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September 7, 2021
Seniors on Medicare would get vision and hearing benefits over the next two years but would wait until 2028 for dental coverage under legislation a key House panel announced Tuesday.
The measure, set to be a central part of Democrats’ $3.5 trillion domestic policy package, would be one of the largest expansions of Medicare benefits since its prescription drug program was created almost 20 years ago...
Under the proposal Medicare would pay only half the costs for major dental treatments, such as bridges, crowns, and root canals. Michael Monopoli, vice president for grant strategy for CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a nonprofit that pushed for the dental benefit, said that coverage should be closer to the 80% payment for most similar Medicare services.
“This will be a major benefit in Medicare members’ lives,” he said, adding that he thinks the benefit should start before 2028.