About 60 million people in the country depend on Medicare to cater to their health insurance needs. Unfortunately, be it the Medigap or the Original Medicare plan, you will not be provide dental care despite the vitality of this aspect in your overall and oral health. About 78% of people in the country have dental coverage, but 66% of people with Medicare don’t have dental coverage. Approximately, 18% of seniors have untreated tooth decay.
Thus, it is quintessential to schedule a regular dental visit. Despite that, about 50% of people with Medicare do not go to a dentist in any given year. This guide will discuss some of the best medicare dental plans for seniors. Let us get started and address them one by one.
United Healthcare
This provider is indeed our number-one pick for dental coverage for the seniors with Medicare insurance. With United Healthcare, you get Medicare Advantage Plans with flexible premiums and an expansive network.
Since 1974, United Healthcare has been at the top spot on our list because of its affiliation with the American Association of Retired People (AARP) and the massive popularity it enjoys. Across the entire country, about 22 million people enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plans in 2021 alone. Of this vast number, the largest share is held by United Healthcare, which is about 26%. Over 66% of all the Medicare beneficiaries have availed of at least one of the United Healthcare plan. And that’s not all! In 2021’s J.D. Power study, United Healthcare also ranked at number fourth in their customer service by scoring 795 points out of a total of 1000.
United Healthcare’s extensive range of plans, like PPO, HMO-POS, and HMO, have premiums going from 0$-100$ every month. The premium cost depends on your requirements and geographical location. The good thing is when you avail of United Healthcare coverage, you will also get access to the supplementary AARP services and programs, such as discounts on travel and shopping, along with savings on auto insurance and home insurance. In addition, you will also be eligible for no-cost financial advice.
Humana
Humana is known for its economic premiums as well as being one of the best medicare dental plans for seniors. With Humana, you can avail of a myriad of options that include a dental plan, wherein the premiums are $0. Their Preventive Value PPO is a highly affordable dental plan and comes with no waiting period. This plan will wholly cover the dental exams and cleanings and provide you with a 50$ discount on simple extractions and fillings, following the $50 individual lifetime deductible. However, if you opt for Humana’s Bright Plus PPO plan, you will have to bear the three-months waiting period. However, this plan will wholly cover X-rays and dental exams. In addition, you will get a 40% discount on simple extractions and fillings. However, certain procedures, such as dentures, surgery, orthodontics, and oral surgery, are not included in either plan. Hence, it is quintessential to look at the Plan Details before opting for any dental plan as not all dental coverages are created equal.
Cigna
Cigna is a top-rated insurance company and provides you with Medicare Advantage plans in 26 states of the country as well as Washington, D.C. Cigna should, however, work towards making its network coverage more extensive. However, Cigna surely provides you with an array of dental plans in the states where it is accessible. But please bear in mind that Cigna’s dental insurance plans were not uniform across different plans. Hence, it is vital to read through the coverage details carefully.
For instance, Cigna’s HealthSpring True Choice (PPO) plan has only a $0 premium with a $1500 dental allowance, covering comprehensive and preventive care. Similarly, the Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO) will provide you with $2000 annual dental benefits, again at only a $0 premium. But medical coverage is the primary difference between HMO and PPO.
The availability of different plans makes Cigna a viable pick. But it surely implies that you will need more time towards research and plan comparison while deciding on the apt dental coverage plan you require.
