Estimating the Cost and Effects of Adding a Dental Benefit to Medicare Part B

This paper examines the coverage and cost implications of expanding Medicare Part B to include comprehensive dental benefits. The new benefits would be subject to the current Part B deductible and 20 percent cost sharing, and there would be no limit on out-of-pocket spending. Urban Institute researchers estimate that this expansion would result in a substantial increase in spending on dental services for Medicare beneficiaries but would also dramatically reduce out-of-pocket spending on these services.