Dental Insurance Providers for Seniors on Medicare

There are several different insurance providers that offer dental coverage, each with differing levels of cost and coverage. The best dental insurance plan will depend on what’s available in your region and what best fits your coverage needs and cost constraints.

Since Medicare services don’t include dental care such as basic teeth cleanings, crowns and dentures, seniors typically turn to Medicare Advantage plans for this type of coverage. These plans, which are provided through private insurance companies instead of the federal government, include everything covered under Original Medicare plus additional benefits.

These companies are major providers of Medicare Advantage and dental insurance plans. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Humana and UnitedHealthcare alone account for a combined 45 percent of Medicare Advantage enrollees.

While the table above compares some common plans, each company offers several options with different tiers of coverage. For example, Delta Dental also offers a premium version of its plan that includes root canal and crown coverage after 12 months. Humana has another version of its Gold Plus plan that comes with a monthly premium but includes expanded dental coverage.

To compare the best dental insurance options available to seniors, RetireGuide researched Medicare Advantage companies with the most enrollees or options across the country and examined some of their most popular plans. Considerations included the specific dental coverage of each plan, as well as how much they cost from monthly premium to copays.

It’s important to remember that <a href=”/medicare/medicare-advantage-plans/”>Medicare Advantage plans</a> are available regionally, so exact cost and availability of plans can vary heavily depending on where you live.

When searching for a dental plan near you, be sure to compare not only monthly premiums but also what it includes. For example, one plan may be premium-free but have significantly higher copayments than another plan that includes a premium.

Beneficiaries should also make the most of the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. During this time, seniors can compare and switch between different Medicare Advantage plans or opt to switch back to Original Medicare. So, even if you already have a plan that you like, you can still use this period to compare other options and see if there is a more suitable plan available.

When looking for a plan, you should always be aware of your eligibility. If you qualify for and are enrolled in Original Medicare, then you are also eligible for Medicare Advantage.