How does senior dental insurance work? Dental coverage (or lack thereof) depends on which insurance you have. Let’s review the major options below:

Original Medicare Part A and B do not cover routine dental visits and procedures such as filling, tooth extractions or dentures. Medicare can cover some expenses for dentistry-related hospitalizations. Most individuals on Medicare select a separate dental plan to address their regular dental needs.

Medigap plans can cover your Original Medicare deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for rare dentistry-related hospitalization, but do not cover dental as part of their core coverage. Currently, we only know of one Medigap plan in the country (Illinois) that offers additional dental bundled in for one low cost. Click here to see the IL Medigap plans that includes dental, vision, and hearing.

Medicare Advantage (MA) can cover dental but since MA plans are not standardized, dental coverage and benefits vary from plan to plan. If you are considering a Medicare Advantage plan that does offer dental, make sure to check the dentist network and the maximum payout (how much the MA plan will pay towards your dental in one year). That will help you know how robust the coverage is.

Stand Alone Dental

Stand-alone Dental insurance name is a good descriptor. They are separate dental plans that you can purchase regardless if you have Medicare or not. These plans cover a wide variety of dental services. The level of coverage (100 percent, 80 percent, 60 percent, or 50 percent) will depend on the plan and the type of service provided. Below we have provided examples of how some stand-alone dental insurance providers break down coverage.

Type I Services

  • Prophylaxis
  • Oral evaluations
  • Bitewing X-rays
  • Vertical bitewings
  • Diagnostic casts
  • Type II Services
  • Intraoral films, extraoral films and panoramic film
  • Amalgam, primary or permanent and resin-based composite
  • Palliative (emergency) treatment of pain
  • Fixed partial denture sectioning
  • Local anesthesia
  • Inhalation of nitrous oxide
  • Occlusion and analysis and occlusion adjustment

Type III Services

  • Inlays and onlays
  • Crowns; cast posts and core buildups
  • Pin retention in addition to restoration
  • Sedative fillings
  • Endodontics
  • Oral Surgery
  • Prosthodontics
  • Periodontics

A typical plan might pay 100% for Type I service but only 50% of Type III. They may also have a 6 month waiting period or longer for Type III services. Once again this is a general guide and does vary by insurance provider.

How much does senior dental cost?

Stand-alone dental plans are offered by private insurance companies and usually cost between $20 to $70 a month.

How do I sign up for senior dental?

You can first get a dental quote and then apply online or you can also give us a call to get you enrolled on the phone.

Delta Dental Online Quote and Enroll

When can I sign up for a dental plan?

Unlike other coverage like Medigap or Part D, you can sign up for a stand-alone dental plan whenever you want. Medicare will not penalize you for enrolling late (or not enrolling) in dental. That being said many Medicare Supplement providers include a separate option to enroll in their dental plan at the same time you enroll in Medigap.

Dental coverage usually starts the first of the following month. Often, you do not have to be 65 in order to buy one, as most companies do not differentiate between senior and non-senior dental.

Can I switch my dental plan?

You definitely can switch dental plans. You just have to apply for a new one, but don’t worry, you are guaranteed to be approved. Still, please do not cancel your former plan until you have received confirmation that you are enrolled in the new one.

Is Senior dental worth it?

Usually Senior Dental can save you money on regular teeth cleanings and checkups over paying those fees directly to the dentist.

You should also find a plan with a decent “maximum payout.” As we mentioned above, the maximum payout is the most the insurance company will pay towards your dental cost in one year. Some plans have very low maximum payouts and should be avoided.

Questions about dental: Call our Senior65.com team at 800-930-7956 to learn more.