11 Easy Ways to Find FREE Dental Work for Seniors

There are several ways to find free dental work for seniors. When you think of getting dental work done, you might think that there aren’t many options available. After all, there is a cost associated with getting dental care done and you might be worried about how much you’ll have to spend. Luckily, there are some very easy ways to get your senior loved one into a dentist office without having to pay for it.

Choose a Medicare Advantage plan

If you are over 65 and have a Medicare, this is the most practical way for you to get dental care. Most people don’t realize that Medicare does not cover basic dental services. For those who want to go beyond basic coverage, there are many affordable options available. Medicare beneficiaries spend about $1,000 per year on dental care. There are many ways to reduce costs without compromising quality. One way to get dental work is getting into a Medicare Advantage plan.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental care. Before choosing a Medicare Advantage plan, you have to do your due diligence and check out the costs and benefits of each different plan available in your area. Beware that Medicare Advantage plans have have co-insurance responsibilities while others have dollar limits with no responsibilities to the insured. Make sure that your doctors are in the network for the chosen plan.

The Dental Lifeline Network 

The Dental Lifeline Network is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing free, comprehensive dental care to people with disabilities and elderly people. Through the use of donated funds, the DDS provides dental care to people in need. The DDS also provides educational opportunities and training for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants to ensure that they have the necessary skills to provide quality care.

The Dental Lifeline Network has been around for over 50 years. However, there are not many dentists who participate in the program. There’s an application process if you want to apply for the program. But do to the long wait times…some states are not currently being accepted.

Community Health Clinics

Community health clinics are often located in rural areas where there aren’t many options available. Wait times can be long, so you should contact your local clinic before making an appointment. Many community health clinics offer sliding scale fees or flexible payment plans for dental services. Some community clinics also help their patients with free dental work. But services are based on income. To see if there is a community clinic that offers dental services…follow this link.

Dental Schools

Some dental schools offer low price or free cleaning and other routine care to people. The reason being is that the people doing the work are still students and need people to practice on. That’s why most of these teaching facilities have clinic that gives dentists in-training an opportunity to practice their skill while providing care at a discounted price. You can search for a program by visiting the American Denture Association website.

NeedyMeds.com

NeedyMeds.com is a great resource for people who need affordable dental care. The site allows people to find dentists in their area and find out if they offer a sliding scale payment plan. This is a great way to find a dentist who is willing to take patients with low incomes or people who do not currently have dental insurance.

Talk With Your Dentist

Asking your dentist might be a little difficult. But sometimes, dentist would like to post pictures on their website and to compensate you for the before and after pictures…they will offer you a very discounted rate for the work. They might even have better solutions based on your dental situation as well.

Getting a Dental Savings Plan

A dental savings plan isn’t dental insurance. These plans usually offer discounts of 10% to 60%. You will still pay out of pocket if you go to a nonparticipating provider. These plans save money without insurance or out of-pocket expenses. They offer discounts on services like tooth extractions, oral exams, X-rays, fillings, root canal treatments, crowns, and orthodontics. You don’t have to worry about deductibles or copays. Humana has many affordable Dental savings plans. The monthly premiums can be less than $20.00 a month. Check it out here.

Medicaid

Apply for Medicaid. If you qualify for Medicaid…chances are that you’ll also have Medicare. Having Medicaid with Medicare will increase your dental coverage. These dental benefits vary by county, but it is way better to have Medicaid if you qualify for it. 

Buy a stand-alone Dental Insurance Plan

Dental insurance does not have to be expensive. There are some very affordable dental-only insurance plans out there. One dental plan that comes to mind is Manahattan Life. It is a PPO dental plan and also have a big network that most dentists accept. They have no waiting period and 100% coverage for basic routine dental. For comprehensive services there is a waiting period of a year. Check it out and see if you like this plan for yourself.

Veteran Resources

If you served in a branch of the U.S military at any point, you might qualify for Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits. Besides having some medical coverage from the VA, you will also have some dental coverage. You might have to apply for or get pre-qualified for it. 

Visit a Dental Hygienist

There are 42 states that allow dental hygienists to treat patients without the presence of a dentist. The hygienist can do simple cleanings, perform x-rays, sealants, or add fluoride treatment. They can even perform deep cleanings. This can be a significant in cost savings.

In conclusion, you can either spend thousands of dollars to go to a dentist, or you can use these methods to get free dental care for yourself or loved ones. Either way, the results are the same.

If you would like to have dental insurance for a more robust coverage, feel free to call the Espino Insurance Group.