Best Dental Insurance For Seniors on Medicare
While Medicare provides seniors with the necessary healthcare coverage, it does not cover the cost of dental care.
If you’re a senior on Medicare, it’s worth considering supplemental dental insurance – so to help make the process easier, I’ll share my top choices for dental providers and include helpful information like:
- Coverage details
- Premium comparisons
- Tips for choosing the best plan
- My final thoughts and #1 pick
Let’s take a look at each provider, along with our favorite dental plan they offer.
#1. Ameritas – Best for No Waiting Periods
All Ameritas dental plans increase in benefits and coverage for basic and major procedures after the first year. Their annual maximums are also up to 60% higher than many competitors, and you can access your coverage immediately without any waiting periods.
Their basic plan starts at $25 per month, and they offer a family-friendly option that includes orthodontic care for children. The $3,000 annual maximum of the most comprehensive plan is valuable for major procedures or hearing benefits.
Ameritas has over 11 million members, and they prioritize member satisfaction with fast electronic claim processing and flexible submission options.
Who Should Choose Ameritas?
For those looking to maintain their dental health with regular checkups and cleanings, Ameritas covers 100% of preventive care immediately. Plus, your coverage for major services improves over time, making it great for long-term care.
If you need major dental procedures, like crowns, implants, or dentures, Ameritas lets you start treatment as soon as your plan is active. No waiting period means you don’t have to delay necessary care.
Our Favorite Ameritas Dental Plan: PrimeStar® Complete
- Monthly premium: $57
- Annual maximum: $2,500 (increases to $3,000 in year 2)
- Coverage: 100% preventive, 80% basic (90% after year 1), 20% major (50% after year 1)
- Hearing benefits: Includes coverage for hearing exams and hearing aids starting at $200 ($400 after year 2)
- Waiting periods: None
The PrimeStar® Complete plan might be a little pricier, but it gives you the best coverage out there.
#2. UnitedHealthcare (UHC) – Best for Network Size
UnitedHealthcare has the biggest network of dental providers, making it a great choice for seniors who want the most flexibility.
All of their dental plans offer a $0 routine cleaning (from an in-network dentist) after day one of enrollment. There are no waiting periods for preventative care.
UHC also offers options to bundle vision and hearing with their dental plans.
Who Should Choose UHC?
If you split your time between different states or travel a lot, UHC’s large network is helpful. It allows you to easily find a dentist who accepts your plan.
For those primarily focused on keeping up with preventive care, like cleanings and X-rays, UHC’s plans offer a variety of coverage levels at different price points.
Our Favorite UHC Dental Plan: Premier Elite
- Monthly premium: $45
- Annual maximum: $2,000
- Coverage: Preventative: 100% | Basic: 50% (65% after year 1, 80% after year 2) | Major: 15% after 6 months (50% after year 1, 60% after year 2)
- Waiting periods: None for preventative care or basic services, 6 months for major services
The Premier Elite plan is a great option for preventative care, but if you need major services right away, that 6 month waiting period could be a dealbreaker.
#3. Cigna – Best for Comprehensive Coverage
Cigna offers affordable dental plans starting at $19/month. With a network of over 18 million members, they’re one of the largest dental providers.
For those who need basic preventive care, Cigna’s dental insurance is a solid choice. They offer low premiums and cover many common restorative services. You can also bundle vision and hearing coverage.
Just a heads up, though—some procedures like implants might not be covered, and there could be a 6-12 month waiting period for certain services.
Who Should Choose Cigna?
If you know you’ll need significant dental work—such as bridges, dentures, or root canals—Cigna’s comprehensive plans can help you save on these more expensive treatments.
If you want coverage for regular checkups, Cigna offers a balanced mix, with high coverage percentages for preventive and basic services.
Our Favorite Cigna Dental Plan: Dental 1500
- Monthly premium: $39
- Annual maximum: $1,500
- Coverage: 100% preventive, 85% basic, 50% major
- Waiting periods: None for preventative care, 6 months for basic services, 12 months for major services
If long waiting periods don’t suit you and you’re willing to pay a little extra on your monthly premium, I suggest considering Ameritas instead.
#4. Anthem – High Coverage Percentages
Anthem’s Essential Choice PPO Platinum is a favorite of ours because it offers great benefits and covers a higher percentage of dental costs than many competitors.
It’s a great option for those seeking comprehensive dental care, including coverage for major services like implants and dentures, if you’re willing to endure up to six months of waiting periods.
Who Should Choose Anthem?
If you want a high annual maximum and strong coverage for preventive, basic, and major care, including implants and dentures.
If you have a family and need orthodontia coverage for children.
Our Favorite Anthem Dental Plan: Essential Choice PPO Platinum
- Monthly premium: $57
- Annual maximum: $2,000
- Coverage: 100% preventive care | 80% basic care | 50% major care
- Orthodontia: $150 deductible, then 50% coinsurance
- Waiting periods: None for preventative care, 3 months for basic, 6 months for major services and orthodontia
This dental plan might be pricier than others in our review, but it scores high for its coverage levels and decent annual maximum.
Premium Comparison
I’ve put together a simple chart to help you quickly compare premiums between our top picks for dental providers and our favorite plans they offer.
Remember: Ameritas is the only provider in this review that doesn’t have waiting periods for any services.
| Provider | Favorite Plan | Monthly Premium | Annual Max | Preventive Care | Basic Care | Major Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ameritas | PrimeStar Complete | $57 | $2,500 (year 1), $3,000 (year 2) | 100% | 80%-90% | 50% |
| UHC | Dental Premier Elite | $45 | $2,000 | 100% | 50%-80% | 50% |
| Cigna | Dental 1500 | $39 | $1,500 | 100% | 85% | 50% |
| Anthem | Essential Choice PPO Platinum | $57 | $2,000 | 100% | 80% | 50% |
How to Pick the Best Dental Plan For You
Picking the right dental plan can feel like a big deal, especially when you’re trying to balance your current needs, possible future dental work, and, of course, your budget.
Here are some tips to help you narrow down which plan may be best for you.
#1. Start by thinking about your current and future dental needs
Do you go to the dentist mainly for regular checkups, or are you expecting major work like dentures, implants, or crowns in the near future?
If you primarily need routine cleanings, exams, and X-rays, a plan with strong preventive care coverage and a lower premium is probably your best bet. Consider plans like UnitedHealthcare’s Dental Premier Elite, which offers great preventive coverage at affordable rates.
If you think you’ll need more extensive dental work, (crowns, root canals, implants) check out plans with solid coverage for major services, like Ameritas PrimeStar Complete or Cigna Dental 1500. These plans offer better coverage percentages for big procedures.
#2. Look at the waiting periods for each plan
When picking a plan, it’s important to know the waiting period for major services. Some providers require waiting for months or even a year for expensive treatments.
If you need dental work immediately, Ameritas is the way to go. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to get started on crowns, dentures, or other major treatments as soon as the plan kicks in.
If you can wait for a few months and focus more on preventive care in the meantime, Cigna’s Dental 1500 or Anthem’s Essential Choice PPO could be good fits. They still offer great preventive coverage upfront but require waiting periods for more involved procedures.
#3. Consider your budget
How much can you afford to pay monthly for your dental plan?
If you want affordable coverage focused mainly on preventive care, Cigna or UnitedHealthcare are great low-cost providers.
If you’re okay with a slightly higher premium but want immediate coverage and better annual maximums, Ameritas is the best pick.
#4. Compare annual maximums
Each plan has a limit on how much it will pay out for dental services each year. If you expect a lot of dental work in the coming year, you’ll want a plan with a high annual maximum.
If you anticipate costly dental procedures like implants or multiple crowns, Ameritas PrimeStar Complete offers one of the highest annual maximums, starting at $2,500 and increasing to $3,000 in the second year.
If you don’t expect to need much more than cleanings and occasional fillings, plans like Cigna’s Dental 1500 or UHC’s Premier Elite with $1,500-$2,000 annual maximums may suffice.
#5. Make sure you’re happy with your new plan’s network
Do you already have a dentist you love, or do you live in a rural area where finding a dentist in-network is more challenging? Make sure the plan you choose has a provider network that fits your location and lifestyle.
If you travel often or live in multiple places throughout the year, UnitedHealthcare’s Dental Premier Elite is a great choice because of its large network of over 100,000 providers. You’ll have the flexibility to find a dentist in-network wherever you go.
If you prefer to stick with one dentist, ensure that they are in-network with whichever plan you choose. Most provider websites allow you to check if your dentist is in-network before you sign up.
Final Thoughts: Why I Love Ameritas
When it comes to dental coverage for seniors, I highly recommend the plans offered by Ameritas, and here’s why.
- No waiting periods for major services like crowns, implants, and dentures, which means you can get the care you need right away without any delays.
- High annual maximums start at $2,500 in the first year and increase to $3,000 in the second year.
- Affordable premiums, including basic plans starting at $25/month.
- Includes coverage for hearing exams and hearing aids.
Before choosing a dental insurance plan, consider what you really need for your dental care. Maybe you just need the basics like cleanings and check-ups, or perhaps you’re looking at more extensive treatments like root canals or dentures.
If you need a hand comparing dental plans, just reach out to us. We’re here to help!
Sources: Ameritas Dental | Cigna Dental | UHC Dental | Anthem Dental
FAQs
- Do all dental plans have waiting periods?
- How much should I expect to pay monthly for senior dental insurance?
- Can I see my current dentist with a new dental insurance plan?
