Best Dental Insurance for Seniors

Anthem has affordable plans with low deductibles that provide a generous annual maximum for participants and no waiting periods for preventative care. 

Anthem is an excellent provider with an extensive Dental Prime network. Established in the mid-1940s, the company has won numerous awards, including a place on Fortune’s the World’s Most Admired Companies for 2020. The Indianapolis-based insurer offers plans both directly and through employers and is available in most states. 

Anthem is the best overall dental insurance provider with reasonable waiting periods and generous annual maximum benefits for subscribers in its different plans. Most of the plans have a $50 deductible for individuals, and there is no waiting period for diagnostic and preventative care. Basic coverage kicks in at three months, and major dental coverage has a three to twelve-month waiting period.

Four of the Essential Choice Plans cover bridges, crowns, and dentures at 50% and 70% for the top plan (Essential Choice Incentive). Moreover, the rates were reasonable, although they vary based on your geography and demographics. For example, the rate in California for a 66-year-old came in at about $16 to $67. Also, Anthem has several plans in many states that work with Medicare Part C to enhance seniors’ care on Medicare.

Liberty Dental Plan is a discount plan, not dental insurance, but it offers a senior discount on the annual premium rate and has negotiated excellent discounts in exchange for a reasonable annual premium.

Liberty Dental Plan is a relative newcomer to the field, providing dental benefits for about 20 years. Even though Liberty is not dental insurance but a discount plan, the bang you get for your buck is nothing to discount. With savings that activate two days after you join, Liberty’s discount program is an excellent way to bring down the costs of your oral healthcare.

There are no waiting periods, and you can access the discounts after two days. Also, most pre-existing conditions are covered. The three programs are affordable at about $280, $160, and $120 annually for an individual. Note that Liberty is only available in California and Florida.

Guardian has no waiting periods for preventative care, no deductible when you stay in-network, and the annual maximums increase the longer you subscribe at each coverage level.

Guardian Life Insurance of America was founded in 1860 and has grown into an insurance provider for dental insurance and many other types of insurance for more than 160 years. Today, it has over 7 million members participating in its PPO or DHMO plans. 

Guardian offers excellent coverage for seniors with three plans. The rates are competitive, and the maximums are generous. The plans cover preventative care 100% on day one of coverage and the Core program at 80%.

There are no deductibles in-network and $50 when out of network. Each plan increases its annual maximum for the first three years by about $250 each year, to $1,000 or $1,500. The rates vary by state, but they range from roughly $26 to $64 per month in California.

Cigna gives you the most bang for your buck: no deductible and preventative coverage at 100%, and advertised rates that start at about $19 per person per month.

Cigna is a global health services company with more than 180 million customers and patient relationships around the globe. Since 1792, the Philadelphia-based company has grown to a worldwide organization with a presence in 30 countries. Choosing one of Cigna's providers nationwide allows you to take full advantage of its coverages and maximize your potential benefits. Cigna’s plans are available through an employer or direct. The plan benefits and coverage vary based on your location and other variables. 

We chose the three Cigna dental plans as the most affordable because the rates start as low as roughly $19 per month per person, and for each additional family member you add, you get a 15% discount on their premium. The rates you pay will vary based on your location and other information. For example, the plans range from $26 to $79 per month for a woman over 50 in California.

All three plans have 100% coverage for preventative care and allow for two cleanings per year. Also, both the Cigna Delta 1000 and the Cigna Dental 1500 plans covered dentures, partials, and bridges at 50% after a 12-month waiting period.

Spirit Dental has a lifetime deductible of only $100 and a sliding scale of coverage that increases to 50% by the third year. 

Spirit Dental is a nationwide provider offered by Ameritas. It has high ratings from both Standard & Poor’s and AM Best. Coverage is available directly and through an employer and includes policies for individuals, families, kids, and seniors.

Spirit Dental has a $100-lifetime deductible and excellent value for its subscribers. With eight plans available, there are many options for dental care coverage. The Network 3500 plan can be a place to start your search as coverage begins on your first effective date. Preventative care is covered 100%, while Basic and Major services have increased coverage amounts for the first three years on most policies.

The annual maximum ranges from roughly $1,200 to $5,000, depending on your plan. However, not all plans are available in every state. Premium rates vary based on where you live and other variables; however, based on a preliminary search, you can expect something in the range of about $50 to $110 per month, depending on the plan and coverage you choose.

Aetna has an extensive network of providers, four affordable Medicare Advantage plans available in 49 states, and great coverage options.

Aetna is an established healthcare insurance provider based in Hartford, Connecticut. It has a stellar rating from AM Best. As of October 2022, there are over 3.2 million enrollees in Aetna’s Medicare Advantage programs, the majority of which are HMO, PPO, and Provider Sponsored Organizations (PSOs). They are available through an employer or direct, although direct plans are not available in all states. 

We chose Aetna as the best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare because its Medicare Advantage plans have dental coverage benefits. These benefits could include oral exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, root canal treatments, tooth extractions, crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures.

Also, Aetna’s Medicare Plus Plan (HMO) covers up to roughly $2,000 of preventative and comprehensive dental care in addition to other services with no monthly premium. Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plans are available in 49 states and Washington D.C.

UnitedHealthcare’s dental insurance plans for seniors have no waiting period and generous plans that are covered 100%.

UnitedHealthcare is a prominent brand for insurance with nationwide coverage available all across the country and a stellar rating from AM Best. UnitedHealthcare dental insurance is available via an employer or as an individual, although plan availability varies by state, as will your premium rates. In addition to their direct individual and employer-sponsored plans, United Healthcare offers two Medicare Advantage plans through AARP that cover dental, one with no monthly premium covering preventative dental with no deductible and copay.

The lack of waiting periods on preventative care covered 100%, high coverage amounts, and shorter waiting periods for coverage on many plans make United Healthcare's plans the best dental insurance for preventative care. Moreover, several plans cover preventative care at 100% with no waiting periods.

The brochure highlights what makes each program the most valuable to subscribers, so it's easier for you to find the right fit. For example, the monthly premium for a woman 65+ in California ranges from about $52 to $78, depending on the plan.