As we mature, oral hygiene becomes paramount, but maintaining it is often pricier. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) offer scant benefits for dental services, leaving most seniors looking for affordable alternatives. That is where AARP dental plans offer by Delta Dental come in. The AARP dental plans give seniors complete coverage customized to meet their specific needs to ensure they can access reasonably priced high-quality dental care.
Overview of AARP Dental Plans
AARP collaborates with Delta Dental to provide an assortment of dental insurance plans which are especially tailored for the elderly. They offer PPO or HMO types of plans to accommodate the selection of dentists from among the many in the network.
AARP Dental Plans Coverage and Benefits
Dental plans offered by the AARP are vast in service coverage, thereby allowing seniors the chance to access necessary dental care and preventive dental services. Here are some of the common benefits:
- Preventive Care: Routine check-ups, cleanings, and X-rays are usually covered at 100 percentage without any waiting periods.
- Basic Services: Most plans cover fillings, simple extractions, and emergency dental care.
- Major Services: Coverage for crowns, dentures, root canals, and dental implants may vary in terms of percentage of coverage and waiting periods.
READ MORE: Free Dental Implants for Seniors
AARP Dental Insurance Plans
This is a brief insight into the dental benefits of AARP membership:
1. DeltaCare USA
DeltaCare USA is the AARP DHMO plan. It’s the least expensive of the four plans.
DeltaCare is offered available in:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- The District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia.
You have to visit one of the Delta Dentists participating in AARP Delta Dental to get coverage.
DeltaCare USA comes with fixed fees, which do not require anything out of pocket or demand very little costs for these covered services:
- Cleanings
- Exams
- X-rays
- Dentures
- Orthodontics
There is no annual maximum, no deductible, and no waiting period for the plan. Plans begin at $27.80 per month.
2. PPO Protect
AARP PPO Protect is the least of all AARP plans, as it safeguards the least amount of coverage at the least dollar value among the PPOs. Here is what the PPO Protect plan might offer:
- Cleanings
- Exams
- X-rays
- Dentures
- TMJ treatment
PPO Protect has a $90 deductible, but no deductibles apply to your preventive care. This plan offers AARP dental insurance for $1,000 annual maximum and has an impressive waiting period of 12-month for major services. No waiting is required for preventive services with a co-pay of 20%, including office visits.
One of the advantages of PPO plans is that you can go to any dentist, but probably at a greater cost out of the network, so you can see the dentist you are accustomed to. Where you live, PPO Protect plans start at just $32.16 per month.
READ MORE: How To Get Free Denture Grants For Seniors
3. PPO Protect Propel
PPO Protect Propel is a mid-tier PPO plan that provides basically the same preventive dental services as the PPO Protect, with some additional services over and above it. These include:
- Cleanings
- Exams
- X-rays
- Dentures
- Implants
- Orthodontics
With an annual deductible that is waived for preventive care services of $75, PPO Protect Propel increases the annual maximum payable at the beginning of the year by an increasing amount over the first four years of your enrollment in the dental plan. While your annual maximum amount increases, the co- payment that you are responsible for during the initial four years declines, so the increased cap and the reduced co-payment will approximately cancel each other out on some services.
The annual caps in the first four years will be: $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, and $1,750. The cost that you’ll need to pay for some services would drop with an increase in these maximums; however, your costs for office visits, cleanings, examinations, and X-rays will always remain at zero.
Like any PPO plans, it allows you to see out-of-network dental providers, at a possible higher cost. What sets PPO Protect Propel apart from the other plans is that this plan does not impose any waiting period on major services. For as little as $44.44 per month, you can have a PPO Protect Propel.
4. PPO Protect Plus
AARP dental plans have a variety of options ranging from the PPO Protect Plus plan, which is a very comprehensive dental plan offering a wide array of dental services. Here are the basic services that could be covered:
- Cleanings
- Exams
- X-rays
- Dentures
- Implants
- TMJ treatments
Again, your annual deductible, which is $40 for this plan, does not apply to cleanings, exams, and X-rays. The annual maximum amount of services you can receive is $2,000. Orthodontia is not covered at all; therefore there is a nine-month waiting period for major services such as the following:
- Root canals
- Implants
- Crowns
- Gum treatments
- Complete dentures
- TMJ treatments
- Veneers
The PPO Protect Plus plan can cost you as low as $52.24/month, depending on where you live.
READ MORE: AARP Landline Phone Service For Seniors
Comparing AARP Dental Insurance Plans: Features & Benefits
A plan comparison is displayed for you to see and match the right plan for you and your family:
| Plan | DeltaCare USA | PPO Protect | PPO Protect Propel | PPO Protect Plus |
| Services | Cleanings, exams, x-rays Dentures Orthodontics | Cleanings, exams, x-rays Dentures TMJ treatment | Cleanings, exams, x-rays Dentures Implants Orthodontics | Cleanings, exams, x-rays Teeth whitening Dentures Implants TMJ treatment |
| Annual Deductible | No deductible | $90 (waived for preventive care) | $75 (waived for preventive care) | $40 (waived for preventive care) |
| Annual Maximum | None | $1,000 | Increases in first four years: $1,000 year 1 $1,250 year 2 $1,500 year 3 $1,750 year 4 | $2,000 |
| Waiting Period | None | 12-month for major services | None | 9-month for major services |
AARP Dental Insurance Costs:
AARP dental coverages and plans differ from one another, and you can check out the different quotes for AARP Dental Insurance Plans to find out which one is most suitable for you.
Consider this illustrative quote from Spring Hill, Florida within the Tampa Bay area:
| DeltaCare USA | PPO Protect | PPO Protect Propel | PPO Protect Plus | |
| Individual | $35.08 | $43.32 | $54.39 | $65.91 |
| Two People | $57.24 | $85.20 | $107.49 | $130.26 |
| Family of Four | $84.32 | $121.09 | $163.42 | $198.03 |
Why Choose AARP Dental Plans?
- Custom Plans for Seniors: AARP plans address the aging adults’ dental care needs.
- Extensive Network of Providers: Access to a large network of dentists and specialists.
- Flexibility: Choose coverage and options among PPO and HMO plans.
- Affordable Coverage: Dental care is made accessible through competitive pricing and comprehensive benefits.
How to Enroll AARP Dental Plans
Seniors interested in dental plans for AARP can go visit the AARP website or call customer service for details on the plans, eligibility requirements, and enrollment procedures. Comparison of the available plans, as well as the knowledge of coverage details, will enable the choice of the most suitable option for an individual’s needs.
READ MORE: Free Financial Assistance for the Seniors & Elderly
Making the Most of Your AARP Dental Insurance
These tips can help you make the most of your AARP dental insurance:
- Preventive Care Benefits First: Make the most of covered examinations and cleanings to help prevent costly dental work.
- Stay In-Network: Staying in-network maintains lower out-of-pocket expenses.
- Know Your Coverage: Familiarize yourself with your plan’s particulars, such as deductibles, copays, and annual maximums.
- Schedule Major Procedures with Caution: Before getting an expensive procedure, know whether waiting periods and coverage maximums apply.
- Review Your Plan Every Year: Dental needs vary, so assess coverage every year to keep your options open.
Final Thoughts
Oral health itself is undoubtedly an integral part of general health; hence the right coverage is most important. The AARP dental plans, in partnership with Delta Dental, afford seniors dependable affordable coverage, thus enabling them to obtain their care without much concern for the cost. Choosing carefully from available plans, a senior can keep his or her smile healthy for the rest of his or her life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does AARP dental insurance cost?
AARP dental plans cost differently in every state. The cheapest among affordable plans, DeltaCare USA, costs around $27.80 in some states while the most expensive plan, PPO Protect Plus, starts at $52.24.
2. Does AARP have the best dental plans for seniors?
The best dental insurance for you will depend on your condition. Ask yourself these questions: how are your teeth?, how is your health overall?, what are your financial arrangements? If in doubt, an elder law attorney is there to advise you and help you make your choice.”
3. How does AARP dental insurance work?
AARP dental insurance is a fee-for-service plan: Members pay a monthly premium and, in return, the insurance provides coverage to help pay for dental care costs. The coverage applies to a considerable list of treatments and procedures, depending on the specific plan that is chosen.
4. Can I visit any dentist with AARP dental insurance?
AARP dental insurance has both in-network and out-of-network choices. You may see any licensed dentist; however, using an in-network provider saves money and offers a smoother claims process.
5. Is AARP dental insurance affordable?
AARP dental insurance is quite affordable for older generations. AARP dental insurance uses competitive premiums and cost-saving opportunities through in-network dentists to help make quality oral care available to its members.
