Humana Dental Insurance Plans for Seniors
Humana is one of the nation’s largest dental insurance providers. The company is based in Kentucky, but offers a variety of coverage options in all 50 states and a few U.S. territories. For seniors, we found affordable dental insurance plans starting at under $20 per month. However, we also found that dental plan availability can vary greatly.
If you’re considering a Humana Dental plan for yourself or a loved one, you’ll find this guide helpful. Our team researched the available options to give you an overview of their costs and what they include. We’ll also compare Humana Dental plans with the other top dental insurance plans we’ve tested to give you additional options.
Tip: Original Medicare doesn’t cover cleanings, cavities, crowns, or other common procedures, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. So, unless you have a Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental, we believe it’s essential to find a dental insurance plan to augment that lack of coverage.
Humana Dental Insurance Plans and Pricing
Humana is one of our top-recommended dental insurance providers because of their low copays, wide network of dentists, and because beneficiaries can see specialists without a referral.
In the table below, you’ll find the dental insurance policies Humana offers seniors. Plan availability differs by state, but as an example, these are the plans we found for a 65-year-old living in Pennsylvania.
| Humana Dental Plans | Preventive Value | Bright Plus | Loyalty Plus | Complete Dental | Bright Plus for Veterans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $18.99 | $27.71 | $38.99 | $53.99 | $27.71 |
| Deductible for an individual (lifetime) | $50 | $50 | $150 | $50 | $50 |
| Coverage limit | Unlimited | $1,250 | Year 1: $1,000
Year 2: $1,250 Year 3: $1,500 |
Year 1: $1,250
Year 2: $1,500 |
$1,250 |
| Waiting period | None | Basic services: 30 days | None | Basic services: 30 days
Major services: 12 months |
Basic services: 30 days |
Humana dental premiums range from around $19 to $54 a month. That’s much cheaper than Aetna dental, which ranges from about $44 to $50 a month in premium costs, and about as expensive as Spirit Dental, with premiums of $18 to $50 per month. Humana is certainly one of the cheaper dental insurance providers out there, especially if you choose the Preventive Value plan.
Did You Know? Basic services include routine exams, cleanings, and X-rays, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Additionally, CareCredit (Synchrony’s health care credit card) reports that the national average cost of a routine dental exam with cleaning and X-rays is $203.
Let’s see exactly which services each plan covers.
Preventive Value
The most affordable plan we found is Preventive Value. We think it’s a great value for seniors concerned about the cost of basic services such as routine exams with cleaning and X-rays. After a $50 lifetime deductible, you’ll pay nothing for those services. The plan will also cover half the cost of fillings and simple extractions, after the deductible is paid. However, this plan does not cover:
- Oral surgery
- Root canals
- Crowns
- Dentures
- Orthodontics
As the name suggests, the Preventive Value plan is great for preventive dental care. However, we don’t recommend it to older adults who might need more serious (and costly) procedures.
Did You Know? According to the American Association of Orthodontists, there’s no age limit on orthodontia, as teeth can move over time at any age.
Bright Plus
Bright Plus also covers routine cleanings, exams, and X-rays for free (you won’t even have to pay your deductible), plus 40 percent of filings and simple extractions after your deductible. These are the only services covered, however. The Bright Plus plan is great if you want coverage for basic procedures but are OK with not having coverage for major procedures.
Loyalty Plus
Loyalty Plus includes free routine exams and cleanings. After you pay your deductible, certain services are covered by various percentages of the total cost based on the number of years you’ve had coverage:
| Service vs. how much you’ll pay by year | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-rays | 60% | 45% | 30% |
| Fillings | 60% | 45% | 30% |
| Simple extractions | 60% | 45% | 30% |
| Oral surgery | 80% | 70% | 50% |
| Root canals | 80% | 70% | 50% |
| Crowns | 80% | 70% | 50% |
| Dentures | 80% | 70% | 50% |
In sum, the longer you stay on this plan, the less you’ll have to pay for services. This plan may include a discount on orthodontics as well. We recommend Loyalty Plus if you plan to stay with Humana for more than a year, you do not want to deal with waiting periods for services, and you want part of all coinsurance covered, regardless of the service.
FYI: Some Humana plans have waiting periods, and sometimes, the waiting period depends on the type of service you’re getting. In our research, for example, we found that some plans require a six- or 12-month waiting period for dentures. We recommend thoroughly reviewing your policy to learn more.
Complete Dental
Complete Dental covers 100 percent of routine cleanings/exams plus X-rays, but after your deductible, you’ll pay the following percentages for these services:
- Fillings: 20 percent
- Simple extractions: 20 percent
- Oral surgery: 50 percent
- Root canals: 50 percent
- Crowns: 50 percent
- Dentures: 50 percent
This plan also may include a discount on orthodontics. We recommend this plan if you’re OK with paying a higher monthly cost in exchange for free preventive care.
Bright Plus for Veterans
Humana offers a dental plan that is available only to veterans. It includes free routine cleanings/exams plus X-rays, but you’ll pay 40 percent of the cost of filings and simple extractions after your deductible. This plan does not cover any other service. This is the best option for veterans, but it lacks coverage for major procedures. Delta Dental offers a similar plan for veterans who are enrolled in the Veterans Administration’s Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, but unlike Humana’s plan, its best plan covers major procedures.
Dental Savings Plus
If you decide dental insurance is too costly, you can opt for a dental savings card for $6.99 a month, plus a $15 one-time enrollment fee. The advantages are that there’s no annual maximum, waiting period, or deductible. Savings vary based on your location and the service you get, but here are some average savings by service:
- Routine cleaning and exam: $33
- X-rays: $24
- Silver-colored fillings: $45
- Tooth-colored fillings: $59
- Simple extractions: $59
- Oral surgery: $43
- Root canals: $328
- Crowns: $295
- Dentures: $360
Additionally, you could get a discount on orthodontics of up to 20 percent.
FYI: Humana also offers dental insurance with vision. Additionally, Humana Extend plans cover dental, hearing, and vision, which is a great option if you need hearing aids, contacts, or glasses, which Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
If you don’t want to buy separate dental insurance, check out Humana’s Medicare Advantage plan, which combines dental, hearing, and vision insurance with fitness memberships and an allowance for over-the-counter drugs. Or consider Humana’s Medicare Supplement plan, i.e., Medigap, which includes services like hospice care and skilled nursing facilities.
FYI: Humana also offers dental insurance with vision.
Is Humana Dental Worth It?
Based on our assessment, Humana is a great dental insurance provider whether you want coverage for preventative, basic, or major procedures. It’s especially great for people on a budget — as plans can cost as little as $20 a month — or veterans, who have access to the affordable Bright Plus for Veterans plan. Humana offers an array of affordable solutions for seniors, including dental insurance and a dental discount plan. Their policies allow users to enjoy solid discounts on the dental services they need most. Just make sure your plan covers the services you might need. Cheaper premiums now may mean large copays down the line.
Methodology
When reviewing companies’ dental insurance plans, we take into account the following factors:
- Services covered: We prefer companies that cover all basic, major, and restorative procedures. Orthodontia, however, is not a necessity for most seniors.
- Premiums: Dental insurance ranges from around $20 to $55 a month. However, we also consider whether it’s possible to bundle dental with hearing and vision insurance.
- Availability: Ideally, the company’s dental insurance plans are available throughout the U.S.
- Waiting periods: We prioritize companies with no waiting periods, although some have waiting periods for basic procedures such as annual cleanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Humana good insurance for dental?
Yes, Humana is a good insurance for dental, with coverage for basic, major, and restorative services plus discounts on orthodontics starting at less than $20 a month.
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What does Humana Dental cover?
Depending on the plan, Humana Dental covers:
- Crowns
- Dentures
- Oral surgery
- Root canals
- Routine cleanings and exams
- Silver-colored and tooth-colored fillings
- Simple extractions
- X-rays
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Does Humana cover dental implants?
No, Humana does not cover dental implants.
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What is the downside of Humana?
The downside of Humana for dental insurance is that it may not cover many major services like dental implants, dentures, bridges, or crowns.
