There is no age limit for wishing for a beautiful, healthy smile, and many seniors have special dental needs. In addition, people over sixty-five are at a greater risk of developing oral health problems, such as gum disease, cavities, and oral cancers. Not many have dental insurance that covers their dental care treatment cost. To help you make an informed choice, we present below some of the best dental insurance for seniors.
Sadly, only half of Medicare beneficiaries have dental insurance that covers the cost of these oral issues. What makes it worse is that Medicare Sponsored plans provide no dental or only minimal coverage, and several older adults experience coming off of a company health insurance post-retirement. It leaves several aging individuals searching for a dental insurance plan at a reasonable cost. Here goes our list of some dental care insurance for seniors.
United Healthcare
Founded in 1977, United Healthcare is one of the best dental insurances for seniors based on its affiliation with the American Association of Retired People and popularity. Even though they do not have the best customer satisfaction rate, their full range of plans makes them popular. These plans usually have premiums ranging from $0 to over $100 per month, depending on your location and needs. In addition, if you opt for United Healthcare, you will also have access to the added AARP services and programs, such as discounts on travel and shopping, free financial advice, and savings on auto insurance and home. Its customer interface is straightforward, and the access to AARP benefits and vast network make them likable. However, they may have limited plan options, subject to your location, and not all advantage plans have dental coverage. So, do your research, and pick a plan that best matches your needs.
Cigna
Cigna has been in the business for over 225 years. It presently serves over seventeen million US dental insurance customers via employee benefit programs and individually. AM Best has lauded Cigna with an A rating for financial strength. It is also one of the best dental insurance for seniors for multiple reasons.
Firstly, there is no copay or deductible for preventive care, which includes routine X-rays and cleanings. They have a nationwide network of more than 92,700 dentists. You do not have to file claims in the network because your dentist will do it for you. They have a 24/7/365 customer support system. Lastly, they are ranked high on patient experience and affordability.
You can select from one of their three dental plans. If you need a plan that caters to your routine dental exams, the Cigna Dental Preventive can be a good pick. At only $19 per month, it is super affordable. Their Cigna Dental 1000 takes care of your dental work beyond preventive care. It costs $33 per month and includes some restoration with coverage of up to $1000. Lastly, the Cigna Dental 1500 plan guarantees maximum protection and caters to your restorative and preventive needs. It includes the 1000-level plan’s restorative care along with orthodontia coverage. Payable at $39 per month, its maximum coverage is $1500. Deductibles for their top two plans are $150 for a family and $50 per person.
Anthem
Founded in the mid-1940s, Anthem is another popular provider famous for its vast Dental Prime network. This Indianapolis-based insurer has received many accolades, and they offer plans via employees and even directly in most American states.
They have generous annual maximum benefits and reasonable waiting periods, and you can choose from their six available plans. Most plans have a $50 deductible for the individual. There is zero waiting period for preventative and diagnostic care. Major dental coverage has a six-month wait window, but it is three months for basic coverage.
Four of their Essential Choice Plans offer coverage for dentures, crowns, and bridges at seventy percent and fifty percent for the top plan. Overall, their rates are reasonable but might vary as per demographics and geography.
Spirit Dental
Spirit Dental stands out amongst dental insurance providers for seniors for various reasons. They have plans with in-network provider options and the choice to select your dentist. In addition, Spirit Dental has no waiting period for services like crowns and bridges and even basic dental care. Every customer bags three annual cleanings and two free exams with every plan, a rarity in the industry. Further, the longer you hold policies, the greater the savings. Even though they do not deny any application, they exclude some pre-existing conditions like broken teeth, dentures, or implants.
Their plans cover two people. Couple rates depend on the location and the selected plan, but they range between $45 and $200 per month. Family plans are costlier but offer coverage up to $4000 with a $100 deductible for a lifetime. You can add vision insurance at only $7 per month.
