Best Dental Insurance Companies for Older Adults

Our Expert Pick for Senior Dental Coverage in Any State

Delta Dental is our top pick for older adults, especially seniors who need major care, as the company offers plans with high coverage levels and a high annual limit in year one. However, if you can wait at least a year for major coverage, MetLife, Physicians Mutual, and Spirit Dental all offer more value at a lower price. Out of those three companies, MetLife is best for customer satisfaction, Physicians Mutual is great for expensive procedures because it provides unlimited annual benefits, and Spirit is great for older adults who need an extra cleaning or hearing aids. 

If customer satisfaction is a priority for you, DentaQuest may be a good fit. It has both a low incidence of customer complaints and a strong J.D. Power rating, but it offers weak coverage for basic and major care compared to other companies. Still, DentaQuest may be a good option for older adults seeking affordable coverage for preventive care only. Note that our evaluations were based on sample plans that may not be available everywhere, so be sure to compare plan benefits and costs from a few companies that offer coverage in your state. 

Sample Dental Insurance Plans and Cost Across 5 States

To get an idea of what Delta’s PPO Premium plan might cost in your state, we collected quotes for a 68-year-old female applicant, including premium, deductible, and maximum annual benefit, across five states. 

Compare the Best Dental Insurance Companies for Older Adults

The details below pertain to the lowest-premium PPO plan available for older adults. 

How to Choose the Best Dental Insurance for Older Adults

When comparing dental insurance plans, seniors should consider what services they may need and calculate the expected out-of-pocket costs based on the features of each plan and the benefits they provide. 

• Premiums: Your premium is the monthly charge you’ll pay to keep the policy in force, regardless of whether you use any services. 
• Deductibles: This is the amount you’ll pay before receiving any coverage under your plan. Some companies require you to pay an annual deductible, while others charge a lifetime deductible that you only need to meet once. Preventive services are typically covered before you’ve met your deductible, but it depends on the plan. 
• Annual maximum benefits: This is the most your insurance company will pay for covered services each year. With some plans, preventive care costs don’t count toward your annual maximum. 
• Coverage levels: This is the share of the costs your insurance provider will pay for covered services. There are typically different percentages of covered costs for different categories of care. Older adults may be particularly interested in the coverage level for major care such as dentures, dental implants, and crowns.
• Covered care services: Some plans may have exclusions, so check your policy to ensure the services you need are covered. For example, many plans do not cover orthodontic care for adults, and some plans exclude implants. 
• Network type: A PPO plan allows you to see any dentist, though your costs may be higher with an out-of-network provider. An HMO plan typically offers a more limited network of dentists and no coverage for out-of-network care unless it’s an emergency. 
• Network size: Some dental insurance plans cover a wider network of dental providers than others, so check to make sure your dentist of choice accepts the insurance plan you’re considering. 
• Customer satisfaction: Check customer reviews on third-party websites for red flags and review complaint data with the NAIC. Evaluate ways to get help from customer support, such as app access or live chat. 

Also bear in mind that a standalone private dental insurance plan isn’t your only option. Seniors can also get dental coverage as an add-on to a Medicare Supplement plan or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan. The dental benefits included with Medicare Advantage vary greatly from one plan to the next, according to Dr. Kyle Gernhofer, CEO of DenScore. “For instance, some Medicare Advantage plans only cover a limited number of procedures such as cleanings and X-rays, whereas other Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage that is far superior to any individual plan on the market,” Gernhofer said. 

How to Get Dental Implants Covered By Insurance

Older adults can get dental implants covered by a Medicare Advantage plan, a Medicare Supplement dental rider, or a standalone private dental plan. However, it’s important to understand that most plans only cover up to half the cost of dental implants, and the amount of coverage you can receive is also limited by the plan’s annual maximum benefit. Because dental implants are expensive, you may still get hit with a costly bill, according to Gernhofer.

“Beware of the plans that use ‘bait and switch’ messaging,” Gernhofer said. “For instance, some plans say they cover dental implants but because the plan has a low annual maximum and/or high coinsurance, the member is forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for a dental implant procedure that was supposed to be covered.”

Average Cost of Dental Procedures for Older Adults

Without dental insurance, dental care costs can be tough on your budget. Below are the average costs you can expect for various procedures, according to the American Dental Association. Costs are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Why You Should Trust Us

Investopedia collected 595 key data points from 17 dental insurance companies to identify the most important factors for readers choosing a dental insurance company and plan. We used this data to review each company for premiums, waiting periods, and other features to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews to ensure our readers make the right decision for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999 and has been helping readers find the best dental insurance companies since 2020.

How We Review the Best Dental Insurance Companies for Older Adults

To determine which dental insurance companies to review, we tapped into both market data and public sentiment. We used business and industry databases to get insights into market share, and user-generated data from Google to understand trends and public interest in stand-alone dental plans. This analysis narrowed our focus to 17 key companies offering dental coverage to individuals, regardless of whether their health insurance was purchased through state or federal marketplaces or independently.

We collected data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a standard-setting and regulatory support organization that maintains a database of customer complaints. We also gathered data directly from companies via websites, media contacts, and existing partnerships. The data collection process took place between Oct. 9, 2023, and Dec. 23, 2023. 

We then developed a quantitative model that scored each dental insurance provider based on 35 criteria that fall into four major categories and are crucial in evaluating the company’s offerings and benefits. We weighted the four categories as follows for this article:

• State Availability: 5%
• Customer Satisfaction: 10%
• Cost-to-Value: 33%
• Coverage: 52%

To learn more about our process for finding the best dental insurance companies, read our full methodology.

Guide to Dental Insurance

• How Does Dental Insurance Work?
• How to Choose Dental Insurance
• Can I Get Dental Insurance Through the Health Insurance Marketplace?
• Is Dental Insurance Worth It?
• How Much Does Dental Insurance Cost?
• Does Dental Insurance Cover Teeth Whitening?
• Is Dental Insurance Tax Deductible?
• Does Dental Insurance Cover Crowns?
• Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures?
• Using Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for Dental Care
• Best Dental Insurance
• Best Dental Insurance for Implants
• Best Dental Insurance for Braces
• Best Dental Insurance With No Waiting Period
• Best Dental Insurance for Older Adults on Medicare
• Best Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum