Does Medicare Cover Implants

January 27, 2023

Choosing the right insurance plan is one of the most important decisions you will make as you age. Medicare is a government-funded program that provides health coverage for people over 65 and some younger people with disabilities.

One question that repeatedly comes up is whether or not Medicare covers implants. Implants can be used for various medical procedures, from hip replacements to dental work, and it's essential to understand what is and isn't covered by your insurance plan.

This article will deeply dive into Medicare and implants, exploring what types are covered, how much you can expect to pay, and where to go for more information.

List of Implants-related Costs Covered by Medicare

Medicare covers various implants, including artificial limbs, breast prostheses, and certain spinal cord stimulators. It will also cover the cost of certain surgical procedures necessary to implant these devices.

For example, if an individual loses a limb due to an injury or disease, Medicare will cover the cost of an artificial limb. This includes the cost of the stem itself, as well as the cost of any necessary fittings or adjustments.

Similarly, if an individual has a mastectomy due to breast cancer, Medicare will cover the cost of a breast prosthesis.

1. Dental Implants

Having access to affordable dental care is critical. However, over 24 million Medicare recipients do not have access to dental care.

Democratic lawmakers aim to change that by expanding Medicare to include dental care for the program's current 62.7 million enrollees.

If you are missing a tooth or it never erupted, your dentist may recommend getting an implant, a replacement tooth that looks and acts just like a natural tooth.

Dental implants can be utilized as a permanent remedy if the tooth is too badly decaying or missing for a bridge to be a possibility.

What’s the Cost of Dental Implants?

Dental implants can vary from roughly $3,200 to $6,000 per implanted tooth, but patients should often expect to pay somewhere in that range. Despite this, settling on a certain number is difficult.

There is a wide variety in implant costs due to factors such as the complexity of the procedure, the health of the patient's jawbone and gums, and the time and effort required to prepare the site for the implant.

Does Medicare Pay for Dental Implants?

Some of the costs of implant care may be paid by Medicare, but Medicare does not pay for the implants themselves.

Medicare might help pay for your oral surgery if necessary before you have implants, but they won't pay for the implants themselves.

Medicare will pay for hospital stays, operating rooms, and certain types of medical equipment, but it will not pay for dental work.

The only Medicare and other health insurance-covered procedures are those that Medicare deems "medically necessary" and have been given a Medicare Part B item number. As a result, they won't be providing a discount for cosmetic procedures.

2. Breast Implants

Medicare's rules are so stringent that they prohibit them from covering elective procedures like cosmetic surgery.

Under Medicare's guidelines, a breast implant or breast lift is not considered medically necessary unless one of the following situations applies.

  • Fix a problem present at birth or passed down through generations
  • Breast or breast tissue reconstruction after undergoing a mastectomy
  • You may benefit from reconstructive surgery if your breasts have become distorted or disfigured due to illness or injury.

In most cases, Medicare does not cover cosmetic procedures like a breast lift or augmentation because of their "elective" status.

Breast Reconstruction After A Mastectomy

Medicare will cover breast reconstruction if you have had a mastectomy (breast removal surgery) due to breast cancer.

Breast implant exchange, breast lift, and other esthetic operations may all be a part of a patient's breast reconstruction surgery plan.

It is also deemed cosmetic if a patient experiences difficulties before, during, or after a cosmetic procedure.

Unless the removal or replacement of an implant is considered medically necessary, no insurance company, including Medicare, will pay for it.

3. Cochlear Implantation

Reduced exposure to and understanding of audible stimuli is one-way hearing loss lowers the quality of life.

Still, it can also have a negative impact on a person's social standing. Regarding insurance, hearing aids and cochlear implants are treated very differently.

Medicare's coverage of the cost of cochlear implants for children did not start until 1992. Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) increased this buffer significantly after realizing more adults needed cochlear implants than children.

Audiologists are involved in the pre-and post-operative evaluations and programming of the cochlear implant, conducted by medical specialists.

Cochlear implants and their associated peripherals are currently fully covered by Medicare (microphones, batteries, etc.).

Intraoperative monitoring and the use of an operating microscope are examples of possible additional procedures taken during surgery.

4. Cardiac Implants

Medicare will cover the cost of a cardiac pacemaker within the parameters and restrictions outlined below since such devices are considered prosthetics. Medicare has always covered medically necessary cardiac pacemaker implantation.

Still, until recently, there were no additional requirements for coverage beyond the usual Medicare requirement that the service is medically necessary.

All pacemaker implantations performed on or after the implementation dates must comply with the given regulations and limits.

Pacemaker implantation, thus, needs to be considered in the broader context of the patient's care. In some cases, when other diagnostic or therapeutic measures have been exhausted, such implants may be the best option.

Medicare coverage for implants can greatly benefit individuals who require them for medical reasons. These implants, such as artificial joints and heart pacemakers, can greatly improve quality of life and help individuals return to normal daily activities.

 

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