Beijing has launched a landmark healthcare policy, adding full-mouth removable dentures to Class A items of its basic medical insurance pooling fund starting November 19. The initiative targets insured seniors aged 65 and above, marking a major upgrade in elderly dental welfare.
Eligible seniors can claim up to 3,200 yuan for a single jaw (partial denture) and 6,400 yuan for full-mouth dentures, with coverage available once every six years. Regular-material dentures are essentially free for beneficiaries, while additional costs for special materials like titanium alloy must be covered personally.
Dental experts note the policy directly eases the financial burden on edentulous seniors, who often face high costs for tooth replacement. Industry analysts predict it will significantly boost demand for removable dentures in Beijing, as more seniors gain access to affordable dental prosthetics.
This move signals a shift in China's oral healthcare from a consumer-driven model to a more inclusive, security-oriented system. It not only improves seniors' quality of life by restoring chewing function and facial appearance but also sets a potential benchmark for other regions to follow in expanding dental coverage for the elderly.