Here are five things to know about the study:
1. Only 8.4% of Medicare Advantage plans that offered dental coverage provide benefits that meet the study’s quality standards.
2. The study’s requirements for a quality dental benefit were created based on benefits that would typically be offered in employee-sponsored plans, including offering dental cleanings without a co-pay, having an annual maximum coverage of at least $1,500 and not requiring an additional premium to have access to these dental services.
3. The analysis included more than 6,300 Medicare Advantage plans and found that only 8.4% of plans provided a quality dental benefit.
4. More than 27 million beneficiaries were enrolled in the 6,333 plans. More than 90% of beneficiaries were enrolled in a plan with a dental benefit, but only 4.1% were enrolled in a plan with a comprehensive dental benefit.
5. About half of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries visit the dentist each year.
Read the full study here.