I found out that I have several teeth that are not salvageable. It’s probably from the years I’ve gone without dental coverage. Now, I qualify for Medicaid. The dentist wants to extract them and tells me dental implants are the best replacement option. Will Medicaid cover the procedure? Or will it even cover part of it? I haven’t been able to find an implant dentist that accepts Medicaid.
-Ben in Texas
Ben,
Sorry to tell you that Medicaid will not cover a procedure like dental implants. The Medicaid program is in place to cover basic dental care treatments. More sophisticated treatments like dental implants are not included. Most dental insurance companies generally don’t cover dental implants either. They take the stance that there are lesser expensive treatment options available and so they will cover those alternatives. Dental implants would be considered an “elective” procedure by an insurance company. It truly is unfortunate because dental implants are the best choice to replace missing teeth because the look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. Although you wish to use your current coverage, if you proceed with dental implants, you will need to pay out of pocket. Don’t rule them out completely as some offices will work with you on payment or help you explore financing options. Good luck!
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos