Given that, it's possible you'll find a plan that cover dental care on the exchange, but it's not likely.
Which kinds of dental treatments and procedures do these marketplace policies cover? It depends. What one plan in one state offers is sure to be different from what another plan in another state offers. Because of that, you really need to do your homework and research all of your options in this area before settling on any one policy.
Something to keep in mind if you're thinking of buying a stand-alone dental plan through the marketplace: you can only do so if you also enroll in a standard health plan at the same time. For whatever reason, you can't just go to the marketplace and buy stand-alone dental coverage on its own.
Also, you have to buy this coverage during either the annual open enrollment period or during a special enrollment period.
States With the Most Cavities
Dental visits are down, cavities are up. Our team of analysts found that the number of children and adolescents with cavities has increased by 4% since 2016. At the same time, the number of children and adolescents who regularly go to the dentist’s office is down 4% over the same time period.
Nationwide, 12% of people under the age of 17 reported having either a cavity or tooth decay in the last year, compared to 11% in previous years. The coronavirus pandemic likely played a major role in keeping people from being able to get to the dentist. We found that 77% of children and adolescents visited the dentist’s office in the last year, compared with 80% in previous years.
Dental decay has gotten significantly worse in certain states. The number of children with cavities or tooth decay has increased by 39% in Michigan, 26% in Louisiana and 22% in Wyoming. Louisiana has the highest rate of children with cavities at 17%, while Rhode Island has the lowest at 9%.
| State | % of children with cavities or tooth decay | % change |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 12.7% | 2% |
| Alaska | 10.9% | -8% |
| Arizona | 13.2% | -3% |
| Arkansas | 12.7% | -7% |
| California | 14.8% | 11% |
| Colorado | 10.7% | 4% |
| Connecticut | 10.0% | 16% |
| Delaware | 12.5% | 2% |
| Florida | 12.4% | -2% |
| Georgia | 11.3% | -7% |
| Hawaii | 10.6% | -6% |
| Idaho | 14.6% | 8% |
| Illinois | 12.7% | 6% |
| Indiana | 11.5% | 6% |
| Iowa | 11.0% | 16% |
| Kansas | 12.4% | 10% |
| Kentucky | 10.6% | -2% |
| Louisiana | 16.5% | 26% |
| Maine | 9.1% | -12% |
| Maryland | 10.1% | -2% |
| Massachusetts | 9.2% | -7% |
| Michigan | 14.0% | 39% |
| Minnesota | 8.7% | -6% |
| Mississippi | 14.4% | 8% |
| Missouri | 12.5% | 6% |
| Montana | 10.7% | 6% |
| Nebraska | 8.5% | -8% |
| Nevada | 13.3% | 2% |
| New Hampshire | 9.7% | 0% |
| New Jersey | 11.3% | -4% |
| New Mexico | 11.6% | -16% |
| New York | 11.8% | 8% |
| North Carolina | 12.3% | 15% |
| North Dakota | 11.0% | 12% |
| Ohio | 10.7% | 1% |
| Oklahoma | 13.6% | 10% |
| Oregon | 12.4% | -5% |
| Pennsylvania | 10.0% | -7% |
| Rhode Island | 8.4% | -12% |
| South Carolina | 12.3% | 12% |
| South Dakota | 10.2% | 19% |
| Tennessee | 12.8% | 8% |
| Texas | 12.8% | -3% |
| Utah | 12.5% | 1% |
| Vermont | 9.6% | 0% |
| Virginia | 10.7% | 7% |
| Washington | 8.7% | -16% |
| United States | 11.7% | 4% |
| Data sourced from National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016 - 2021 | ||
We also found that there is a difference between men and women when it comes to going to the dentist. Nationwide, 62% of men and 68% of women went to the dentist’s office in the last year. The biggest difference is in Montana, where 59% of men and 69% of women got their teeth checked in the last year. The smallest difference is in Oklahoma, where 59% of men and 61% of women went to the dentist.
| State | % of men who went to the dentist | % of women who went to the dentist |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60% | 63% |
| Alaska | 59% | 67% |
| Arizona | 58% | 64% |
| Arkansas | 54% | 60% |
| California | 63% | 66% |
| Colorado | 64% | 71% |
| Connecticut | 70% | 77% |
| Delaware | 60% | 68% |
| Florida | 57% | 65% |
| Georgia | 58% | 63% |
| Hawaii | 72% | 77% |
| Idaho | 64% | 71% |
| Illinois | 68% | 69% |
| Indiana | 61% | 65% |
| Iowa | 64% | 73% |
| Kansas | 63% | 71% |
| Kentucky | 53% | 62% |
| Louisiana | 56% | 62% |
| Maine | 64% | 69% |
| Maryland | 62% | 70% |
| Massachusetts | 71% | 76% |
| Michigan | 67% | 71% |
| Minnesota | 66% | 73% |
| Mississippi | 55% | 61% |
| Missouri | 59% | 67% |
| Montana | 59% | 69% |
| Nebraska | 64% | 73% |
| Nevada | 57% | 64% |
| New Hampshire | 68% | 71% |
| New Jersey | 65% | 72% |
| New Mexico | 59% | 68% |
| New York | 64% | 70% |
| North Carolina | 63% | 68% |
| North Dakota | 63% | 70% |
| Ohio | 62% | 68% |
| Oklahoma | 59% | 61% |
| Oregon | 65% | 71% |
| Pennsylvania | 65% | 71% |
| Rhode Island | 72% | 76% |
| South Carolina | 64% | 71% |
| South Dakota | 67% | 72% |
| Tennessee | 59% | 61% |
| Texas | 54% | 61% |
| Utah | 71% | 75% |
| Vermont | 66% | 71% |
| Virginia | 68% | 72% |
| Washington | 66% | 72% |
| West Virginia | 55% | 61% |
| Wisconsin | 68% | 76% |
| Wyoming | 63% | 68% |
| United States | 62% | 68% |
Does Medicare provide dental care coverage?
Depending on the source, somewhere between 75 million and more than 100 million Americans currently lack dental insurance coverage.
A good percentage of the "dentally uninsured" are Americans over the age of 65. Why? Because Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental care. Medicare does cover some forms of emergency dental care, but it won't cover regular checkups and cleaning.
In fact, according to a 2016 National Association of Dental Plans survey, only about 53 percent of Medicare recipients have dental coverage. Considering almost all seniors in the U.S. are on Medicare, that's a pretty shocking statistic.
Thankfully, today's seniors have quite a few other options if they want insurance that'll help them pay for dental care or work. One option is Medicare Supplement Insurance, sometimes shortened to MedSup or even Medigap. Another option is a Medicare Advantage plan. And then, of course, there are the stand-alone dental insurance policies that already have been discussed a number of times.
Here's what you need to know about Medicare Advantage and MedSup plans and how they tend to cover--or not cover--dental work. (You'll learn more about private or individual dental plans in a few minutes.)
Medicare Advantage plans
When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, it provides all your Original Medicare benefits.
If yours is like most Medicare Advantage plans, though, it'll provide a lot more than that. Many of these plans also cover prescription drugs, vision, hearing and dental care.
They don't have to cover dental care, though, so not all do. As such, thoroughly research any Medicare Advantage plan that catches your eye before you go ahead and buy it.
For more information on this kind of coverage, check out our "Guide to Medicare Advantage Plans."
MedSup
MedSup or Medigap policies supplement the costs of Original Medicare coverage. To put it another way, they help people pay some of the health and medical expenses that Medicare Parts A and B don't cover.
Like Medicare Advantage plans, private companies sell these plans to Medicare enrollees.
Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, they don't often include dental coverage. Some do, but most don't.
Still, finding a MedSup or Medigap policy that covers dental work isn't impossible, so shop around if it's important to you.
Learn more about Medicare Supplement Insurance in our MedSup FAQ. Or scroll through this article of ours: "When Does it Make Sense to Get a Medicare Supplement Plan?"
Does Medicaid cover dental care?
Medicaid isn't known for providing dental care coverage.
In fact, Medicaid is a lot like Medicare in that state agencies are only required to provide dental coverage to children. There are no minimum requirements for adult dental coverage.
States can choose whether or not they offer dental benefits to adults via their Medicaid programs. Unfortunately for those adults, many offer the bare minimum in this area.
What does that mean? Most Medicaid programs that cover dental care limit that coverage to emergency dental services. Some also cover preventative procedures, like cleanings and X-rays. Others expand their benefits a bit more to include the occasional filling or extraction.
That said, a handful of state Medicaid programs go the extra mile and cover enrollees' crowns and root canals as well as their cleanings, fillings, and extractions.
Medicaid recipients often have a hard time getting a dentist to even examine them. Many U.S. dentists don't accept Medicaid patients. Others accept them, but limit how many they'll see.
Given that, the dental coverage some Medicaid programs provide adult enrollees isn't always as great as it seems, even if that coverage usually is free.
If you have kids, though, Medicaid should help take care of their teeth no matter which state you call home. The same is true of the related Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
According to medicaid.gov, both programs cover dental services for child enrollees as part of something called the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit.
This benefit "requires that all services must be provided if determined [to be] medically necessary. States determine medical necessity," the site explains. "If a condition requiring treatment is discovered during a screening, the state must provide the necessary services to treat that condition, whether or not such services are included in a state's Medicaid plan."
Note: only states that make CHIP coverage available to children through a Medicaid expansion program need to provide those kids with the EPSDT benefit. States with separate CHIP programs have a bit more flexibility in terms of how they cover the dental care of child enrollees. (Basically, they can offer a package of dental benefits that meets the CHIP requirements, or they can offer a dental benefit package that's "substantially equal" to one of a handful of federal or state dental plans.)
Every state handles this kind of child dental coverage differently, so contact your local Medicaid or CHIP agency to learn more about its particular offering.
Dedicated dental insurance plans
If you don't get dental coverage through your health insurance, your only option is to get it directly from an insurer.
The good news here: all sorts of insurance companies sell individual dental plans these days.
Even better, most of these companies sell a range of dental plans. So, if you want "full coverage" that'll help you and your family pay for the treatment of any dental or oral problems you may encounter, you can get that. And if you just want the basics covered, like routine checkups, cleanings, X-rays, and the occasional filling, you can get that, too.
Now for the bad news: you'll pay quite a bit more for a "full coverage" dental insurance plan than you will for one that only covers the basics. How much more? Well, your "typical" dental insurance plan can cost about $350 a year. Full-coverage plans often cost more than twice that amount, or around $780.
Also, most private or individual dental plans include annual benefit limits of between $1,000 and $1,500. That means once you reach that amount, you have to pay for the rest of your dental care until the next policy year begins. All of it. Out of your own pocket.
And of course you'll be paying for quite a bit of your dental care well in advance of that point. After all, each of these plans come with deductibles that have to be reached before your plan kicks in and pays its portion. Also, most of these plans only chip in about 80 percent of the cost for fillings and root canals, and they often cover just 50 percent of bridges, crowns, and other "major" procedures.
Combine all of the above with the fact that private dental coverage rarely pays for cosmetic or even orthodontic procedures and it should be clear that you should approach buying this type of insurance with caution.
Granted, shopping around and comparing coverage options as well as rates is important whenever you're looking to buy insurance. Why should dental insurance be any different?
Do your research and don't be shy about asking questions and you'll put yourself in the best position possible to walk away from the experience with a dental plan or coverage that keeps your teeth--and the rest of you, too--healthy and doesn't break the bank.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does health insurance cover dental care?
A: Usually only in extreme or emergency situations. For example, if you're involved in a car accident that results in trauma to your jaw, teeth, or gums, your standard health insurance plan probably will pay for the medical and dental work that'll fix it.
Your health plan may pay for more common types of oral surgery, too. Some cover the removal of wisdom teeth, for instance, although usually only if they're impacted.
In general, though, you shouldn't expect your health insurance to pay for any kind of dental or medical care that's specifically related to or focused on your teeth. For that, you need dedicated dental coverage.
Q: Why doesn't health insurance cover dental care?
A: It's difficult to say for sure why health insurance in the U.S. has never embraced dental coverage. It may be because medical care and dental care have long been thought of as completely separate issues, entities, and professions.
Another possible (and probable) reason: although poor dental health can lead to poor overall health, it’s not all that common for a person to wind up in the hospital due to a tooth or gum problem.
Q: What does dental insurance cover?
A: It depends on the plan. At the bare minimum, a dental insurance plan should cover routine checkups, cleanings, and X-rays. It might cover procedures like fillings, extractions, crowns, and bridges, too. Multiple kinds of oral surgery may be included as well.
Due to how varied dental coverage can be, don't assume all plans are the same. Do your homework and make sure you understand what a particular policy will and won't cover before you start paying for it.
Q: What doesn't dental insurance cover?
A: As mentioned above, some dental plans don't cover anything beyond the basics, so keep that in mind while shopping for this type of insurance.
Besides that, most dental plans don't cover cosmetic procedures. So, if you want veneers, or if you want your teeth whitened, you'll usually have to pay for it out of your own pocket.
Also, most dental plans don't cover orthodontic work. And they rarely cover mouth guards for clenching or grinding.
Considering how many procedures and treatments dental insurance plans tend to exclude, thoroughly read a policy's fine print before you agree to buy it.
Q: Why should I buy dental coverage if my health insurance plan doesn't provide it? Why shouldn't I just pay for dental work out of my own pocket?
A: The best reason to buy dental insurance: going to the dentist can be expensive. And it can be especially expensive if you ever go in for more than a checkup or a cleaning.
That said, if you've never--or rarely--had a cavity filled, you may be better off paying for dental care out of your own pocket. If you see your dentist regularly, though, or if you have more crowns in your mouth than can be found in the museums of Europe, well, dental insurance might make a lot of financial sense.
References:
- What Marketplace health insurance plans cover
- Dental coverage in the Marketplace
- Medicaid - Dental Care
- HHS - Where can I find low-cost dental care?
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