Bills · S 939
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 939Health
Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025
INTRO MAR 11· LAST ACTION MAR 11
READING
31MIN
COSPONSORS
8
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because good dental health is closely linked to overall health, especially for older adults. Many seniors on Medicare currently struggle to afford dental care, leading to untreated infections, pain, and serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes complications. If this bill becomes law, it would address a significant gap in Medicare's current benefits, making it easier for millions of people to get the preventive and restorative dental care they need.
Without this bill, many Medicare beneficiaries will continue to face high out-of-pocket costs for dental care, potentially leading to poorer health outcomes and a lower quality of life. By providing coverage for these services, the bill could improve the health and financial well-being of seniors and people with disabilities, ensuring they can maintain their oral health as part of their overall healthcare.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Medicare Part B would expand to cover comprehensive dental and oral health services, including preventive care, restorative procedures, and dentures.
This provision fundamentally changes Medicare by adding a benefit that is currently largely excluded, significantly increasing access to dental care for millions.
PROVISION 02
Preventive dental services, such as exams, cleanings, and X-rays, would be fully covered by Medicare at 100%.
Full coverage for preventive care incentivizes regular dental visits, which can prevent more serious and costly oral health issues down the line.
PROVISION 03
For most other dental services, Medicare would pay 80% of the cost, with beneficiaries responsible for a 20% coinsurance.
This outlines the cost-sharing structure for most new dental benefits, providing financial relief but still requiring a personal contribution from beneficiaries.
PROVISION 04
A new fee schedule would be established to determine payment amounts for dental services, based on national median fees from surveys and adjusted for geographic area.
This provision sets the reimbursement rates for dental providers, influencing their participation in the Medicare program and the cost of services.
PROVISION 05
Coverage for dentures would begin on January 1, 2026, while coverage for all other dental and oral health services would start on January 1, 2027.
These effective dates provide a timeline for when beneficiaries can expect to utilize the new dental benefits.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 8
I· Vermont
YRS IN OFFICE
35
BILLS LED
56
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 8 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 11
Introduced in Senate
MAR 11
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 939
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 11, 2025
Last actionMar 11, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 11, 2025
Senate BillS 939Health
Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025
INTRODUCED MAR 11, 2025· LAST ACTION MAR 11, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
31 min
COSPONSORS
8
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
