3 Affordable Dental Insurance Plans for Seniors in 2025
While dental care is important for any age, it’s important for seniors in particular. Aging can cause root caries, periodontal disease, and dry mouth, and older adults with cognitive decline or mobility issues may have trouble keeping up with their dental hygiene, according to the American Dental Association.
It might surprise you that Original Medicare does not cover most dental care, so buying your own dental insurance is your only option. I’ve worked with many clients over the years, helping them find quality dental insurance that they can afford, and the following companies consistently came out on top. But premiums weren’t the only factor I took into account while evaluating companies. I also evaluated them based on their coverage, waiting periods, customer satisfaction ratings, and the size of their networks. This list will have options with no network restrictions, free preventive care, and the lowest prices on the market.
The 3 Most Affordable Dental Plans for Seniors
- Spirit Dental : No Network Restrictions
- Aetna Dental : No-Cost Preventive Care
- Delta Dental : Best Budget Option
Affordable Dental Plans Compared
|
Spirit Dental
|
Aetna Dental
 |
Delta Dental
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating out of 5 | 4.6 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Annual coverage maximum | $5,000 |
$1,000, $1,250, or unlimited |
$2,000 |
| Maximum waiting period | None |
|
None, 1, or 12 months |
| Deductible | $100 lifetime |
$0 or $50 |
$0 or $50 |
| Monthly premium estimate* | $18.30 – $49.79 |
$20.74 – $25.05 |
$17.32 – $38.42 |
| Read More | Aetna Dental Review |
*Premium estimates are for a 65-year-old man living in Pennsylvania.
Affordable Dental Insurance Plans
1. Spirit Dental - No Network Restrictions
View Plans
Links to Spirit Dental
What We Like Most:
- Six plans to choose from
- Can add vision for as little as $7 more per month
- Ability to choose any dentist
- Coverage for dental implants and up to three cleanings per year
Overview
If you already have a dentist you want to keep using, Spirit Dental may be for you. This provider let my clients keep their existing dentists, or choose whichever dentist they wanted. While most companies restrict you to a specific network, Spirit Dental is a free-for-all when it comes to which dentists it’ll cover. Plus, with prices starting at just $18.30 a month, this carrier is highly affordable.
Their Dental Plans
| Spirit Dental plans | Spirit Preventive Plus PPO | Spirit Core PPO | Spirit Flex | Spirit Senior Preferred PPO | Spirit Pinnacle PPO | Spirit Flex Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $18.30 | $31.40 | $35.78 | $39.30 | $42.25 | $49.79 |
| Deductible | $100 lifetime | $100 lifetime | $100 lifetime | $100 lifetime | $100 lifetime | $100 lifetime |
| Annual coverage limit | $1,000 | $1,200 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $2,500 |
| Preventive coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Basic procedures coinsurance | 50% | 50% | 50% | 65% | 50% | 50% |
| Major procedures coinsurance | 20% | 25% | 15% | 20% | 25% | 20% |
Finding a Dentist: To find a dentist, my clients went on to Spirit’s website, which then directed them to the Ameritas website, and had them enter their city, county, state, or ZIP code. They could also use additional filters like distance, language, specialty, gender, or provider name, if they already had someone in mind. From there, the website offered tons of options, along with their distance, address, and phone number.
Making a Claim: Typically, my clients’ dentists submitted their claims for them, either through the mail or electronically. However, because Spirit’s dental insurance is underwritten by Ameritas, if they had to file a claim, they had to call Ameritas at 877-667-6127, or email spirit@ameritas.com. Unfortunately, there’s no easy claim form.
Out-of-Network Coverage: Spirit allows for out-of-network coverage, although you could save anywhere from 25 to 50 percent by going in-network.
Restrictions: Spirit Dental is not available in Rhode Island. Additionally, while the company will cover “reasonable and customary” dental services that cost the same price as 90 percent of the dentists in your area, it will not cover the 10 percent of dentists who are more expensive.
Waiting Periods: Spirit does not have waiting periods, which meant that as soon as my clients purchased policies, they could get the dental care they needed.
Pros
- No waiting periods
- Out-of-network coverage
- Large number of plans to choose from
- $100 lifetime deductible
Cons
- No online claims submission
- Patients pay 100 percent of preventive dental care costs
2. Aetna Dental - No-Cost Preventive Care
View Plans
Links to Aetna Dental
What We Like Most:
- Free preventive care
- $0 deductible with lowest-tier plan
- No waiting period for people with dental insurance in the past 90 days
- Ability to bundle with vision insurance
Overview
Preventive dental care includes services like cleanings, examinations, permanent molar sealants, and full-mouth series images. With Aetna’s Direct Preferred PPO and Direct Core PPO plans, these preventive costs are 100 percent taken care of by the insurance company, given you go to an in-network dentist. However, if you prefer a dentist that’s out-of-network, Aetna will pay 80 percent, leaving you the 20 percent out-of-pocket. Plans range from $20.74 per month for the Direct Preventive PPO plan all the way up to $25.05 for the Direct Preferred PPO plan.
Their Dental Plans
| Aetna Dental plans | Direct Preferred PPO | Direct Core PPO | Direct Preventive PPO (only available in Arizona, California, Florida, and Maine) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $25.09 | $21.95 | $20.74 |
| Deductible | Not on preventive care; otherwise, $50 per person | Not on preventive care; otherwise, $50 per person | $0 |
| Coverage limit | $1,250 | $1,000 | No maximum |
| Preventive coinsurance | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Basic procedures coinsurance | 20% | 50% | Not covered |
| Major procedures coinsurance | 50% | 50% | Not covered |
Finding a Dentist: To find a dentist, clients can log in on Aetna’s website, or simply enter their locations and the range they’re willing to travel. From there, they select dental care, choose whether they need primary care or a specialist, and see either a list or a map of options in their area. Each provider includes customer ratings, contact information, and the plans they accept, telling you which are in and out-of-network for maximum savings.
Making a Claim: Dental offices will submit claims to Aetna for you, typically. I couldn’t find any information on patients submitting their own claims, as it was all geared toward health care providers.
Out-of-Network Coverage: While Aetna covers out-of-network dentists, it is significantly less than in-network. For example, while people in-network pay nothing for preventive care, people who go out-of-network are responsible for 20 percent of costs.
Restrictions: Unlike with Spirit’s unlimited plan, Aetna has maximums on all of its plans, which range from $750 to $1,250. Beyond that per-year limit, patients will have to pay the remainder of the costs out-of-pocket.
Waiting Periods: If you’ve had dental insurance within the past 90 days of signing up with Aetna, there will be no waiting period on any service. However, if you’ve had a lapse in coverage or have never had dental insurance, you’ll have the following waiting periods:
- Resin fillings and uncomplicated extractions: One month
- Periodontal maintenance cleanings and occlusal adjustments: Six months
- Major services: 12 months
To learn more about this provider, read my full Aetna dental review.
Pros
- Maximum monthly cost is $25.09
- Free preventive care
- $0 deductible and no annual maximum with Dental Direct Preventive PPO plan
- Vision insurance available as an add-on
Cons
- Dental Direct Preventive PPO plan is only available in four states
- Out-of-network preventive care costs patients 20 percent
3. Delta Dental - Best Budget Option
What We Like Most:
- Plans starting at $17.32 per month (paid annually) or $19.08 per month
- $0 deductible with most affordable plan
- Two plans have free preventive care
- Savings of up to 40 percent with in-network dentists
Overview
My clients with the lowest budgets prefer Delta Dental, which has plans starting at just $17.32 per month. With this DeltaCare USA plan, they had no deductible and were limited to 160 primary care facilities, while the other two PPO plans had a larger network of over 4,000 dentists for either $19.09 or $38.42 per month.
Their Dental Plans
| Delta Dental plans | Delta Dental PPO Individual Premium Plan | Delta Dental Individual and Family PPO Basic Plan | DeltaCare USA PAA60 Individual/Family Dental Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $38.42 | $19.08 | $17.32 (but made in 1 payment of $207.88) |
| Deductible | $50 | $50 | $0 |
| Coverage limit | $2,000 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Preventive coinsurance | 0% | 0% | Office visits: $10
Exams: $0 Cleanings (2 per calendar year): $20 X-rays: $0 |
| Basic procedures coinsurance | 20% | 50% (but only covers fillings and simple tooth removals) | Fillings: $25 – $120
Tooth removal: $30 – $230 Teeth whitening: $125 Gum cleanings: $65 Gum treatments: $150 – $260 Denture repair: $40 – $75 Complete dentures: $495 |
| Major procedures coinsurance | 50% | Not covered | Root canals: $240 – $400
Implants: Not covered Crowns: $125 – $495 Orthodontics: $1,600 – $2,800 (adult) |
Finding a Dentist: To find a dentist, just go on Delta’s website, click “Find a Dentist,” and select your desired specialty, network plan, and your location. You can also add additional filters like extended hours, whether or not it accepts new patients, language, and gender. From there, Delta will show you a map of the dentists in your area, as well as a list of their contact information, hours, and their rating with DentaQual from an independent company called P&R Dental Strategies.
Making a Claim: With Delta, dentists will submit claims themselves, so you typically won’t have to fill out any forms. However, if for some reason you need to submit a claim yourself, you’ll have to log in to your account to get the proper claim forms.
Out-of-Network Coverage: While most of Delta Dental’s plans let you choose an out-of-network dentist, you’ll be able to save the most by going in-network.
Restrictions: With the Individual and Family PPO Basic Plan, the only basic procedures covered are fillings and simple tooth removals. Other services like gum cleanings and treatments, denture repairs, or complete dentures are not covered.
Waiting Periods: Delta’s two PPO plans have waiting periods. The lower-cost, $19.08 per month plan makes you wait 30 days for tooth removals and fillings, while the higher-tier $38.42 per month plan makes you wait one month for fillings and teeth whitenings, and a year for crowns and root canals. With the lowest-tier plan, there doesn’t appear to be any waiting period, although this plan may not be available in every state.
Pros
- Most affordable plans
- $0 deductible with lowest-tier plan
- Preventive care covered with PPO plans
- Orthodontics and dentures covered with some plans
Cons
- With lowest-cost plan, must make a one-time payment of $207.88
- $10 enrollment fee with all plans
Honorable Mentions
While the following dental care insurers did not make the list, they are still worth mentioning, in my opinion.
- Humana: While Humana dental has affordable plans that start at only $18.99 a month, with some plans, costs and coverage changes from the first year on. For example, with the Loyalty Plus plan, I had to wait three years to get 90 percent of basic procedures covered. That first year, I was responsible for 60 percent.
- Cigna: While Cigna dental’s cheapest plan costs only $19 a month and has free preventive care, it does not cover basic or major procedures at all.
- Guardian: Similarly, Guardian’s most affordable plan, which cost $22.62 a month, only covers preventive and basic care, but does not include major care, implants, or dentures.
- Anthem: The cheapest option for an individual (at $19.57 per month) requires a $10 per office visit copay, even for in-network preventive treatment and routine care.
Methodology
Here is how I evaluated the most affordable dental insurance for seniors.
- Pricing: Compared to health insurance, dental insurance tends to be pretty affordable, with prices starting at around $20 per month or even less.
- Coverage: Not all dental coverage is created equally, so I looked for policies that offered robust coverage for preventive care, basic procedures, and major procedures.
- Waiting periods: I prefer insurance companies that don’t make you wait a certain amount of time before you can actually use your coverage.
- Networks: The larger the network, the better, as companies often charge customers higher copays for out-of-network providers.
- Customer satisfaction: Of course, I took the experiences of my clients into account, as well as other customers posting on the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Affairs.
Dental Insurance vs. Medicare Advantage
One alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is a Medicare Advantage Plan, also known as Medicare Part C. Private health insurance companies administer Part C with benefits equal or greater to Original Medicare. Some benefits Part C might have that Parts A and B do not are dental, vision, and hearing.
Aside from Part C, the other option is to buy a stand-alone dental insurance policy from a provider directly. If you have Part C and it does not include dental insurance, I recommend looking for a stand-alone dental insurance policy.
Confused? For more clarification, check out my guide to dental insurance for seniors, a notoriously complicated topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Does Medicare cover dental?
Original Medicare does not cover dental, with the exceptions of:
- Dental services received when someone is admitted to a hospital due to their dental health
- Some inpatient or outpatient services related to certain covered medical treatments, like a heart valve replacement, kidney transplant, chemotherapy, or treatment for head and neck cancer
That being said, some Medicare Advantage plans include dental insurance.
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If I have Original Medicare, will I need separate coverage for routine dental services?
Yes, if you have Original Medicare, you will need separate coverage for routine dental services. Alternatively, switching to a Medicare Advantage plan with dental coverage can potentially fill in the coverage gap for dental.
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Are there any age-related restrictions or limitations on coverage in affordable dental insurance plans for seniors?
Typically, there will not be any age-related restrictions or limitations on coverage in affordable dental insurance plans for seniors. Most plans do not have an age limit, but you will have to input your age in order to get a quote, so your age does have an effect on your premiums.
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Can I keep my current dentist if I enroll in an affordable dental insurance plan for seniors, or do I need to choose from a network of providers?
Most dental insurance companies let you keep your current dentist. However, if they are out-of-network, you may not get coverage, or as much coverage as you would get with an in-network dentist. To get the most affordable dental care, you’ll want to choose from the network of providers, which may or may not include your current dentist.
