Delta Dental Insurance For Seniors

Best For Flexible Dental And Vision Plans: Aetna

• Costs range between $51 to $79 per month
• Offers two PPO insurance plans and two discount plans
• Waiting period of up to 6-12 months depending on the plan

Aetna offers a Dental Direct plan that covers basic and more complex dental procedures. Their annual benefit maximums typically max out at $1,250 and they allow you to consult any dentist you want. Aetna also has several useful online tools on its websites and offers financial assistance for those who may have trouble paying for expensive premiums.

If you choose to purchase their vision coverage in addition to your dental plan, some perks include a discount of up to 40% off additional pairs of, prescription glasses, discounts on hearing exams and hearing aids, up to 15% off LASIK surgery, and no deductible and waiting periods on a 12-month consecutive coverage period.

However, its important to note that basic benefits such as simple extractions have a waiting period of six months while major services like root canals and dentures are only covered after a year. Some customers also claim that they have some trouble contacting customer service to resolve issues.

Best For Affordable Options: Humana

Humana

Humana offers several plan options with loyalty advantages, lifetime deductibles, and the ability to add vision coverage. With so many options to choose from, Humana is our top pick for the best affordable options because seniors can find the plan that meets their needs and budgets.

• Several plans to choose from

• Waiting periods may be waived with proof of prior insurance

• Loyalty plans with increasing maximum benefits

• Some plans offer lifetime deductibles

• Up to six-month waiting period for fillings

• Annual plan maximum $1,000 in the first year

• Some states charge enrollment fees of $35

• Not all plans are available in all states

Founded in 1961 with headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana has a long history in health insurance. Their excellent reputation has earned them a solid A- financial strength rating from AM Best. Humana’s complaints trend with the NAIC shows them receiving a slightly above average number of complaints.

Humana offers dental insurance plans in most states and with several options, whether you want a preventive-only policy or more extensive coverage.

There’s a variety of options from Humana that will help save you money, and you can find exactly which ones fit your personal needs and work within your budget. For instance, you can add vision coverage to your plan for as little as $15 per month on average.

Best For Largest Provider Network: Aetna

Aetna

Aetna boasts a tremendous network of 120,000 providers, which puts it well above the competition in this review and makes it easy and convenient to find the right dentist in your area.

• Largest provider network with 120,000 providers

• No waiting period for preventive services

• Six-month waiting period for basic services including fillings and extractions

• Limited coverage in Massachusetts

• Limited plan options

Aetna has been providing dental benefits for over 50 years and serves almost 13 million dental members. Aetna has the most far-reaching provider network of our review, with more than 120,000 practitioners to choose from, which makes it especially easy for seniors to find a nearby dentist without the need to travel too far.

Aetnas dental plans are available in most states they offer online account management that allows you to get cost estimates, find an in-network dentist online, as well as check claims and statements.

There are two coverage tiers for seniors to choose from: the Preferred PPO and the lower-tiered Core PPO plan. There is a $50 deductible per person or $150 deductible for a family per calendar year.

Preventive services never have a waiting period, basic services have a six-month waiting period, and major services have a 12-month waiting period. Waiting periods may be waived with proof of prior dental insurance.

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What Does A Aarp Dental Plan Cover

Coverage varies according to the type of plan you choose, and there may be variances in the plans offered in your state. In general, though AARPs basic, preventive and restorative dental coverage is very comprehensive.

If you opt for a DPPO plan, basic and preventive are covered as soon as you meet your deductible. There is, however, a 12-month waiting period before you are covered for restorative care, which includes crowns, inlays and onlays, bridges, dentures, dental implants, Periodontics treatment or treatment for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction . The waiting period is enforced even if you have had continuous dental coverage from another provider. And if you switch to another AARP DPPO plan, your waiting period begins again.

With the Prepaid plan, as noted above, there is no waiting period. Basic, preventive and restorative care are covered right from the start. Depending on when you enroll, your plan may not activate for over a month though. For example, joining after the 21st of August means your plan doesnt activate until October.

You can also see what dentists near you are in the plans networks, something that you should check prior to purchasing. You can see reviews of the dentists on social media just by clicking the number of dentists near you option. Checking reviews is especially critical if youre choosing the Prepaid plan option, since the Prepaid network is smaller than the DPPO one, and Prepaid members must see an in-network dentist.

Healthy Smiles Healthy Lives

We give our 1.5 million members the power to use and manage their dental benefits easily. Through innovative plans, large dentist network, and expert customer service, we make dental care accessible, affordable, and simple, leading to a healthier smile and life. And through our foundation and corporate social responsibility initiatives, we are active in the community, expanding access to quality dental care and giving to organizations that support our mission of improving the oral health of the communities we serve.Creating healthy Colorado smiles is what drives us.

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Is Paying For Dental Insurance As A Senior Worth It

Regular preventive care and treatment contribute to helping you maintain a better quality of life. Dental work such as cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, or most dental devices are not covered by Medicare and can be expensive. Finding an affordable dental insurance company is important if you are not prepared to pay these costs out of pocket.

For example, bridgework can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000. Dental insurance with benefit caps may not cover the entire cost but will help offset it. If you anticipate needing dental work, youll want to run some numbers to see how much you would anticipate paying with the premiums plus any copays and out-of-pocket costs compared to the cost of the work to determine its overall value to you.

What Ohip Covers And What It Doesnt

Before you can decide whether or not you need supplementary health and dental insurance, you should have an idea about the kinds of services OHIP does and doesnt pay for. The basic expenses covered by OHIP include:

• Visits to doctors

For a full list visit What OHIP Covers.

What OHIP doesnt typically cover:

• Prescription drugs/medicines provided outside of hospitals such as antibiotics, painkillers, and some cancer drugs
• Specified elective medical services such as chiropractors or massage therapists
• Semi-private or private hospital rooms
• Some medical exams, tests and vaccinations

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Protect Your Smile For Years To Come With Coverage Designed Just For You

Whether youre planning for retirement or researching your Medicare options, youre probably wondering, Do I need dental coverage?What you might not know is that oral health conditions like gum disease are linked to issues like diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimers. This means that maintaining a healthy smile is part of a happy and healthy life.But Medicare plans do not cover most dental services, so the cost of dental treatments necessary to keep your smile healthy is paid totally out-of-pocket.So, shop our plans below. And whether youre ready to set sail into your golden years or looking for that little something extra, you can do so knowing your smile is in good hands.

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Delta Dental of Washington is a part of Delta Dental Plans Association. Through our national network of Delta Dental companies, we offer dental coverage in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. © 2001 – 2022 Delta Dental of Washington.All rights reserved.

Why Is Dental Insurance Important For Older Adults

Taking care of our oral health becomes more important as we age. Older adults have specific needs, such as dealing with gum disease, root decay, broken or lost teeth, and even arthritic conditions that can lead to dental problems. People near retirement age, especially, need to begin looking for a plan to avoid costly coverage gaps, since Medicare doesnt offer dental coverage.

Most dental insurance companies offer an array of plans, ranging from basic preventive-only coverage and discount savings plans to comprehensive traditional packages and gold-level plans. Except for dental discount plans, most programs have at least a six-month waiting period for coverage to kick in, especially for major dental work. That makes finding a new policy before losing any current coverage essential for older adults.

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Best For Annual Maximums: Renaissance Dental

Renaissance

With a high annual maximum of $3,000, Renaissance Dental is a good choice for seniors who have a major dental expense coming up.

• Plans with no waiting period

• Participating dentists submit the claim for you

• Loyalty program with increasing annual maximums

• Possibility to bundle dental with vision care

• Cleanings covered up to twice a year on some plans

• Annual maximum of $3,000 is only available in the Max Plus Plan

• Can be expensive depending on the state

• No orthodontics for seniors

Renaissance was founded in 1957 and covers over 13 million people for dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. They have an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ .

Premiums for Renaissance plans can vary a lot. You can see your price on their website.

Renaissance has no waiting periods on cleanings on any plan. Nor is there a waiting period for fillings or crowns on the MAX Choice Plan and MAX Choice Plus.Annual maximums range from $1,000 on their very basic plans up to $3,000 on the top tier plan. There is a $50 deductible for individual plans and a $150 deductible for family plans.

Some of Renaissances basic plans exclude major work like root canals or crowns. However, if you remain insured with them, they reward loyalty with a coverage increase on major work each year, providing up to 50% coverage for major work starting at year two.

How Should You Compare Dental Insurance Plans For Seniors

When comparing dental insurance plans, there are a few important factors that you should consider. These include:

• Cost: Look for plans with low premiums and deductibles.
• Coverage limits: If you know youre likely to need major dental work in the future, you should choose a plan with a high maximum coverage limit.
• Availability: Look for a provider that has availability in your area and a large network.
• Waiting periods: The best dental plans have short waiting periods that allow you to get the coverage you need when you need it.

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How The Plan Works

• What’s covered. Learn about the categories of dental care covered under this plan in the Retiree Dental Plan Summary of Benefits .
• Choosing a dentist. You receive the greatest value under this plan when you visit Delta Dental PPO dentists because they generally accept lower fees for their services. Check to see if your dentist is a member of the Delta Dental PPO or Delta Dental Premier network at www.deltadentalma.com or call 872-0500.
• Period of coverage. You must enroll for the entire coverage year January 1 to December 31. Please be aware that if you cancel coverage, you will not be allowed to re-enroll at any future date.
• Your ID card. A Delta Dental ID card will be mailed to your home address if you are a new enrollee. If you do not receive it within 2-3 weeks after you enroll in the plan, contact Delta Dental Customer Service at 872-0500. If you were enrolled and are re-enrolling for the upcoming year, you can continue using the same ID card for services.

Best For Preventive Care: Cigna

Cigna

We selected Cigna as the best for preventive care because they are not only affordable, but they have $0 deductible and $0 copay preventive dental plans and make life easy with 24/7 customer service and zero-paperwork claims.

• In-network preventive care paid at 100%

• No waiting period for preventive/diagnostic care

• Online claims handling and an app to manage claims

• 24/7 service and access to a health information line

• Basic plan only covers preventive services

• $1,000/$1,500 maximum annual benefit

Cigna has been in business for more than 225 years and currently serves over 17 million U.S. dental insurance customers individually and through employee benefit programs. AM Best gives Cigna an A rating for financial strength. Cigna was our number-one choice for best for preventive care for seniors based on several factors, which include:

• No deductible and no copay for preventive care that includes cleanings and routine x-rays
• A nationwide network of over 92,700+ dentists
• No need to file claims in-networkyour dentist does it for you
• Their Brighter Score tool rates dentists based on affordability and patient experience
• 24/7/365 customer support and more

There is a six-month waiting period for basic coverages and 12 months for major work. If you have 12 months of prior continuous insurance with another provider, you can make the switch to Cigna, and the waiting periods may be waived.

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Manage Your Medicare Benefits And View Personalized Plan Information

* HMO and HMO-POS Plan disclaimer: Services received from a nonparticipating dentist are not covered. You will be responsible for the full cost of the services that are not covered.

** PPO Plan disclaimer: Services received from a nonparticipating dentist may result in higher out-of-pocket costs. You will be responsible for the difference between Delta Dentals payment and the amount charged by the nonparticipating dentist.

*** Services received from a nonparticipating dentist may result in higher out-of-pocket costs. You will be responsible for the difference between Delta Dentals payment and the amount charged by the nonparticipating dentist.

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Health Alliance Plan has HMO, HMO-POS, PPO plans with Medicare contracts. HAP Empowered Duals is a Medicare health plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Michigan Medicaid Program. Enrollment depends on contract renewals.

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Best Value: Delta Dental

Delta Dental

Delta Dental offers plans geared toward seniors either through the AARP and directly on their website. They provide a lot of information and resources for retirees on their site, and they were one of the few insurers we reviewed offering immediate coverage for fillings, denture repair, tooth removal, and root canals in the AARP Plan.

• No waiting periods for many services

• Guaranteed acceptance for AARP members

• 12 month waiting period for major work on some plans

• PPO plans feature deductibles and maximums

Delta Dental is the leading provider of dental insurance in the U.S., offering coverage in all states and serving over 80 million Americans. Delta Dental is a not-for-profit organization made up of 39 independent Delta Dental companies. They have an AM Best financial strength rating of A .

Delta Dental has contracted with AARP to provide members with special pricing to help seniors fit dental insurance into their budgets, and there are HMO and PPO plans available. The HMO is the cheapest option, followed by the PPO B, and lastly, the PPO A is the most expensive option. The PPO plans allow you to choose any dentist, while the HMO plan utilizes a network of dental facilities.

There is no annual maximum and no deductible on the DeltaCare USA plan. The PPO plans have an annual maximum of $1,000 to $1,500 with deductibles ranging from $40 to $90 depending on service and plan.

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Do You Need Supplementary Health Or Dental Insurance

If you are young and healthy, you might not need to buy supplementary health or dental coverage. It depends to an extent on what you are covered for under OHIP, a group plan or a parents group plan. For example, starting in January 2018, OHIP provides prescription drug coverage to youth 24 and under who are not covered by private benefits. Those children and youth are able to get more than 4,400 prescription medicines for free by showing their health card and prescription. Coverage is automatic, with no up-front costs. Read the news release to find out more. Check what you are covered for, take a look at your individual situation, and make a decision on whether what you have now is sufficient.

How Should Seniors Use Dental Insurance

As a senior, its important to stay on top of preventive care in order to prevent future dental problems down the line. Many dental insurance plans offer free preventive care services with no waiting period. If you know youll need dental work in the future, its a good idea to purchase dental insurance as soon as possible since some plans have waiting periods of up to two years for major services.

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More About The Dental Hmo

When you enroll, you select a network dentist to provide all your basic dental services and to refer you to specialists when necessary. The DeltaCare® USA network consists of private practice dental facilities that have been screened by Delta Dental for quality. Some areas of California have more network providers than others, so be sure there are dentists available in your area before choosing this plan.

You may change your dentist at any time by calling the Delta Care Customer Service number to request the change. Visit the Delta Dental website for a list of participating dentists.