Medicare open enrollment for 2017 starts this Saturday (Oct. 15) and runs through Dec. 7.

Open Enrollment is the period during which you can change your Medicare coverage. You can join a new Medicare Advantage Plan or a new stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP). You can switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.

Whether you plan to change your Medicare coverage or not, it’s important to review your current plan to ensure that it meets your healthcare needs. You’ll also want to review your plan to make sure that its benefits and coverage hasn’t changed.

A good way to begin your research is by using Medicare’s Plan Finder tool. Check for plans that includes your doctors and hospitals in their networks. Make sure that the plan covers all your prescriptions and that your pharmacies are in the preferred network.

If you need assistance, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your  State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

Medicare and Dental Care

Unfortunately, original Medicare has extremely limited Dental coverage.

Medicare Part A provides coverage if you need to be hospitalized, and Part B provides medical coverage. Dental procedures that are connected with healthcare are covered by Medicare – such as a dental cleaning performed before transplant surgery, or an extraction required as part of the treatment plan to address another disease such as medical reconstruction of the jawbone.

Medicare typically does not cover emergency dental care, even if it is performed in a hospital, but it likely will cover the hospital costs. Medicare does not routine dental care, such as dental exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures.

You should also be aware that Medigap plans, supplemental health insurance purchased from private company to pay health care costs not covered by Original Medicare. such as co-payments, deductibles, and health care if you travel outside the U.S – typically do not cover dental care.

For dental coverage on Medicare you have two options:

1: Choose a Medicare Advantage plan

Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are provided by private companies that have been approved by Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans must provide all of all of the services that Original Medicare covers except hospice care. Medicare Advantage Plans may offer extra coverage, like vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs. Most include Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). In addition to the Medicare Part B premium, people typically pay a monthly premium for the Medicare Advantage Plan. In 2016, the Part B premium is $104.90 each month.

2: Purchase standalone dental insurance and/or a dental savings plan.

Both dental insurance plans and Dental Savings Plans, an alternative to traditional dental insurance, will help make dental care affordable. Which to choose? In general, dental insurance is well-suited to people who anticipate needing preventative care – checkups and cleanings.

Dental savings plans are more flexible and are especially appreciated by people who require restorative care (root canals, crowns, bridges, implants or dentures). That’s because dental insurance typically has a spending cap of $1,500-$2,000 a year, and often imposes a waiting period before coverage is available.

The cost of an individual dental insurance policy is around $350 a year. For a family, the cost is around $550, annually. Dental savings plans are typically priced at about half of that cost, and may include savings on other healthcare services such as vision and hearing.

Dental savings plans enable you to save 10%-60% on your dental care. There are plans that cover all treatments – from braces to dentures. There are no annual spending caps, waiting periods, approval process or restrictions on pre-existing conditions.

The plans available on dentalplans.com range from $79.95-$199.95 annually. Plus, virtually all of the plans include additional free bonus benefits too, such as savings on vision and hearing care, prescriptions, and other wellness services. Select plans include a bundle of health and wellness services which range from telemedicine –free consultations with local doctors who can diagnose and treat common ailments (including prescribing medications), discounts on chiropractic, alternative medicine and fitness centers, and savings on labwork and medical diagnostic services.

Call us at 1-800-238-5163 to find out about how dental savings plans can help make quality dental care affordable.

Find out more about dental savings plans on dentalplans.com.