No, Medicare does not typically cover dental veneers. This is because they are usually considered as cosmetic procedures rather than medically necessary.
Similarly, most private insurers do not usually cover dental veneers for the same reason.
Glossary of Medicare terms
- Out-of-pocket cost: This is the amount a person must pay for care when Medicare does not pay the total amount or offer coverage. Costs can include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and premiums.
- Premium: This is the amount of money someone pays each month for Medicare coverage.
- Deductible: This is an annual amount a person must spend out of pocket within a certain period before Medicare starts to fund their treatments.
- Coinsurance: This is the percentage of treatment costs that a person must self-fund. For Medicare Part B, coinsurance is 20%.
- Copayment: This is a fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription drugs.
Medicare may consider dental veneers medically necessary in some circumstances. For example, if a dentist uses veneers to repair or protect a damaged tooth from further damage.
A person should check any dental coverage they have with their provider. Some private insurers may also offer optional cosmetic dentistry coverage, which may include dental veneers.
Dental services that Medicare covers include:
- Certain services for people admitted to the hospital as inpatients for a dental procedure. This may be due to an underlying medical condition or the severity of the procedure.
- Specific inpatient or outpatient dental services directly related to specific medical treatments that Medicare covers. In these instances, the dental service must be linked to the success of the medical treatment a person needs. For example:
- Having treatment for a complication due to head and neck cancer treatment.
- Having an oral exam and dental treatment before undergoing a heart valve replacement or a bone marrow or organ transplant.
- Having a procedure, such as a tooth extraction, to treat an infection before receiving cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy.
Medicare does not typically cover:
- routine cleanings
- items, such as dentures
- cavity fillings
- tooth extractions
People with Medicare Advantage may have more extensive dental coverage depending on their provider and individual plan. They should reach out to their provider for more details.
In 2025, a person will pay the following Medicare Part A inpatient hospital stay costs for each benefit period:
- Days 1-60: $0 after you pay your Part A deductible, which is $1,676.
- Days 61-90: $419 each day.
- Days 91-150: $838 each day while using their 60 lifetime reserve days.
- After day 150: All costs.
For dental services covered by Medicare Part B, a person pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after they meet the Part B deductible, which is $257 in 2025. If they receive the service as an outpatient in the hospital or other facility setting, they will also need to pay a copayment to the facility.
However, people should note that they will need to pay 100% of costs for dental services that Medicare does not cover.
Medicare resources
For more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.