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Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026
Key claim: The Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026 (S5089) would establish a dental benefit under the Medicare program.
Abstract
(S5089 · 119th Congress) Latest action (2026-07-22): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Why this matters
Medicare has historically excluded routine dental care, forcing most beneficiaries to pay out-of-pocket or rely on Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits of varying scope. Adding a statutory Medicare dental benefit would represent a major expansion of what Part B (or a new benefit category) covers, with significant implications for beneficiary cost-sharing, provider participation, and program spending.