# Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2021

Right now, Medicare doesn't cover dental care—that's been a major gap in coverage for seniors for decades. This bill would change that by adding dental services to Medicare starting in 2022, meaning seniors would finally have access to dental care through their Medicare benefits.

Here's what would actually be covered: routine cleanings and exams (limited to two of each per year), fillings and tooth extractions, root canals and crowns, dentures, and emergency dental care. The bill also covers preventive care like x-rays. Importantly, preventive services like cleanings and exams would be fully covered with no out-of-pocket costs for everyone. For other dental work, Medicare would gradually increase its coverage over time—starting at zero percent in the first year and increasing by 10 percent each year until it reaches 80 percent coverage by year eight. However, low-income seniors who qualify for extra help with prescription drug costs would get 80 percent coverage immediately. Dentures would follow a similar payment structure, with Medicare covering up to one full set of upper and lower dentures (or partial dentures) every five years.

The bill also includes a special provision for states: they would receive full federal funding to help low-income seniors pay any remaining dental costs under Medicaid, removing the state's usual cost-sharing burden. Additionally, the bill requires that at least one oral health professional be added to the Preventive Services Task Force, which recommends which health services should be covered.

This would be a significant change for the roughly 42 million Medicare beneficiaries who currently have no dental coverage, though the gradual phase-in means full benefits wouldn't kick in immediately for most people.

Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2021

Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]

Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2021 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of dental and oral health services, including routine diagnostic and preventive services, basic and major dental services, and emergency care; dental prostheses are also covered. Currently, such services are excluded from Medicare coverage.