Medicare Advantage Dental Benefits: Comprehensive Coverage Available In Fewer Than Half Of US Counties.

Abstract

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans may offer dental coverage, a supplemental benefit excluded from traditional Medicare despite the importance of oral health to overall health. This study examined the availability of MA dental coverage by county and the characteristics associated with plan availability in 2023. Using public data collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services describing MA supplemental benefits, we found that beneficiaries could choose from an average of 34.9 plans offering a benefit but only 1.7 plans offering a comprehensive dental benefit. Nationally, 39.9 percent of counties offered at least one comprehensive dental plan. Using Poisson regression accounting for county-level characteristics, we found that a larger population, higher MA market penetration, and lower MA insurer concentration had the strongest associations with dental benefit availability. Policy makers should consider quality benchmarks for MA dental plans and further evaluate the appropriate role of these benefits in incentivizing MA plan enrollment.