The Best Dental Insurance for Seniors on Medicare

Among all the things Original Medicare covers is one glaring omission: dental care.

It’s important for aging adults to maintain good dental hygiene. But because Medicare does not include routine dental coverage, seniors are forced to enroll in a standalone dental plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental coverage.

Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C, plans are sold by private insurance companies and offer all of the same coverage as Medicare Part A and Part B while also typically providing additional benefits that are not found in Original Medicare such as dental coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans that include dental benefits typically include coverage of routine cleanings, exams and X-rays along with fillings and extractions.

Some plans may even cover the cost of dentures, bridges, crowns and other more advanced dental services.

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Who Offers the Best Dental Insurance?

To help you find the right coverage for your needs, we’ve compiled our choices for the best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare.

Below, we give our six winners along with the best options for affordability, quality, plan selection, extra benefits and those who like to travel. 

First, a few notes:

• The plan price listed for each carrier below is based on the most expensive plan offered by each insurer in Tampa, FL, that includes dental coverage in 2023.
  
  Tampa was chosen because it has a measured cost of living that is close to the national average, and all insurance carriers included in these rankings sell plans in the area.
  
  Keep in mind that these are the most expensive plans offered, and most insurers on this list offer lower cost plans. The Tampa comparison is solely to offer a linear comparison of each carrier’s most expensive plan within the same city.
  
  
• The number of dental network providers is based on the number of dentists listed for each carrier on Doctor.com. 

Aetna

Most expensive plan with dental coverage (Tampa, FL, 2023): $0/month
$0 premium plans with dental coverage: Yes
Availability: 49 states
Dental network providers: 62,449

Aetna has plenty going in its favor and is our top choice for dental insurance for seniors on Medicare.

All 2023 Aetna Medicare Advantage plans in Tampa, FL, that include dental coverage come with $0 premiums, and several plans also have $0 medical deductibles.

Aetna has a large network of participating providers, so many people may not have much difficulty finding a nearby dentist who accepts their plan.

Vision and hearing care, fitness memberships and both over-the-counter and prescription drugs are additional benefits that may be found in Aetna Medicare Advantage plans, depending on where you live.

Humana

Most expensive plan with dental coverage (Tampa, FL, 2023): $111/month
$0 premium plans with dental coverage: Yes
Availability: 49 states
Dental network providers: 53,585

As with plans from any insurance company, Humana Medicare Advantage plan premiums vary, but $0 premiums do exist in parts of the country.

Depending on where you live, Humana Medicare Advantage plans may offer plenty of choice for dentists and dental providers who accept Humana plans.

UnitedHealthcare

Most expensive plan with dental coverage (Tampa, FL, 2023): $0/month
$0 premium plans with dental coverage: Yes
Availability: 49 states
Dental network providers: 53,922

UnitedHealthcare partners with AARP to offer older adults a number of benefits, and among them Medicare Advantage plans with dental coverage.

None of the 2023 Tampa, FL, UHC Medicare Advantage plans that include dental coverage require a premium other than your monthly Part B premium, and the plans can be found in almost every state.

The network of participating UHC dentists is not overly large, depending on where you live.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Most expensive plan with dental coverage (Tampa, FL, 2023): $108.70/month
$0 premium plans with dental coverage: Yes
Availability: 47 states
Dental network providers: N/A

The number of dental providers who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield is tough to pin down, as the company operates under dozens of affiliate names across the country. But given the size and scope of the brand, it’s safe to say you shouldn’t have much trouble finding a dentist to accept your plan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield offers decent plan selection, near-nationwide availability and $0 premiums.

Cigna

Most expensive plan with dental coverage (Tampa, FL, 2023): $18.60/month
$0 premium plans with dental coverage: Yes
Availability: 28 states
Dental network providers: 70,604

Cigna has a smaller footprint in terms of plan selection and availability, but a high number of dentists accept the insurance.

Cigna plans are affordable, with $0 premiums in some areas and even the top most expensive plan coming in at under $19 per month in 2023 in the Tampa area.

Wellcare

Most expensive plan with dental coverage (Tampa, FL, 2023): $99
$0 premium plans with dental coverage: Yes
Availability: 36 states
Dental network providers: N/A

Wellcare is quickly making waves with $0 premium plans in some areas and overall brand presence in 36 states.

Wellcare is one to watch, with plenty of room for growth that may be a good choice for new Medicare beneficiaries.

Best Overall Dental Insurance for Seniors on Medicare: Aetna

Aetna has just about everything you would look for in a dental plan: Affordability, selection, availability, network size and extra benefits.

Aetna is our top overall choice for the best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare.

Best Dental Insurance for Seniors on Medicare Looking for Plan Choice: Humana

Seniors on Medicare in Tampa, FL, have their choice of several different Humana Medicare Advantage plans with dental coverage that include both the HMO and PPO variety.

Consumer freedom and choice in health care is never a bad thing, and Humana delivers big in this category.

Best Dental Insurance for Seniors on Medicare Looking for Additional Benefits: UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare packs a lot of benefits into its plans, with things like emergency response systems, telehealth and worldwide emergency care coverage joining some other potential Medicare Advantage benefits like vision, hearing, prescription drug coverage and gym memberships.

UnitedHealthcare plans are reserved for AARP members, so these plan beneficiaries may enjoy USAA membership perks as well.

Best Dental Insurance for Seniors on Medicare Who Like to Travel: Blue Cross Blue Shield 

Many of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans are PPO plans, which may allow beneficiaries to visit out-of-network providers and still receive some coverage, though it may be at a higher cost.

The company is visible practically all over the U.S. so you’re likely never too far away from a dentist ready to accept your Blue Cross Blue Shield or affiliated plan.

Most Affordable Dental Insurance for Seniors on Medicare: Wellcare

Wellcare offers several $0 premium plans with dental benefits in Tampa, FL, in 2023, and none of the plans require a deductible. Plans require no copay for primary doctor visits and only small copays for specialist visits

How to Find Medicare Plans with Dental Coverage Near You

Contact a licensed insurance agent to learn about the Medicare Advantage plans available in your area that include dental coverage.

An agent can help you compare the dental benefits and costs of each plan so you can narrow down the selection to the one that best suits your preferences and needs.

Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of Medicareadvantage.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor. This may influence which products we write about, but HelpAdvisor maintains editorial independence, and our opinions and evaluations are our own.