Does Medicare cover dental implants in 2022?

Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth, but do they qualify as a dental expense covered by Medicare? This article will examine what Medicare covers for dental implants, the insurance company, and what you can expect to pay out of pocket. Spoiler alert: it depends on your insurance company, plan, and service area! Keep reading to find out more.

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Does Medicare cover dental implants in 2022?
John Ramsey

Key Takeaways

  • Simply Healthcare covers dental implants
  • Aetna covers dental implants
  • Bright Healthcare covers dental implants
  • United Healthcare removes broken implant screws

Table of Content

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are dental prosthetics used to replace one or more missing teeth. They are typically made of titanium and are surgically implanted into the jawbone. Once in place, they can be used to support a dental crown, bridge, or denture.

Will Medicare pay for dental implants in 2022?

It depends on what type of Medicare plan you have.

  • Original Medicare doesn't cover dental.
  • Medicare Supplement plans don't cover dental.
  • Some Medicare Advantage plans do cover dental implants.

How to get Medicare to pay for dental implants?

First, you have to pick a Medicare Advantage plan that covers dental implants. Not all plans do, so you'll need to compare your options and find one that meets your needs. Then, you'll need to find a dentist, and that dentist will create a plan of care to get your dental implants covered by your insurance company.

Which Medicare Advantage plans cover dental implants?

Some HMO, D-SNP, and C-SNP plans cover dental implants. However, no PPO or PFFS plans are currently known to cover dental implants.


Check our list below and you'll see which company and plan cover dental implants in your area.

Does Bright Healthcare cover dental implants in 2022?

A list of plan types table shows which Bright Healthcare Medicare plans cover dental implants.

Yes, all Bright Healthcare HMO plans cover dental implants in 2022. But, the copay is $0 to $1,100 for in-network services.

Here is a screen capture of the implant benefit from the EOC:

A screenshot of Bright Healthcare Medicare HMO EOC showing dental implants is covered for 2022.

Bright Healthcare does not have a PPO, D-SNP, C-SNP and PFFS plans.

To conclude, we can see that Bright Healthcare covers dental implants in their HMO plans for 2022. The copay could be expensive, but it is worth checking out if you need implants.

Does Humana medicare cover dental implants in 2022?

A list of plan types table shows which Humana Medicare plans cover dental implants.


No, Humana does not cover dental implants as of 2022. We researched and checked HMO, PPO, D-SNP, C-SNP, and PFFS plans. Their Evidence of Coverage states that dental implants are an excluded benefit. Here is a clipping of Humana Evidence of Coverage; implants are only mentioned once in the entire EOC.

A screenshot of Humana Medicare HMO EOC showing dental implants not covered for 2022.

As you can see in the Evidence of Coverage, implants are under Chapter 4. Medical Benefits Chart in the Dental Mandatory Supplemental Benefit Exclusions. Exclusions are insurance language for not covered. Also, the language for the exclusion is the same for all plan types.

To conclude, as of 2022, Humana does not cover dental implants in any of its Medicare plans.

Does Aetna Medicare advantage cover dental implants in 2022?

A list of plan types table shows which Aetna Medicare plans cover dental implants.


The excellent news, Aetna Medicare covers dental implants for some of their plans. Check the table for a quick scan to see which type of plans cover implants.

Only one of Aetna's HMO plans covers implants at a $0 copay. Check out the screenshot to see how Aetna format the implant benefits on their EOC and the copays.

A screenshot of Aetna Medicare HMO EOC showing dental implants is covered for 2022.

Aetna DSNP covers dental implants at a $0 copay. Also, they cover not only dental implants but also cochlear implants if anyone needs them.

Aetna does not have any PFFS or C-SNP plans. Additionally, none of Aetna's PPO plans in any area covers implants.

To conclude, for 2022, one of Aetna's Medicare HMOs and all its DSNP plans covers dental implants.

Does United Healthcare Medicare Advantage cover dental implants?

A list of plan types table shows which United Healthcare Medicare plans cover dental implants.


No, but the D-SNP plans removes broken retaining implant screws. Check out this EOC screenshot showing you the benefit of removing implant screws.

A screenshot of United Healthcare Medicare D-SNP EOC showing remove broken implant retaining screw for 2022.

So to confirm, non of United Healthcare HMO, PPO, PFFS, D-SNP, and C-SNP plans cover dental implants.

As of 2022, United Healthcare will only remove broken dental implant screws.


Does Simply Healthcare Medicare cover dental implants for 2022?

A list of plan types table shows which Simply Healthcare Medicare plans cover dental implants.

Simply Healthcare Medicare covers dental implants at a fixed copay and others by allowance. So let's break it down.

Simply Healthcare Medicare HMO plans cover implants. Some HMO plans have a $0 copay for dental implants. Others have a yearly allowance for all dental services, including implants. Since they have different wording, I will put the screenshot for both so you can see how it's worded.

A screenshot of Simply Healthcare Medicare HMO EOC showing dental implants is covered for 2022.
A screenshot of Simply Healthcare Medicare Extra HMO EOC dental allowance for implants in year 2022.

Simply Healthcare PPOs do not cover dental implants.

Simply Healthcare D-SNP plans cover dental implants at a $0 copay for dental implants.

A special mention Simply Healthcare Chronic Special Needs Plans(C-SNP) also cover implants at a $0 copay.

In conclusion: Simply Health care covers dental implants in most plans HMO, D-SNP, and C-SNP.

Does Kaiser Medicare Advantage cover dental implants?

A list of plan types table shows which Kaiser Medicare plans cover dental implants.

A list of plan types table shows which Simply Healthcare Medicare plans cover dental implants.

No, Kaiser plans for Medicare do not cover dental implants. Yet, implants are mentioned under Section 3.2 – Dental exclusions and limitations for all the HMO and D-SNPs.

The no-covered language is the same for the HMOs and D-SNPs. So we will post one screenshot as an example.

A screenshot of Kaiser Medicare D-SNP EOC showing dental implants not covered for 2022.

They don't have PPO plans.

Conclusion: Currently, in 2022, Kaiser Medicare plans do not cover dental implants in any of their plans.

Does Medicare with Blue Cross cover any dental procedures like implants?

A list of plan types table shows which Blue Cross Medicare plans cover dental implants.

Blue Cross Medicare does not cover dental implants. Blue Cross Blue Shield is called Florida Blue in Florida.
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and D-SNP plans do not cover dental implants. Dental implants are excluded from all plans.

Here's a screen shot from the Blue Cross Medicare Advantage evidence of Coverage that shows dental implants are not a covered service.

A screenshot of Blue Cross(Florida Blue) Medicare D-SNP EOC showing dental implants not covered for 2022.

Conclusion: Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans do not cover dental implants in any of their plans in 2022.


Final Conclusion

To sum up, dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth. But when it comes to Medicare, the answer is a little more complicated. Some Medicare plans do cover implants, while others do not. It depends on your specific plan and insurance company. So if you're considering getting dental implants, check with your agent and insurance company first to see if you're covered.

Does Medicare cover dental implants in Florida?

Yes, the companies that offer dental implants in Florida are Aetna, Bright Healthcare, and Simply Healthcare.

Frequently Asked Questions

What constitutes medical necessity for dental implants?

As a general rule, dental implants are considered medically necessary when there is evidence of bone loss in the jawbone. This could result from an accident, injury, periodontal disease, or another medical condition.

In some cases, dental implants may also be considered medically necessary for individuals who are missing one or more teeth. This is because dental implants can help restore function and improve the smile's appearance.

Does Medicare pay for permanent teeth?

Yes, under limited circumstances. Medicare does not generally cover dental care costs, including procedures to replace lost permanent teeth. There are some exceptions, such as when a tooth is lost due to an accident or injury covered by Medicare Part A or when the extraction is required to treat an illness or other medical condition covered by Medicare Part A.

Does Medicare pay for dental bridges?

Yes, but there are some limitations. Medicare Advantage plans will help pay for a limited number of dental bridges each calendar year. The patient must have first seen a dentist for an exam and been diagnosed with a dental problem that requires a bridge to correct. The total cost of the bridge, including materials and labor, must also be within the acceptable limits set by the plan.

Does Medicare pay for dental bone grafts?

Yes, Medicare does pay for dental bone grafts. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), "Medicare covers bone grafts that are medically necessary to treat a dental condition." However, there are some limits on what Medicare will cover. For example, Medicare will not pay for elective or cosmetic procedures.

Does Medicare supplement cover dental implants?

No, Medicare Supplement plans do not cover dental implants.

Does medicare part d cover dental implants?

No, Medicare Part D does not cover dental implants. Part D is for prescription drug coverage only. Dental implants are considered a dental procedure, not a prescription drug. So Part D plans will not cover them.

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