Income test for Medicare dental under debate; gets pushback

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — For more than 55 years, Medicare has followed a simple policy with covered benefits the same, no matter if you’re rich, poor, or in-between. But as Democrats try to design a dental benefit for the program, one idea calls for limiting it based on income. The so-called “means test” is drawing internal opposition from many Democratic lawmakers, as well as groups for older people, like AARP. Yet a senior Democratic congressional aide says an income limit is still in the mix as President Joe Biden tries to bring divided Democrats together on sweeping social and environmental legislation, the party’s calling card in next year’s midterm elections.