Seniors Are Spending a Lot Out of Pocket on Dental

About 31.3 million Medicare beneficiaries (53%) paid an average of $874 out-of-pocket for dental services in 2018, a new analysis from Kaiser Family Foundation shows. About 4.6 million beneficiaries (8%) had average out-of-pocket spending on hearing care of about $914, while 30.2 million Medicare beneficiaries utilized vision services and had an average out-of-pocket expense of $230. Democrats’ reconciliation bill would expand Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing benefits. Joe Hollander, CEO of Scranton Primary Health Care Center, testified recently during a congressional hearing on the subjec.