Best Dental Plans for Seniors in 2020

Humana is one of the nation’s largest dental insurance providers, and they offer plans for employers, groups and individuals. Besides having highly rated customer service and affordable plans, Humana is popular with seniors because they offer special veteran’s programs and a remarkable loyalty program available to most consumers. These plans often include discounts on hearing exams, alternative medical therapies, prescription discounts and can even be combined with vision insurance. With 130,000 dental providers in their network, finding care is a breeze via the mobile app, online or by calling customer service.

With 85,000 dentists and 165,000 provider locations worldwide, Cigna is a well-known dental insurance provider. Those who love to travel or are considering living abroad for an extended period will find this to be a top choice for dental insurance. Cigna offers three various coverage options including an affordable preventive care package that covers 100% of associated costs such as exams, x-rays, basic cleanings and fluoride treatments. Seniors appreciate that Cigna Dental PPO plans don’t require patients to self-submit claims or pay the entire cost of treatments upfront. Cigna’s dentists file any claims and you simply pay the balance remaining. Another benefit is that there’s no need to choose a primary dentist if you prefer not to.

Guardian offers three primary dental insurance plans that can help seniors enjoy better oral health without breaking the bank. Of all of the companies reviewed, Guardian appears to offer the best coverage at the best rates. They have an extensive network of providers and service locations, but there is a catch: Guardian is only available in about 20 states currently. However, seniors residing in those states can use Guardian’s ‘search by zip code’ function and find some great deals and dental coverage. Plans often cover the full cost of preventive care such as standard cleanings and x-rays, while offering up to 90 percent discounts on basic procedures like extractions or fillings.

Careington offers a dental discount program called the Careington 500 Series, which is not to be confused with traditional insurance. Rather, this type of program allows just about anyone to receive discounts ranging between 20 and 60 percent on an array of dental procedures. In fact, most preventive, restorative, and cosmetic procedures such as dentures and implants that aren’t typically covered are discounted with a Careington 500 plan. Customers simply pay a one-time annual fee to gain immediate coverage and access to a network of 67,000 participating dentists who offer discounted services for members. There are no annual spending caps, and as long as a provider is listed on the network, you can change dentists at any time.

While it’s one of the most popular insurer’s in the nation with a wide network of providers, Aetna primarily only deals with dental group plans. Therefore, dental insurance options are only available in a few states such as Alaska, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Delaware and Illinois. To those who have the option, Aetna is a solid provider of dental plans with numerous options for consumers to consider. Seniors may be tempted by benefits such as coverage for dentures after a waiting period and the low monthly rates for individuals and families.

The Liberty Dental Discount Plan is a wonderful option for those not seeking a long-term commitment or another monthly bill for a traditional insurance program. Savings average between 10-20% for the majority of one’s dental services with extra benefits for preventive cleanings and x-rays. Seniors love this program because there is a senior rate and they can begin receiving discounts immediately for even major services like crowns, dentures, implants, root canals and much more. Furthermore, there are no deductibles or maximums and patients simply pay the discounted rates directly to the provider for their services, so there’s also no paperwork or claims to file. Currently, Liberty Dental is available in: California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Missouri, New York, New Jersey and Texas.

Delta dental policy holders can choose between 140,000 network providers. This company is the largest in the nation and offers both an HMO-type plan where you choose providers and see up-front cost and a PPO plan where you can get extra discounts by using the preferred provider network and choosing a primary dentist. On average, seniors can save about 45% on basic and major services through Delta plans. However, these programs are only currently available to residents of 15 states and Washington DC. A truly unique benefit of choosing Delta is that they have the ability to dictate the maximum out-of-pocket costs within several of its plans. For example, they may specify that a crown will cost policyholders a maximum of $300, etc.

As one of the nation’s most recognized healthcare insurance providers, it only stands to reason that UnitedHealthcare would have a strong dental network that is larger than most competitors. While the savings are consistent and predictable with dental insurance from UnitedHealthcare, prepare to pay a pretty penny for comprehensive and premium plans. There are some cheaper plans with higher copays and lower coverage limitations for budget minded seniors.

The biggest thing to keep in mind before enrolling in a UnitedHealthcare dental insurance plans is that there are long waiting periods for procedures beyond preventive care. For example, a 4-6-month wait is required for fillings and extractions and major services like root canals aren’t covered for 12 months. There are also strict limitations concerning pre-existing conditions such as broken dentures or teeth.

Spirit Dental is a standout amid dental insurance providers today for a number of reasons that will specifically appeal to seniors. In addition to plans with in-network provider options and those where you can pick your own dentist, Spirit Dental also requires no waiting period for basic dental care or even major services such as bridges or crowns. This provider is senior friendly in that these customers get a remarkable two free exams and three annual cleanings included with either plan. Furthermore, the longer you maintain policies, the higher your savings. Spirit Dental offers vision, life and disability add-on policies in addition to dental benefits. They don’t deny any application, but do exclude certain pre-existing conditions such as broken dentures, teeth or implants.

MetLife is best known for dealing with small and large enterprises to handle group life, dental and other types of insurance for their employees. However, MetLife does offer family and individual programs through their MetLife TakeAlong Dental plans. Essentially, this is designed as ‘portable’ dental insurance that can be transferred between jobs and even into retirement via a Preferred Provider Organization through MetLife. This gives seniors the option to choose a lower cost provider in the network while still enjoying the freedom to choose any dentist or specialist they choose at higher rates. MetLife recently announced an upcoming program that will be available in three states called the Dental Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)/Managed Care that offers more variety concerning coverage and has no maximum limitation on annual use.