Aetna Dental Insurance Plans for Seniors
Original Medicare doesn’t cover dental care. So if you have Original Medicare rather than Medicare Advantage, you’ll need a separate policy to cover routine dental cleanings, cavities, and other common procedures. Fortunately, Aetna provides relatively inexpensive dental insurance as well as dental discount cards for older adults. Aetna is a century-old insurance provider that has been offering dental insurance for the past 50 years. Based on our assessment, it’s great at providing no-cost preventive care coverage to seniors. That’s why they made our list of the best dental insurance providers for older adults. Some of Aetna’s plans also ranked highly on our list of the best budget-friendly dental insurance plans.
Aetna might not be the best insurer for everyone, however. Although the insurer has a wide selection of in-network dental providers across the country (445,000), out-of-network preventive care could cost you. We were also surprised to find out that Aetna’s best-value plan – Direct Preventive PPO – is available in only four states. Those are just some of the things we learned after taking a close look at Aetna’s dental insurance options for seniors. Keep reading to find out more.
Aetna Dental Plans and Pricing
The primary dental insurance options from Aetna come in the form of PPOs, but there are also discount cards that can offer up to 50 percent savings on dental costs. Let’s look at these options and see which can better suit your needs.
Aetna PPO Plans
Of the three dental PPO insurance plans we reviewed from Aetna, two are available for individuals and families. The third one, Direct Preventive PPO, is available only to individuals. And take note: This plan is available only in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Maine. Unfortunately, we found that Direct Preventive PPO was the best-value option among those three plans, as it has $0 deductibles, no coverage limit on preventive care services, and low monthly premiums.
Here’s how the three dental PPO options compare:
| Aetna Dental Plans | Direct Preferred PPO | Direct Core PPO | Direct Preventative PPO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | $50.34 | $43.98 | $20.74 |
| Deductible |
|
|
$0 |
| Coverage Limit | $1,250 | $1,000 | No maximum |
| Preventative Coinsurance | 0%; no deductible | 0%; no deductible | 0% |
| Basic Procedures Coinsurance | 20% | 50% | Not covered |
| Major Procedures Coinsurance | 50% | 50% | Not covered |
With a PPO plan, you can visit any dentist you want (whether they are in or out of the network) and usually have some of the cost covered. For example, both the Preferred and Core plans cover 100 percent of preventive dental care and 50 percent of major services, after the deductible, for dentists both in and out of the network.
Monthly premium costs vary by location, age, and whether you currently have dental insurance. For a 65-year-old man in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Direct Preferred PPO plan cost $50.34 a month, while the Direct Core PPO plan cost $43.98 a month. There was also the option to combine dental and vision insurance for $12.14 more per month.
Note that, with the exception of UnitedHealthcare’s dental insurance, which starts at $45.17 a month, Aetna is the most expensive dental insurance provider we’ve come across. Plans start as low as $17.32 a month with Delta Dental, so Aetna is far from the cheapest option around. That being said, some plans have unlimited coverage, no waiting period, and no deductible, while UnitedHealthcare and Delta, for example, limit coverage to $2,000 a year. Cheaper premiums may mean paying more later for care.
Tip: While Medicare does not cover preventive or routine dental care, specific Medicare Advantage plans cover some dental needs. Review your plan and coverages before purchasing Medicare supplemental insurance or discount cards.
In addition to coverages, Aetna insurance members receive access to digital provider search tools for network dentists, patient reviews, ratings, and cost-comparison information.
Aetna Vital Savings Plans
Aetna® Vital Savings offers two discount plans: a dental-only card and a dental plus Rx card.
| Card | Dental-Only | Dental Plus Rx |
|---|---|---|
| Individual cost monthly | $7.99 | $9.99 |
| Family cost monthly | $10.99 | $12.99 |
| Individual cost annually | $75 | $95 |
| Family cost annually | $105 | $125 |
| Start-up fee (1 time) | $20 | $20 |
| Savings | 15%-50% on dental costs |
|
Each plan provides about 15 percent to 50 percent off dental services, including cleanings, fillings, dentures, and root canals. But only the more expensive card also covers discounts for prescription drugs. In addition to dental discounts, Vital Savings cards come with lowered costs on eye care services such as contact lenses, sunglasses, and, in some cases, LASIK surgeries. To see all of your discounts, you’ll have to sign up first, unfortunately.
Once you’re a member, you are eligible for discounts at the 262,000 participating dental providers nationwide that participate in the Aetna Vital Savings program. In contrast to dental insurance, no waiting periods apply, and you qualify for discounts on day one.
Note: The Aetna Vital Savings for dental care is not available in Montana or Vermont, and the dental plus Rx discount card is not available in Tennessee.
How to Buy an Aetna Dental Plan
You can buy an Aetna dental insurance plan or discount card directly on Aetna’s website. Here are more detailed instructions.
How to Buy an Aetna Dental PPO Plan
You can buy an Aetna PPO plan via the Aetna Dental Direct website. On the main page, enter your ZIP code to see available plans. Once you see them, click “Get a Quote” and fill out your individual information, such as your birth date. Once you receive your quotes, choose a plan, fill in the remaining personal information, agree to terms and conditions, and make your initial payment.
Did You Know: According to the National Institutes of Health, the cost of dental care in the U.S. increased by 30 percent between 2004 and 2024, with an average emergency visit cost of $994 for adults. However, having dental insurance or a discount savings plan can lower these costs.
How to Purchase an Aetna Discount Card
You can buy an Aetna discount card by calling 1-877-698-4825 or by visiting the Aetna Vital Savings website. Or, you can request a Aetna Vital Savings sign-up form online, which you’ll print and send through the mail to the following address:
Aetna Vital Savings
7400 Gaylord Parkway
Frisco, Texas 75034
You can pay by either check, credit card, or debit card. Once the company processes your order, you’ll receive your cards in the mail within three-to-five business days.
Aetna vs. Cigna
Both Aetna and Cigna dental insurance offer PPO plans, but Cigna offers twice as many plans as Aetna. However, it’s undeniable that Cigna is cheaper. Their Dental Preventive plan starts at $19 a month, with a $0 deductible on preventive services, the only type of service it covers. Aetna’s cheapest plan is only $43.98, more than twice as much, and it also includes a $0 deductible on preventive services. That being said, Aetna’s option covers 50 percent of the coinsurance of basic and major procedures, with a $50 deductible for an individual. With Cigna, you’ll be responsible for 100 percent of these costs, meaning paying Aetna that extra $30 a month in premiums might actually save you hundreds.
The Bottom Line
Aetna offers a range of policies for older adults seeking quality dental care coverage, from discount plans to PPO insurance. While insurance costs more, it may still be worth it if you need major work done that will cost less than or close to your maximum benefit. However, in many cases, the simple $7.99 per month cost of a discount card for preventive and basic dental services ends up saving people more money.
Older adults are prone to more frequent oral health issues such as dry mouth, root caries, and periodontitis, according to the American Dental Association. Because of this, seniors would likely benefit from some kind of dental insurance or discount card to limit out-of-pocket expenses. To learn more about dental insurance or insurance in general, read our guide to dental insurance for seniors or our guide to insurance for seniors. Or explore other providers and services in our reviews:
Methodology
Here are the factors we use to review the best dental insurance for seniors:
- Coverage: All dental insurance should cover preventive care, basic procedures, and major procedures, ideally with no deductible and a coverage of up to $1,000.
- Premiums: Premiums should cost around $20 to $100 a month. Of course, plans with more coverage will cost more.
- Availability: We prefer providers with national networks, and ideally ones that let beneficiaries see dentists who are both in- and out-of-network.
Waiting periods: Finally, we look for short or no waiting periods, so you can get the services you need as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If I get a dental plan, will it interfere with my Medicare?
Buying a separate dental plan, insurance, or savings card, will not interfere with your Medicare coverage, as Original Medicare does not cover general dental care such as checkups, cleanings, fillings, or dentures.
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Can I purchase both dental insurance and a dental savings card?
Yes, you can purchase both dental insurance and a dental savings card. However, it’s important to note that you cannot use your dental insurance and your dental savings card to pay for the same procedure. In most cases, your dentist’s office can help you coordinate how you use your insurance or discounts to ensure the most savings possible.
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How do I find a dentist that accepts Aetna PPO or Aetna Vital Savings Discounts?
To find a dentist that accepts Aetna PPO or Aetna Vital Savings discounts:
- Either go to aetnavitalsavings.com/index.aspx or aetna.com/individuals-families/buy-dental-coverage.html and enter your state or ZIP code.
- Click “Search” or “Find My Dental Plan,” respectively.
- Choose your distance range in miles and click “Search.”
- Choose the category “Dental Care,” then “Dentists (Primary Care).”
- View the list of dentists in either map view or list view, using filters like language, gender, group affiliations, or provider type.
