Kaiser Dental Insurance for Seniors
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May 21, 2025
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Did you know that 31 percent of adults 55 and older do not have dental insurance, according to the National Association of Dental Plans? If you’re in the market for dental insurance, consider Kaiser Permanente, a large managed care provider. Kaiser dental plans can be a valuable investment, depending on your needs and where you live. Depending on your location, you can choose from among several health and dental insurance plans that best fit your needs.
As of 2025, Kaiser Permanente dental insurance is available in the following areas: Oregon/ Southwest Washington as dental insurance bundled with vision insurance, California, Hawaii, Washington state, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., where you can buy dental insurance as part of Medicare Advantage, or in Maryland or Virginia as its own private plan.
Explore Other Options: If you don’t live in one of the above mentioned states, learn more about your choices in our guide to the best dental insurance for seniors.
Kaiser Dental Coverage and Costs
Costs will vary by state, but here is an overview of Kaiser’s various adult dental plans.
EPO, PPO, and C-POS Plans (Maryland and Virginia)
For adults in Maryland and Virginia, Kaiser offers three dental insurance plans.
| Kaiser Plan | Kaiser Permanente Smile KPIF Dental EPO (Maryland) or Dental Copay (Virginia) | Kaiser Permanente Smile KPIF Dental PPO Basic (Maryland) or Dental C-POS Basic (Virginia) | Kaiser Permanente Smile KPIF Dental PPO High (Maryland) or C-POS High (Virginia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Maximum | None | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| Annual Deductible | $0 | $50, but waived on preventive/diagnostic services | $0 |
| Out-of-Pocket Maximum | No limit, but copays only | No limit | No limit |
| Diagnostic and Preventive Care | $0-$73 copay | In-network: 80% (no deductible) Out-of-network: 60% (no deductible) |
In-network: 100% (no deductible) Out-of-network: 80% (no deductible) |
| Basic Restorative | $0-$188 copay | In-network: 60% (after deductible) Out-of-network: 40% (after deductible) |
In-network: 80% (after deductible) Out-of-network: 60% (after deductible) |
| Major Restorative Care | $0-$1,829 copay | 40% (after deductible) | In-network: 50% (after deductible) Out-of-network: 40% (after deductible) |
| Orthodontia | Copay only | In-network: Coinsurance, $1,000 lifetime maximum Out-of-network: Not available |
In-network: Coinsurance, $1,000 lifetime maximum Out-of-network: Not available |
| Network Access | In-network only | In-network and out-of-network | In-network and out-of-network |
| Waiting Periods | None | None | None |
Here is a bit more information about each plan:
- Kaiser Permanente Smile KPIF Dental EPO (Maryland) or Dental Copay (Virginia): The cheapest plan has no annual maximum, no deductibles, and no waiting periods. All you’ll pay are copays, which range from $0 to $1,829 for major restorative care. There is also an orthodontic rider available with no deductible, only copays. But the major disadvantage of this plan is that it only covers in-network dentists only, which is not the case for the other two plans.
- Kaiser Permanente Smile KPIF Dental PPO Basic (Maryland) or Dental C-POS Basic (Virginia): The mid-tier plan has a $50 deductible, waived on preventative and diagnostic services, plus an $1,000 annual coverage maximum. It covers a specific percentage of the cost of diagnostic and preventive, basic, and major restorative care. You’ll pay the remainder with no deductible on diagnostic and preventive care, and you can see both in- and out-of-network dentists with this plan. Orthodontia is available in-network only, with a lifetime coverage maximum of $1,000. Like all of Kaiser’s plans in Maryland and Virginia, the mid-tier plan has no waiting periods.
- Kaiser Permanente Smile KPIF Dental PPO High (Maryland) or C-POS High (Virginia): Finally, the highest-tier plan has an annual maximum of $1,500, no deductible, no waiting period and no out-of-pocket maximum, with the same optional orthodontia benefits as the mid-tier plan. You can use this plan in- and out-of-network, but you’ll get more coverage by choosing in-network dentists, including 100 percent of diagnostic and preventive care costs.
Delta Dental Plan (California)
In California, Kaiser underwrites a Delta Dental plan that lets you choose from over 25,000 dentists in the state. This plan covers up to $1,000 of services per year and has no deductible on preventive services, similar to the mid-tier plan in Maryland and Virginia.
Dental and Vision Insurance Bundle (Oregon/Southwest Washington)
In Oregon and Southwest Washington, you can add dental insurance to your Kaiser health insurance plan, and it will include vision insurance as well. See the dental benefits below.
| Kaiser Dental Plans (Oregon and Southwest Washington) | KP OR Dental 100 | KP OR Dental 80H | KP OR Dental 80L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benefit Maximum | $1,000 | $1,000 | None |
| Out-of-Pocket Maximum | None | None | None |
| Deductible (individual) | $50 | $0 | $100 |
| Diagnostic and Preventive Care | 0% (no deductible) | 20% (no deductible) | 20% (no deductible) |
| Basic Restorative Care | 20% | 75% | 50% |
| Oral Surgery, Endodontics, Periodontics | 20% | 75% | 50% |
| Major Restorative Care | 50% | 75% | 50% |
| 2024 Monthly Rates for Adults 50-54 | $56.22 | $38.42 | $50 |
| 2024 Monthly Rates for Adults 55-59 | $60.97 | $41.67 | $54.23 |
| 2024 Monthly Rates for Adults 60 and Older | $62.74 | $42.88 | $55.80 |
Kaiser Medicare Advantage Plans (California, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.)
If you are enrolled or want to enroll in Medicare Advantage, Kaiser offers one of the best Medicare Advantage plans available, although specific plan details depend on your state. In California, Hawaii, and Washington — excluding Southwest Washington — you can get an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. In Oregon, Southwest Washington, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., there are HMO and HMO-POS plans with Medicare contracts.
Did You Know? Because traditional Medicare does not cover dental services, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, purchasing an Advantage Plus plan is beneficial for many seniors. Learn more in our complete guide to Medicare.
Because your costs will differ significantly from one area to the next, it’s very important to request a free, customized quote based on where you live, down to the region. Don’t rely on prices listed online, as they might be different in your specific area. We found that the optional dental benefits, bundled with hearing and vision insurance, had the same allowances, coinsurances, and premiums regardless of the plan we chose:
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans’ optional dental benefits, Maryland | Annual allowance | Coinsurance | Monthly premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | $500 | 50% | $18 |
| Option 2 | $1,000 | 50% | $23 |
| Option 3 | $1,500 | 50% | $41 |
Adding a combination of dental, vision, and hearing insurance costs as low as $18 a month when added to a Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan. It covers health insurance including primary care, prescription drugs, urgent care, ER visits, specialist visits, and telehealth.
How Do I Purchase Kaiser Dental Insurance?
The purchasing process for Kaiser dental insurance depends on the type of plan:
- EPO, PPO, HMO, and C-POS plans: Enter your ZIP code on Kaiser’s website (Healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/shop-plans/individual-family/plans#/quoting) or call 1-800-488-3590.
- Plans administered by Delta Dental: Call 1-888-335-8227.
- Medicare Advantage plans: Enter your ZIP code on Kaiser’s website (https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/shop-plans/ready-for-medicare/explore-plans) or call 1-855-832-0353.
Kaiser vs. Delta Dental
Kaiser may underwrite Delta Dental’s plans in California, but how does it compare to Delta Dental’s own underwritten plans? For one, Delta Dental’s PPO plan is available in more states compared to Kaiser, including:
- Alabama
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
Neither provider has waiting periods or limits on out-of-pocket spending, but Delta Dental has a higher maximum annual payout of $2,000 compared to $1,500. Additionally, all of Delta’s PPO plans let you choose any dentist, while some of Kaiser’s plans limit you to in-network only.
If you want a plan with a higher limit than Delta Dental or Kaiser, consider Spirit Dental, which has a coverage maximum of up to $5,000 per year in year three. Like Kaiser, Spirit has no waiting periods, which is not the case for providers like Cigna dental, which might have no waiting period or waiting periods of six or 12 months.
Methodology
Here is how we evaluate dental insurance providers:
- Waiting periods: We prefer companies with no waiting periods, meaning you can access services as soon as you’re enrolled.
- Coverage: The coverage itself should include diagnostic and preventive care, basic restorative care, and major restorative care. Orthodontia usually isn’t necessary for seniors, so it’s OK if it’s not included.
- Availability: We like companies with nationwide availability.
- Cost: Finally, we look at the cost of premiums, preferring companies that charge around $50 per month and discount dental bundles with hearing and vision insurance.
Our Verdict
Dental procedures are expensive and can cost $75 to $200 for a basic cleaning, $100 to $200 for X-rays, and up to $2,000 per crown per tooth, according to Humana. Costs are even higher if you need dentures or dental implants, but having a dental plan can cover some of these costs.
If you live in a state where Kaiser dental insurance is available, it’s a good option, especially if you get it as a part of Medicare Advantage. But with limited national availability, Kaiser won’t be an option for most. We recommend entering your ZIP code on Kaiser’s website to see if dental insurance is available and get quotes for specific plans. Then make your decision using all the data available.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the waiting periods for Kaiser dental?
Kaiser dental has no waiting periods.
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What is the downside of Kaiser insurance?
The downside of Kaiser insurance is that it’s only available in seven states and Washington, D.C., so it’s not an option in most of the U.S.
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Does Kaiser cover teeth cleaning?
Yes, Kaiser covers teeth cleaning as part of preventive care.
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Does Kaiser cover periodontal surgery?
Yes, Kaiser covers periodontal surgery under major restorative care.