New U.S. bill would add dental benefit to Medicare

A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives proposes expanding Medicare to include dental coverage.

The bill, HR 5396, was introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA). If passed and signed into law, Medicare enrollees would have dental, hearing, and vision benefits.

The bill specifically seeks to cover the following dental services:

• Two routine dental cleanings and exams per year
• Basic dental care, such as fillings, crowns, and dentures
• Major dental care, such as root canals and extractions
• Emergency dental care