MCBS - Utilization of Dental Services and Out-of-Pocket Expenses Poster

Highlights:

• Among Medicare beneficiaries living in the community in 2021, 47 percent had no dental visits that involved preventive care, 39 percent had 1 or 2 visits, and 14 percent had 3 or more visits.
• Medicare beneficiaries with dental coverage through a private dental plan had the highest utilization of preventive dental services (53 percent had 1 or 2 visits and 23 percent had 3 or more visits) compared with those who had other types of coverage or no dental coverage.
• In 2021, 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries living in the community had no out-of-pocket dental expenses, 60 percent spent $1,000 or less, and 20 percent spent more than $1,000.