Good dental care is important to your overall health. You know that. But do you know Medicare doesn't cover dental services? That means dental bills for things like routine cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures and root canals have the potential to take a bite out of your savings.
Dental insurance for seniors is the same as dental insurance for other individuals but focuses on the coverages seniors will need. These include crowns, root canals, dentures, and tooth replacement. Even though these are not unique to seniors, there is a higher probability that seniors will need one or more of these coverages.
If you are a senior looking for affordable dental insurance, you aren’t alone. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 23% of seniors have not been to a dentist in five years. The best senior dental insurance options help you budget and save money in retirement while still getting proper dental care.
How Dental Insurance Works
Dental Insurance is affordable for most seniors but it has varying levels of coverage, called class of service, within one policy. You will receive some procedures at no cost beyond your premium but will share the expense of others with your insurance company.
Dental insurance almost always picks up 100 percent of the bill for routine checkups and cleanings. Coverage for common procedures like root canals and fillings are typically covered at 80 percent, although policies with higher premiums cover up to 90 percent. You are then responsible for the remaining 10 to 20 percent of the cost, called coinsurance. Most plans cover higher-priced and more involved procedures at 50 percent, so you should have some savings set aside for what your insurance does not cover. Still, with relatively low premiums, having dental insurance is far less expensive on average than paying cash for all dental procedures.
Orthodontia is another class of service, and typically has a lifetime rather than an annual maximum. You can buy dental insurance that excludes this coverage if it is doubtful that you will need it.
Our Top Dental Picks
Individual dental and vision insurance from Ameritas provides options for that fit your needs, budget, and location. There are no waiting periods on most services, coverage for implants and orthodontics, and access to some of the nation’s largest dental and vision networks
Aetna has been in business since 1853. Headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, Aetna has 13 million members nationwide and a PPO network of 372,000 dental providers.
Depending upon the plan you choose, you'll have coverage for major services like oral surgery, crowns, root canal therapy, and dentures.
Mutual of Omaha offers the Mutual Dental Preferred and Mutual Dental Protection plans. Both offer reasonable rates to fit your budget along with comprehensive coverage for you oral health.
There is also an optional vision care rider that can reimburse out-of-pocket costs for eye exams and eyewear.
Humana has choices that are great for preventative care. With budget-friendly monthly premiums to low office-visit copays, Humana has a dental plan that is sure to fit your needs.
Oral surgery, root canals, crowns and dentures are not covered.
A dental insurance policy may be right for you if...
- You have Medicare health insurance and it doesn't provide dental coverage
- You’re not covered through an employer, or you've recently retired and now find yourself without dental coverage
- You're thinking about switching your coverage if your dental policy isn't meeting your needs
- You have Medicare health insurance and it doesn't provide dental coverage
- You’re not covered through an employer, or you've recently retired and now find yourself without dental coverage
- You're thinking about switching your coverage if your dental policy isn't meeting your needs
