Best Medicare Advantage Dental Plans for Seniors

Original Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental services, such as cleanings, fillings and extractions. Those on Medicare can buy a separate dental policy or turn to Medicare Advantage plans, most of which offer some cost help for dental care in addition to other benefits.

The vast majority (97%) of Medicare Advantage plans offer some access to dental care, although the type of coverage and limits on cost sharing vary. A plan might cover twice-a-year cleanings, for instance, but no fillings or other dental work.

If you’re looking for the best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare Advantage, here are our top picks for 2023.

Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.28 out of 5.

Service area: Available in 49 states and Washington, D.C.

Standout feature: UnitedHealthcare has the largest network of dental providers of all Medicare Advantage companies, with more than 100,000 providers.

UnitedHealthcare is the biggest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S., with a presence in 49 states. UnitedHealthcare also partners with AARP and insures Medicare products with the AARP name. Nearly all of UHC’s members are in plans with high star ratings.

• UHC offers the largest Medicare dental network, with more than 100,000 providers.

• UHC plans with comprehensive dental coverage include an average of about seven services per plan.

• Among UHC Medicare Advantage members, 95% are in highly rated plans.

• Only 85% of UHC plans offer comprehensive dental coverage, one of the lower percentages among major Medicare Advantage providers.

Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.15 out of 5.

Service area: Available in 28 states and Washington, D.C.

Standout feature: Nearly every Cigna Medicare Advantage plan comes with both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage, including coverage for endodontics, extractions and restorative services.

Cigna isn’t the largest Medicare Advantage provider, but the company’s plans come packed with benefits, which may include preventive and comprehensive dental, 24/7 telehealth and meal delivery. More than 8 in 10 Cigna Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium, and Cigna’s comprehensive dental coverage includes an average of nearly seven covered services.

• Nearly all Cigna Medicare Advantage members will get both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage.

• The average Cigna dental plan with comprehensive coverage includes almost seven covered services.

• Cigna plans are only available in 28 states and Washington, D.C.

• The majority of Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs, which require members to get most of their care from in-network providers.

• Cigna Health, a Cigna subsidiary, landed an eighth-place ranking in J.D. Power’s latest Medicare Advantage study based on member satisfaction.

Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.67 out of 5.

Service area: Available in 46 states and Washington, D.C.

Standout feature: More than nine in 10 Aetna Medicare Advantage plans provide comprehensive dental coverage and average nearly seven included services per plan, from periodontics to extractions to restorative services. And 98% of Aetna plans offer preventive dental care, which includes cleanings and X-rays.

Aetna, a CVS Health company, is the fourth-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, and 84% of Medicare beneficiaries have the option of a $0-premium Aetna plan. Aetna also offers stand-alone prescription drug plans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., including one of the lowest-premium plans nationwide.

• Aetna is available in most states and Washington, D.C.

• Preventive dental services (cleaning, X-rays and exams) are covered at 100% on most plans.

• Some Aetna Medicare Advantage plans offer other perks, such as an over-the-counter allowance and meal delivery services.

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, gives Aetna’s 2023 Medicare Advantage plans an average star rating of 3.67 out of 5 stars, which is below the national average of 4.15.

• Aetna placed sixth out of nine Medicare Advantage providers on J.D. Power’s latest Medicare Advantage study, which was based on member satisfaction.

Nearly all of Wellcare’s Medicare Advantage plans offer comprehensive dental care, with 95% of plans offering both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage, averaging more than six covered comprehensive services per plan. Wellcare is available in 36 states.

Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.81 out of 5.

Service area: Available in eight states and Washington, D.C.

Standout feature: Kaiser Permanente netted the top spot out of nine providers on J.D. Power’s most recent U.S. Medicare Advantage study, which is based on customer satisfaction.

Kaiser Permanente is the fifth-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, and the company gets high ratings from the CMS as well as outside ratings agencies. Most of Kaiser’s Medicare Advantage plans come with dental coverage.

• About nine out of 10 Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans offer preventive dental coverage, and 83% also offer comprehensive dental coverage.

• Most of Kaiser’s plans offer access to supplemental dental coverage if you need it, for as little as $9 per month.

• Of the four Medicare health plans that got a 5 out of 5 rating from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, two of them are Kaiser plans.

• Kaiser’s comprehensive dental coverage includes an average of fewer than five covered services per plan. (Most common: diagnostic services, periodontics and extractions.)

• Kaiser Permanente plans are available in only eight states and Washington, D.C. (Those states are California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia and Washington state.)

• Kaiser offers only HMO plans, so members must use Kaiser’s network of providers.

Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.35 out of 5.

Service area: Available in 49 states and Puerto Rico.

Standout feature: Humana offers $0-premium Medicare Advantage plans in 49 states and Puerto Rico.

Humana is the second-biggest provider of Medicare Advantage plans and is available in more U.S. counties than any provider. Humana plans enjoy good Medicare star ratings, and nearly all of Humana’s members are in highly rated plans.

• Among Humana Medicare Advantage plans, 94% offer preventive and comprehensive dental coverage.

• Humana offers plans in 89% of U.S. counties, making it an option for more people than any other Medicare Advantage provider.

• Nearly all Humana Medicare Advantage members (98%) are in a plan rated 4 stars or higher (out of 5) by the CMS.

• Humana came in second out of nine providers in J.D. Power’s most recent Medicare Advantage study on member satisfaction.

• Humana’s comprehensive dental coverage includes fewer than six services, on average. (Most common: restorative services, diagnostic services and periodontics.)

Dental costs on a Medicare Advantage plan vary by plan and by service. Some require a copay or coinsurance for every service. For instance, if there’s 50% coinsurance (the most common coinsurance) required for a filling, you would pay 50% of the cost. Some services have a $0 copay if you use an in-network provider but require coinsurance or aren’t covered if you go out of network.

It’s worth noting that services may often be covered at a $0 copay, but with a dollar limit to what the plan will cover. For instance, there may be a $1,000 annual maximum benefit for preventive or comprehensive services (or both). For people enrolled in plans with more comprehensive dental benefits, the average annual dollar limit on coverage is $1,300, according to the KFF, a health policy nonprofit. It’s important to read a plan’s Evidence of Coverage to understand the limits on any dental coverage being offered.

If you have Original Medicare, you’ll need to buy a separate dental insurance policy to cover your dental needs or pay out of pocket for dental care. Many Medicare Advantage providers also sell separate dental policies, or you can look for policies with companies like Delta Dental, Liberty, Spirit Dental or Guardian.

Medicare Advantage plans aren’t just about dental coverage — you’ve got to get the right coverage for all of your health care. Here are some strategies for finding the best plan for you:

• Check star ratings. The CMS collects data on Medicare Advantage plans from member surveys, the plans themselves and medical providers, and then assigns a star rating based on the results. The star rating is on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best.

• Compare out-of-pocket costs. Each plan will have a monthly premium (many Medicare Advantage plans have no premium) and a maximum out-of-pocket cost, which is the most you’ll pay in a year for covered health care.

• Keep your meds in mind. Your medications may seem like an afterthought, but make sure you investigate how each plan will cover your medications — or whether they’re covered at all.

• Look for your doctors. If you’ve got a list of caregivers and medical facilities you use and prefer, look for plans that include them.

• Consider the plan type. If you see specialists frequently and you don’t want to seek a referral for every office visit, a PPO plan is probably the better fit. If you’re a light health care user and see mostly your primary care physician, an HMO might be more affordable.

• Drill down on dental. If a plan notes that it offers dental, keep clicking until you get all the details in a plan’s Evidence of Coverage. Make sure you understand what services are included, what kind of copays and coinsurance you may have to pay and whether there’s an annual limit on what the plan will spend.