Aetna Dental Plans for Seniors
With a large network of providers and full coverage for preventive care, Aetna Dental offers affordable dental insurance options for older adults in 2025.
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Aetna Dental has a large network of over 445,000 providers, plans with 100 percent coverage for preventive care, and extra perks like a free CVS ExtraCare Plus membership for pharmacy discounts. It also made our list of the best dental insurance for seniors.
If you are shopping for senior dental plans and wondering whether Aetna Dental offers a good plan for you, keep reading! We researched all your plan options, what they cover, and what they cost, along with additional options for dental care, such as Medicare Advantage plans and Aetna’s dental discount card.
Aetna Dental Coverage Options
Aetna Dental plans are provided by Aetna Life Insurance Company, part of CVS Health.1 The carrier keeps it simple with three traditional dental PPO plans and a discount card option. You don’t need to select a primary caregiver and don’t need referrals to see specialists. To keep your out-of-pocket costs low, choose dental professionals from Aetna Dental’s network of providers.
Here’s a rundown of Aetna Dental’s top insurance plans for seniors. Once you choose the right plan for you, it’s easy to keep track of coverage details, payments and costs with Aetna’s handy online calculation tool on their member website.
Aetna Dental Direct Preferred PPO: Best for Comprehensive Coverage
This plan comes with a higher monthly premium but provides more comprehensive coverage than Aetna Dental’s other plans. So it’s a good choice if you anticipate you might need dental care beyond routine maintenance.
You can choose to see in-network dentists and specialists or out-of-network dentists. Out-of-network providers will cost more, whether you’re receiving preventive dental care or major dental work. This plan has an annual $50 deductible and the highest maximum benefit of all of Aetna Dental Direct plans, with an annual cap of $1,250. (The annual cap for out-of-network benefits is a little lower: $1,000.) Delta Dental plans typically have $50 annual deductibles. For comparison, UnitedHealthcare deductibles also are usually $50. Some UnitedHealthcare DentalWise Max plans have much higher annual benefit caps, but premiums for those plans are higher, too.
>>Useful Resource: Everything You Need to Know About Insurance for Seniors
There’s no waiting period for preventive services such as X-rays and cleanings for any of Aetna Dental Direct plans. There’s also no waiting period for basic services, such as fillings or extractions, provided you had dental coverage for 90 days prior to enrolling. Keep in mind that if you didn’t have dental coverage previously, you’ll have to wait six months to have that work done and 12 months for major services, such as oral surgery or having dentures made.
For comparison’s sake: Cigna’s 3000/100 dental insurance plan has similar waiting periods to Aetna Dental Direct plans, for example, but some Humana dental plans have only 90-day waiting periods before you can use your insurance to help pay for basic dental services. UnitedHealthcare Dental Gen Plans for people over 64 years old, which are underwritten by the Golden Rule Insurance Company, have no waiting periods — even for major work like crowns and root canals.
Aetna Dental Direct Core PPO: Best for Those Who Don’t Need Extensive Dental Work
Like the Preferred PPO plan, and Humana’s applicable dental plans, the annual deductible on the Direct Core PPO plan is $50 for individuals and $150 for families. The Core PPO plan costs several dollars less per month than the Preferred PPO plan and has a lower benefits cap at $1,000 ($750 for out-of-network providers). Cigna, by comparison, has plans with much higher annual benefit maximums.
This plan offers the same coverage for major work, such as oral surgery, crowns, and dentures, as the Preferred PPO plan, meaning you would be responsible for half (50 percent) of the cost. An important difference between these two plans is in coverage for basic dental services. Patients with this plan will pay 30 percent more than the Preferred PPO plan for fillings, extractions and periodontal maintenance cleanings. For example, you pay half the cost of a filling or periodontal maintenance cleaning with the Core PPO plan but only 20 percent of the total cost with the Preferred PPO plan.
» Learn More: Dental Insurance Plans for Seniors
Gum recession, cavities and oral cancer are more common among older adults,2 so consider if you want a larger portion of basic dental care services covered with your plan. But if your dental health is generally good and you’d rather save a few dollars every month (which can add up to $60 or $70 annually, depending on your location and age), the Core PPO plan might fit your needs.
Aetna Dental Direct Preventive PPO: Best for Those on a Tight Budget Who Only Need Preventive Care
Seniors on a budget can choose this plan that provides preventive care only for roughly half the monthly cost of Aetna’s other PPO dental plans. Although basic procedures and major dental work are not covered, this plan provides exams, full-mouth X-rays and cleanings at no cost. Similar to Aetna’s other PPO plans, there’s no deductible to pay before you can receive preventive dental care.
This plan may be a good option if you don’t foresee major dental expenses in the near future or if you’re able to cover major dental expenditures that might come up. Those who’d prefer saving money now and taking their chances that they won’t need major dental work might be a good fit for this simple preventive care plan.
Plus, the Preventive PPO plan makes you eligible for discounts at CVS stores with the ExtraCare Plus program. ExtraCare Plus benefits include a $10 monthly promo reward, free one-to-two day shipping from CVS.com for certain prescriptions, and 20 percent discounts on CVS Health brand items. (Note that ExtraCare Plus is not currently available in Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas or Virginia.)
Aetna Vital Savings Dental Discount Card: Best for Those Who Want to Pay As They Go
Like Humana, Aetna offers a dental discount card, Vital Savings, that’s different from traditional dental insurance but can be a big help paying for dental care services. The card is pay-as-you-go, so you can cancel anytime.
Choose from a dental-only plan or a dental and prescription savings card. The dental-only card costs $143.96 for the year for an individual, with the current discount, or $12 per month, and $184.46 per year for families. If you prefer to pay monthly, monthly costs are higher for individuals: $17.95 each month. Note that there is also a $20 one-time startup fee. You can add a prescription benefit to Vital Savings by upgrading to the Plus Plan for another $13.50 per year for one person or $40.50 per year for a family.
You can use the card to help pay for crowns, cleanings, and even orthodontics and whitening at participating dentist offices. Aetna’s Vital Savings program has more than 260,000 providers, and your savings could be between 15 and 50 percent off dental services.
Keep in mind that prices vary by area and won’t be available in all ZIP codes. For example, the Aetna Vital Savings program is unavailable in Montana, Vermont (dental) and Tennessee (prescriptions). It’s also a good idea to call to confirm whether a dentist listed in Aetna’s database as an in-network provider actually accepts the Vital Savings card. When we called one of the dentists in the database, we were told they do not accept the discount card.
Aetna’s Vital Savings Rx program has 68,000 participating pharmacies, and the card enables holders to save as much as 60 percent off of generic medications and 12 percent off of brand-name drugs.
Signing up is easy. You can get the card by signing up online, printing out a form and mailing it in, or calling to get the discount card over the phone.
Here are some examples of typical savings on dental care with the Vital Savings card. While these figures are from 2016, they can give you a good idea of the percentage savings you might receive:
Dental service | Average cost (2016 figures) | Average cost with Aetna Vital Savings | Average savings |
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Adult cleaning | $118 | $65 | $53 |
Crowns (porcelain fused to metal) | $1,188 | $774 | $414 |
Dentures (complete upper) | $1,395 | $980 | $415 |
Fillings (one white surface resin) | $190 | $97 | $93 |
Root canals, molar (excluding final restoration) | $1,157 | $821 | $336 |
We recommend calling Aetna to find out how much of a discount you can get on particular procedures or services you need. Calling Aetna Dental representatives is also advisable considering that the most recent cost estimates on the company’s website are from 2016, so current actual costs might be higher.
Aetna Dental Plans for Seniors Costs
Costs for Aetna Dental plans vary depending on your age, geographic location, and provider. To give you a ballpark idea of pricing, here are examples of coverage for a 60-year-old woman and 65-year-old man in Florida. Note that premiums are slightly higher for the older example, but coverage details are the same:
Aetna Dental plan | Aetna Dental Direct Preferred PPO | Aetna Dental Direct Core PPO | Aetna Dental Direct Preventive PPO |
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Monthly premium | Starting: $25.05 a month; $42.03 for a 60-year-old woman,
$44.11 for a 65-year-old man |
Starting: $21.95 a month; $36.69 for a 60-year-old woman,
$38.46 for a 65-year-old man |
Starting: $20.74 a month. Note: Only available in AZ, CA, FL, and ME |
Preventive care | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Basic procedures | (You pay) 20% | (You pay) 50% | No coverage |
Major procedures | (You pay) 50% | (You pay) 50% | No coverage |
Benefits cap | $1,250 | $1,000 | N/A |
Deductible | $50 | $50 | $0 |
X-rays and cleanings | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Fillings (basic care) | 20% | 50% | Not covered |
Extractions (basic care) | 20% | 50% | Not covered |
Root canal (major service) | 50% | 50% | Not covered |
Bridges, crowns (major services) | 50%; does not cover crowns, inlays and onlays, and veneers (unless treatment is for decay or traumatic injury) | 50%; does not cover crowns, inlays and onlays, and veneers (unless treatment is for decay or traumatic injury) | Not covered |
Oral surgery | 50% | 50% | Not covered |
Prescribed drugs, pretreatment or pain relievers | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered |
Dentures | 50% of cost of one set, no coverage for extra set | 50% of cost of one set, no coverage for extra set | Not covered |
Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans With Dental Coverage
Dental care is typically not covered by Medicare, which can lead many seniors to skip needed dental procedures. Almost half of Medicare beneficiaries — and more than two-thirds of Black beneficiaries — did not visit a dentist in 2018. Lower-income seniors are also significantly less likely to visit a dentist than older adults in better financial circumstances.3
If you’re eligible for Medicare Part A and are signed up for Medicare Part B, you might be eligible for one of Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug and dental coverage.
» Related Reading: Guide to Medicare and Medicaid
Among Aetna Medicare Advantage plan subscribers, 87 percent are enrolled in plans rated four or more stars by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) annual Medicare Part C and Part D Performance Data report.4 These star ratings are based on the quality of health and drug services of Part D plans and customer experience. A 2023 J.D. Power survey of several Medicare Advantage market areas found that although there was not a huge difference in scores for overall customer satisfaction, Aetna ranked third among Medicare Advantage insurers in Florida, behind Humana and UnitedHealthcare.5
» More Ways to Save: 13 Things That Are Free for Seniors
Medicare pays a fixed amount to insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage plans, which is why premiums can be low or even $0 a month for eligible beneficiaries. You can search Aetna’s website for Medicare Advantage plans in your area by entering your ZIP code into the search box. You can also search for your primary care physician to see if he or she is in Aetna’s network and search for coverage information and pricing for your prescriptions.
>> From the Pros: How to Find Affordable Dental Care for Seniors
We searched for available plans in multiple states and many counties within each and it appears that in 2025, Aetna’s most widely available Medicare Advantage plan is Medicare Eagle PPO. Here are details about Aetna’s Eagle PPO plan and an HMO-POS plan available in many states as well:
Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO)
Plan details
- $0 premium (Note: You must continue to pay Medicare Part B premiums to be eligible.)
- $0 deductible
- Maximum out-of-pocket in-network spending: $5,500 ($10,100 for in- and out-of-network combined)
- You can use in-network or out-of-network providers, and you don’t need a referral to see a specialist. Note that if your current doctor or pharmacy isn’t in Aetna’s network, you’ll have to pick a new one.
- 24-hour helpline to speak to a registered nurse
- $40 in-network specialist
- Can see any licensed dentist in the U.S.
- $0 copay on dental exams, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and extractions
- $1,000 maximum benefit for preventive and comprehensive dental services combined
- Implants are not covered.
The Aetna Medicare Eagle PPO plan also provides some coverage for vision care, hearing services, mental health services, skilled nursing care, and emergency care ($125 copay for ER and urgent care visits and a $250 copay for ambulance service). Read the summary of benefits document for more information about other benefits, including drug coverage, medical equipment and fitness costs.
Did You Know? The average Medicare beneficiary in 2023 had access to 43 Medicare Advantage plans, the largest number of options ever.6
Aetna Medicare Select HMO-POS
Plan details
- Available in the following California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego
- $0 month premiums
- Maximum out-of-pocket costs: $2,000
- Deductible: $0
- $0 doctor and specialist visits
- Must select a PCP (primary care provider)
- PCP approval needed to see specialists
- $0 lab services, diagnostic tests, and X-rays
- Hearing services (One hearing exam per year through a NationsHearing network provider and an annual hearing benefit of $500 per ear that can only be used to purchase hearing aids through a NationsHearing network provider.)
- Vision services ($0 routine and diagnostic eye exams and eyewear benefit amount up to $335 for prescription eyewear, including contact lenses, eyeglasses and frames)
- Dental annual benefit amount of $500 for covered services including X-rays, cleanings, fillings, and extractions, and more. Note that implants are not covered.
- 24-hour nurse line
The Aetna Medicare Select HMO-POS plan also provides some coverage for mental health services, skilled nursing care, home health care, fitness services (free basic membership at SilverSneakers participating locations) and ambulance transport. Check summary of benefits document for more information about other benefits, including prescription drug coverage, medical equipment benefits and medical alert systems.
» Related Reading: Best Medical Alert Systems of 2025
How to Purchase an Aetna Dental Plan
You can sign up for Aetna Dental Direct anytime. Some insurance companies, such as Kaiser Permanente (with plans underwritten by Delta Dental), require you to wait until open enrollment periods to apply. (Kaiser dental plans are also only available as add-ons to existing health insurance.)
>> Current Deal! Save 10 percent on annual dental savings plans with code GetAetna10.
Purchasing an Aetna Dental Direct plan online is easy. On the website, you’ll be prompted to first enter your ZIP code and then some personal information, such as your birth date and status regarding dental coverage. You can choose to add a dependent to your plan or sign up as an individual. On the next page, Aetna will show you the plans available in your area with links to learn more about costs and benefits.
» Related Resource: Aetna Medicare Advantage plans
Once you choose a plan, you’ll add more information about your address and confirm your state residency and preferred language. After entering your information, Aetna will show you your monthly premium and start date for your dental coverage, and you’ll be prompted to enter your payment information. If you’d rather speak to a customer service representative, you can sign up on the phone.
Aetna Dental
Online reviews of Aetna Dental Direct are mixed. Some policyholders seem satisfied with their coverage and the number of in-network dentists available to them with Aetna Dental Direct. One reviewer, for example, appreciated that 80 percent of the cost of their crowns were covered.
FYI: Older adults might have increased sensitivity to dental drugs such as anesthesia, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Find info about common medications and supplements that can affect dental health care for seniors on the website of the ADA.
Some reviewers wrote that Aetna’s website database of dental care providers is not updated, with incorrect addresses and dental care providers listed as in-network when they are not. Some reviewers cited a lack of quality dentists in their network and that Aetna would not cover the cost of dentures if a patient had previous extractions. Some reviewers said that claims for even routine cleanings were denied.
On Trustpilot, Aetna has 1.2 stars, but that is based on reviews of the insurer as a whole, not dental insurance specifically. Aetna reviews mentioning dental care include some accounts of negative experiences among subscribers, however. One reviewer said they sat with a representative on chat for 45 minutes who didn't seem to do anything to solve the subscriber’s issue. Some wrote that they have found dental care providers in Aetna’s network database who did not actually accept their Aetna Dental insurance plans.
Aetna Dental vs. the Competition
Aetna vs. Delta Dental
Aetna’s lowest-cost plans have premiums that are about the same as Delta Dental’s PPO Basic plan and a bit higher than Cigna’s, which are typically $20 a month. Like Cigna, Aetna dental plans come with no-cost preventive care such as exams and cleanings.
One difference between the insurance carriers worth noting is that unlike Delta and Cigna dental plans, Aetna dental plans typically do not have graduated benefits. Graduated benefits increase with each year of consistent coverage; so for example, the amount your insurer covers might go up 10 percent each year and reach 90 percent for certain services after four years.
FYI: Dental visits were higher among older adults with dental coverage (69.6 percent) compared with those without dental coverage (56.4 percent), according to the Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics. Poor oral health is associated with chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, so regular dental care is important.7
Read our Delta Dental review to learn more.
Aetna vs. UnitedHealthcare
Like most dental insurers, Aetna dental plans have waiting periods for care, unless family members on the policy had dental insurance the previous 90 days before the start of their Aetna policies. As we pointed out earlier in this article, UnitedHealthcare Dental Gen Plans for adults over 64, on the other hand, have no waiting periods, even for major work like crowns and root canals.
Check out our UnitedHealthcare dental review for more details.
Aetna vs. Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha also does not impose waiting periods for dental services and premiums are around $30 a month, depending on your location and plan. Mutual of Omaha might be a good choice if you want to bundle vision care with dental: You can add vision coverage for under $10 a month. This carrier doesn’t have the nationwide availability that Aetna has, however — Mutual of Omaha dental plans aren’t available in Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Virginia, or Washington — so plans might not be available where you live.
>> Learn More: Vision Plans for Seniors
Aetna vs. Spirit Dental
Spirit Dental, for another comparison, caps benefits at $750 for the first year, rising to $1,000 afterwards. Aetna’s dental benefit caps start at $1,000 to $1,200 depending on the plan when applicable (Note: Aetna Dental Direct Preventive PPO does not come with caps or deductibles.)
There are no waiting periods with Spirit either, and the carrier will cover 20 percent of major dental services and 50 percent of basic services that first year. Spirit offers senior-specific plans and has wide availability in terms of states.
Read plan information for Spirit Dental plans carefully: For example, unlike many dental insurers, Spirit classifies fillings as “major” care, and does not consider X-rays “preventive” care. So the company will not cover 100 percent of the cost. Differing care definitions and tiers are one reason why it’s important to familiarize yourself with coverage parameters before committing to a dental plan.
>> Expert Advice: Guide to Senior Health Care Needs
Aetna’s coverage for dentures is similar to many other insurers (such as UnitedHealthcare, Delta, and Cigna), meaning they might cover about half the cost of dentures, typically after a waiting period of up to a year. If Aetna Vital Savings is an option in your state, you can get 15 percent to 50 percent off dental services for just $12 a month.
Our Methodology
We spent more than 50 hours researching the best dental plans for older adults. We compared Aetna plans, benefits, and costs in different geographic areas of the U.S. to give readers an accurate picture of what they can expect from this carrier. Our evaluation also took into account our experience with customer service agents, the enrollment process, and online customer reviews.
Our evaluation took into account the following factors:
- Pricing: Cost is an important factor for many older adults, particularly if they’re on a budget.
- Availability: We investigate plan availability for dental insurance, as many dental insurance carriers do not offer coverage in all 50 states.
- Provider network: Because subscribers save money by scheduling care with in-network providers, the size and quality of those networks are very important. So we take note of network size to make sure it’s easy to find a dental care provider near you for preventive, basic, and major care.
- Benefits: Our evaluation includes thorough research of dental plan tiers and coverage levels for every plan we review, including maximum annual benefits. Annual maximums are an important consideration, as they reflect the maximum amount your carrier will spend each year before you need to pay out-of-pocket for dental care.
- Waiting periods: Many dental insurers impose waiting periods before you can start seeing dental care providers. We note (and appreciate) when carriers let beneficiaries access dental care services immediately.
- Deductibles: Deductibles for dental insurance are typically $50 for an individual or $150 for a family, although some plans have $0 deductibles. We pay careful attention to these amounts that beneficiaries will need to pay before coverage kicks in.
- Customer reviews: We read as many online subscriber reviews as we can to get an accurate picture of their experiences with their Aetna dental care, customer service, and billing practices.
The Bottom Line: Aetna Dental Plans for Seniors
Many of Aetna’s dental plans have flexibility for policyholders to see specialists without referrals. We also like that their basic preventive dental care plan is less than $22 per month, which is a great option to keep basic dental hygiene costs low. Aetna also offers several free or low-cost Medicare Advantage plans with dental coverage and other benefits for seniors, including vision, hearing and fitness services, plus access to a 24-hour hotline to speak to a registered nurse.
Aetna Dental’s Vital Savings Dental Discount card is another great option that keeps dental care simple for older adults. With the Vital Savings card, you have access to discounted dental care on services that typically aren’t covered by insurance, such as whitening, for just $8 per month. Since you pay for these discounted services out of pocket with the Vital Savings card, there are no hassles with waiting periods, claims, and waiting to get reimbursed.
Seniors looking for more comprehensive coverage might prefer the Aetna Dental Direct Preferred PPO, which we found cost around $42 a month for a 62-year-old woman in Florida. The Preferred PPO plan has some of the highest levels of coverage and annual deductibles of only $50. Although premiums for many plans are cheaper than other companies, Aetna’s annual benefits caps are on the low side. Overall, Aetna offers a variety of plans with great benefits that may be suitable for many older adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need a referral to see a specialist with an Aetna Dental Direct plan?
No, Aetna Dental Direct policyholders don’t need to select a PCP or get referrals before seeing a specialist for dental care.
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Does Aetna have a dental care discount card?
Yes, Aetna’s Vital Savings program is a program that enables cardholders to visit a network of participating dentists at lower rates than they would pay out of pocket.
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Is Aetna’s Vital Savings program available in all 50 states?
No, Vital Savings dental care isn’t available in Montana or Vermont. The program also is not available in Puerto Rico.
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Do Aetna Dental Direct PPO plans cover dentures?
Aetna Dental Direct Preferred PPO and Core PPO plans may cover some of the cost of dentures. Check with Aetna and your dentist to confirm that the cost of dentures will be partially covered.
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Does Aetna Dental Direct have specific dental insurance plans for seniors?
Aetna Dental Direct does not offer specific dental plans for people ages 65 and over, but they do have PPO dental plans at affordable rates for seniors.
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Can I get discounts on dental care as a veteran?
People with veteran status who meet certain requirements might be eligible for the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), which offers discounted private dental insurance for veterans and family members.
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Aetna. (2025). About Us.
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MedlinePlus. (2024). Aging changes in teeth and gums.
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Kaiser Family Foundation report. (2021). Medicare and Dental Coverage: A Closer Look.
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CVSHealth. (2023). Eighty-seven (87) percent of Aetna Medicare Advantage members in 4-star plans or higher for 2024.
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J.D. Power. (2023). For Medicare Advantage Plans, Trust and Problem Resolution Closely Associated with Likelihood to Renew, J.D. Power Finds.
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Kaiser Family Foundation report. (2024). Medicare Advantage in 2024: Enrollment Update and Key Trends.
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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Dental Care Among Adults Age 65 and Older: United States, 2022.