By Susan Braden
While Medicare may be the first option that comes to mind, it does not actually help with most senior dental care needs. Luckily, new dental plans for seniors are available to make it easier to afford both routine and emergency dental care throughout your retirement years. AARP dental insurance is one well-established option, but many seniors are opting for dental savings plans instead.
Not sure which plan to pick? Compare options below and discover what type of dental plan will work best for you.
Medicare helps with medical costs for seniors, but it isn't a viable option for senior dental insurance.
While it may help in rare cases with oral surgery - that's related to another medical condition - Medicare does not cover routine dental care for adults 65 and over. By law, Medicare is prohibited from paying for cleanings, fillings, crowns, dentures and most other dental work. Although there are a few exceptions, you cannot look to Medicare as a source of senior dental insurance.
"By law, Medicare is prohibited from paying for cleanings, fillings, crowns, dentures and most other dental work."
Your dental plan should cover common dental treatments for seniors, including:
These treatments address common senior dental problems:
Millions of people over 50 have joined the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). If you are a member in good standing, you are eligible to sign up for the AARP dental insurance plan administered by Delta Dental.
With this plan, you have a choice between two types of coverage: Plan A & B (both PPOs) or DeltaCare USA (a DHMO). However, these plans come with higher premiums than many other dental plan options, have annual maximums of $1,500, year-long waiting periods for some procedures and exclusions of certain pre-existing conditions.
Dental savings plans are popular dental insurance alternatives that are sometimes overlooked by seniors but can offer excellent savings. Also called discount dental plans, these plans are affordable, cost-effective and can help you receive significant discounts at the dentist time and time again. These dental plans are perfect for individuals on a fixed income who are looking for savings at EVERY dental visit, no matter how much work is needed.
Dental savings plans reduce dental costs in retirement for seniors. These senior dental plans are an excellent alternative to the AARP program for a number of reasons:
They don't require that you be a member of AARP or any other organization in order to join.
They don't have many of the cumbersome restrictions found with the AARP.
You don’t have to wait a year if you need a crown or dentures, and there is never an annual maximum cap.
For a low monthly fee, your savings can begin right away.
Learn more about how a dental savings plan can provide you with inexpensive, superior care for the dental procedures you need.
Dental Access powered by the Aetna Dental Access Network and Careington Care 500 are the two most powerful dental savings plans nationwide.
Dental Insurance | Dental Savings Plans | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Features | AARP Plan A (PPO) | AARP Plan B (PPO) | DeltaCare USA (DHMO) | 1Dental Aetna Dental Access Network | 1Dental Careington Care 500 Plan |
Plan Cost | $63.93/mo | $43.32/mo | $32.69/mo | $14.95/mo (+$30 setup fee for first month) |
|
Annual Deductible | $40 | $90 | None | None | |
Annual Maximum | $1,500 | $1,000 | None | None | |
Waiting Period to Start Plan | 1st of the month | 1st of the month | Within a week | No waiting! Starts instantly! | |
Waiting Period to Save on Dentures + Crowns | 1 year | None | None | ||
Dentists Near Me (Dallas, TX) | 1000+ | 219 | 1000+ | ||
Saves on Costmetic Procedures | No | No | Yes! | ||
Saves on Pre-Existing Conditions | No exclusions for most pre-existing conditions | No exclusions for most pre-existing conditions | No exclusions for any pre-existing conditions | No exclusions for any pre-existing conditions | |
Eligibility | Primary enrollee must be a current AARP member | Primary enrollee must be a current AARP member | Anyone can join! |
The prices listed above are based on an individual plan in Dallas, TX. Number of dentists and AARP plan prices will vary by location.
These affordable insurance alternatives are helping seniors around the country get the dental care they need, when they need it.
Many traditional senior dental insurance plans max out your savings at $1,500 a year and have long waiting periods for procedures you need. Diane and her husband signed up, were able to get the dental work they needed right away and saved $3,000 in just 3 months.
Have more questions about our discount dental plans? Please give us a call at 800-372-7615 or see how much you can save per dental visit using this friendly resource.
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