Find a local Medicare Dental Insurance Agent - Compare Dental Insurance Plans for Seniors
A local dental insurance agent can help you compare available plans. Here are things to look for when comparing dental insurance plans from top insurance companies like Aetna, Cigna, Delta Dental and United Healthcare.
- Age limits.
- Participating dentists included in the plan.
- Preventive care benefits and limits.
- Waiting period.
- Deductibles or co-payments.
- Annual plan maximum.
- Orthodontics coverage.
- Coverage outside of the United States.
- Optional vision plan coverage.
Directory Connects Seniors With A Local Dental Insurance Agent
Click to find a local dental insurance agent
The overwhelming majority of insurance agents listed on the Association’s national directory also offer dental insurance plans for seniors.
Most are independent brokers who represent multiple dental insurance plans.
Access the free directory. Click the link MEDICARE INSURANCE AGENTS.
Simply enter your Zip Code. You will instantly see a complete listing of agents. Pick who you wish to connect with (if any).
Tips To Find Best Dental Insurance For Seniors
Comparing dental insurance plans is easier than comparing Medicare plan options. Here are a few important things to consider.
- Is coverage included free:. Increasingly Medicare Advantage plans now offer some dental benefits. These benefits will vary significantly. Sometimes they can be limited. If you have serious dental care needs, it is important to understand what is covered. And, what is not covered.
- Stand-alone plan cost: If you are considering a stand-alone dental insurance plan, look for one with low premiums and deductibles.
- Coverage limits: If you believe there’s a chance of needing major dental work, look for a plan with a high maximum coverage limit. Some plans will cover special procedures and even implants. But coverage levels vary.
- Availability: You want to look for a dental insurance provider that has a large network of dentists in your area.
- Waiting periods: The best dental plans have short waiting periods. This will allow you to get the coverage you need when you need it.
Does Medicare cover dental care?
No. Medicare does not cover dental needs. However, there are a few exceptions:
- X-rays related to treating a fractured jaw or facial bone.
- Removal of teeth to prepare the jaw for radiation treatment of a tumor.
- An oral or dental exam — performed on an inpatient basis — as part of a work-up before kidney transplant surgery or heart valve replacement.
- Dental care that is integral to another Medicare-covered procedure, e.g., wiring teeth when treating a jaw fracture
If you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B), most regular dental care will not be covered.
A Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), today likely includes dental benefits. As of 2020, 88% of Medicare Advantage plans offer some type of dental coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. But benefits vary from plan to plan and can be very limited.
Medicare Supplement (also known as Medigap) plans do not cover dental benefits. An inexpensive senior dental insurance plan can be purchased to provide excellent coverage. Learn more about the best dental insurance for seniors.
Medicare Insurance Resources
2022 Medicare insurance statistics
Best Medigap Plan G Price Index for top-10 metro markets
Ask a Medicare Insurance Expert
What do senior dental plans cover?
The dental insurance coverage you benefit from will depend on your individual plan. Generally stand-alone senior dental insurance plans cover the following care:
- Two preventive exams/cleanings a year (either once every six months, or twice per calendar year)
- X-rays for annual exams
- Fillings for cavities
- Crowns and root canals (often limited)
- Oral surgeries (such as tooth extraction)
Some dental insurance plans are more comprehensive. These expenses tend to be the big ones. As a result, coverage is often capped or limited. Plans may cover care including:
- Orthodontics (correcting misaligned bite patterns or poorly positioned teeth)
- Periodontics (treating gum disease or dental implants)
- Prosthodontics (replacement and restoration of teeth, e.g., dentures)
Do seniors really need dental insurance?
The short answer is yes. That’s because medical research finds that dental disease affects your overall health. Tooth loss can affect your nutrition intake. It can limit the foods you are comfortable eating. Gum disease can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack and diabetes. Gum disease is also linked with dementia. A dental check-up can detect oral cancer. Most important, your dental needs generally increase with age.
Here are some statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- About two out of three adults age 65 and older have gum disease.
- One in five adults 65 and older has untreated tooth decay.
- One in five adults aged 65 and older has lost all of their teeth.
The high cost of dental care is a reason people don’t see a dentist
Many seniors had some dental insurance when they worked. In retirement, that coverage has ended. More than half of seniors (53%) say they’ve had to delay dental care due to the high cost. Some 23% of Medicare enrollees say they’ve delayed or gone without dental care, according to statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Dental insurance can be a valuable tool. It can protect you from the high cost of dental care.
If you only need twice yearly cleanings and X-rays, you’d probably spend more on an insurance premium than you would if you paid out of pocket.
But most seniors are likely to need more care than that, making dental insurance a viable way to help offset those costs. If that’s you, this is something well worth looking into.