Standalone dental: a small line item, easy to get right.
Original Medicare does not cover routine dental, and the dental benefits inside many Medicare Advantage plans are narrower than they appear. Standalone dental coverage is the simplest healthcare decision in retirement and one of the most overlooked.
The decision in plain terms
Most retirees are surprised to learn that Original Medicare covers no routine dental work, and that the dental benefits inside many Medicare Advantage plans cap out at a level that does not cover anything beyond basic cleanings and X-rays. A single crown, a root canal, an extraction, or a denture often runs into thousands of dollars out of pocket. Across a 20-year retirement, the math adds up.
Standalone dental coverage is a small line item in most retirement plans, typically $30 to $80 per person per month for meaningful coverage, and an easy decision to get right. The variables that matter are your existing dental health, your appetite for routine versus restorative work, and whether the plan you select fits the dentist you actually want to see.
The conversation
If you would like a side-by-side comparison of the standalone options that fit your situation, the fastest path is a quick call or text. No formal appointment necessary, no Scope of Appointment paperwork, no pressure. Most dental decisions take ten minutes to walk through.
If the broader Medicare conversation is open, the Medicare Supplement page covers that.