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Medicare Dental Coverage: New Benefits for Seniors

This bill aims to expand Medicare to include comprehensive dental services, such as preventive care, treatments, and prosthetics. This means millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities could gain access to dental care previously not covered, impacting their health and finances.
Key points
Medicare will begin covering routine dental visits, including cleanings, exams, and X-rays.
Coverage will also extend to basic and major dental services, such as fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, and dentures.
A gradual increase in coverage is introduced, reaching 80% after eight years, with immediate 80% coverage for low-income individuals.
The bill includes frequency limits for certain services (e.g., two cleanings and two exams per year) and allows the Secretary of Health to impose additional limitations.
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_97
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Process start date: 2021-01-28
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_97.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-28.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Medicare will begin covering routine dental visits, including cleanings, exams, and X-rays.
  • Coverage will also extend to basic and major dental services, such as fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, and dentures.
  • A gradual increase in coverage is introduced, reaching 80% after eight years, with immediate 80% coverage for low-income individuals.
  • The bill includes frequency limits for certain services (e.g., two cleanings and two exams per year) and allows the Secretary of Health to impose additional limitations.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

CATEGORIES

Benefits Health