Dental insurance, in the United States, often covers the bare minimum in terms of preventative care. Most insurance plans do not cover cosmetic dentistry, including dental implants. Some dental insurance plans do cover portions of the cost of dental implants, but there is usually a maximum annual contribution that they make per patient. Even after your dental insurance kicks in, you are still going to pay for a large percentage of your dental implants.
If you get your dental implants done in the United States
If you get your dental implants done in the United States, you might have a maximum per person, per calendar year coverage amount of $1,500 to $2,000. For major dental procedures, your insurance will likely cover 50% of costs up to that maximum. Here are some of the major procedures involved with dental implants:
- Tooth Extraction: Extraction of any teeth before implants are placed.
- Tissue Grafting: Grafting of bovine tissue to replace lost gum and jaw tissue.
- Placement of Implants and Crowns: The physical placement of implants into your jaw and gums and the final application of crowns to the implants.
If you are paying $70,000 to $90,000 for dental implants, the “50% of costs” is up to the maximum amount covered for the year. Most dental insurance does not cover dental implants.
Generally speaking, Medicare does not cover dental implants. You could get a Medicare Advantage plan that does put a small amount of money towards supplementary dental care, but it’s not enough to cover the cost of your implants.
Can you use dental implants as a tax write off?
It makes more sense to avoid trying to use insurance to cover the cost of dental implants, seek out affordable implants, and see if you can use your implant treatment as a tax write off. The IRS guidelines for medical deductions are pretty straightforward and says the following: “Medical care expenses include payments for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or payments for treatments affecting any structure or function of the body.” Your dental implants will likely exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, so you can use the cost of these towards your taxes.
Work with The Dental Concierge
The only real way to save on dental implants is to have them done in either Costa Rica or Cancun. Your cost will vary depending on your specific needs and treatment plan, but all services include a consultation to establish your overall price. You will likely save up to 70% by just getting your implants done in Cancun or Costa Rica. Dental insurance typically does not cover implants adequately, so it’s best to pick The Dental Concierge so that you get the most out of your budget.