Best Medicare Advantage Dental Insurance for Older Adults

We analyzed Medicare Advantage companies based on their dental coverage. Because dental care needs may differ, we evaluated plans based on factors that might be important to you.

Searching for the provider with the largest dental network? That’s UnitedHealthcare. Looking for the provider that may be more likely to cover (at least partially) your crowns and root canals? Check the dental limits on Cigna plans. Want to try a newer company? Devoted Health has great ratings overall and solid dental offerings.

Depending on where you live and what’s available to you, your options may vary. The vast majority (97%) of Medicare Advantage plans offer some access to dental care, although the type of coverage and limits on cost sharing differ from plan to plan.

Here are our top picks for the best Medicare Advantage dental insurance.

• Best for size of dental network: UnitedHealthcare.

• Best for comprehensive coverage: Cigna.

• Best for ratings: Aetna.

• Best for Part B Giveback: Humana.

• Best among startups: Devoted Health.

Best for size of dental network: UnitedHealthcare

A large dental network means it may be easier for members to find a dentist who takes their insurance.

Why we picked it: UnitedHealthcare has the largest network of dental providers of all Medicare Advantage companies, with more than 100,000 providers.

Member experience rating: 3.39 (Average)

Percent of plans rated 4 stars or higher: 67%

UnitedHealthcare is the biggest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S., with a presence in 49 states and Washington, D.C. UnitedHealthcare also partners with AARP and insures Medicare products with the AARP name. About 7 out of 10 UHC members are in plans with high star ratings.

» MORE: Read our review of UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans

Best for comprehensive coverage: Cigna

Members have a good chance of finding a plan that covers any extra dental services they might need — up to the plan's limit.

Why we picked it: Nearly every Cigna Medicare Advantage plan comes with both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage, including coverage for endodontics, extractions and restorative services.

Member experience rating: 3.76 (Above average)

Percent of plans rated 4 stars or higher: 33%

Cigna isn’t the largest Medicare Advantage provider, but the company’s plans come packed with benefits: Nearly all plans include comprehensive dental coverage, and many include extras like 24/7 telehealth and meal delivery after a hospital stay. Eight in 10 Cigna Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium, and Cigna’s comprehensive dental coverage includes an average of seven covered services.

» MORE: Read our review of Cigna Medicare Advantage plans

Best for ratings: Aetna

Aetna plans with dental coverage have a high likelihood of being good plans overall.

Why we picked it: In addition to providing preventive and comprehensive dental on almost all Medicare Advantage plans, Aetna plans have above-average star ratings and member experience scores.

Member experience rating: 3.99 (Above average)

Percent of plans rated 4 stars or higher: 78%

Aetna, a CVS Health company, is the fourth-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, and 83% of Medicare beneficiaries have the option of a $0-premium Aetna plan.

» MORE: Read our review of Aetna Medicare Advantage plans

Best for Part B Giveback: Humana

Members can get dental coverage as well as some money back.

Why we picked it: Humana offers plans with Part B Giveback benefits in 48 states and Washington D.C., which means those plans cover a portion of your Medicare Part B premium.

Member experience rating: 3.61 (Above average)

Percent of plans rated 4 stars or higher: 24%

Humana is the second-biggest provider of Medicare Advantage plans and is available in 89% of U.S. counties. Humana’s star ratings declined for 2025 plans, and while member experience scores are also lower, they’re still above average for major providers.

» MORE: Read our review of Humana Medicare Advantage plans

Best among startups: Devoted Health

If you live where this Medicare newcomer is available, it's worth checking out the company's high-rated plans.

Why we picked it: As a startup, Devoted Health plans have a higher-than-average star rating from CMS and a high percentage of low-cost plans.

Member experience rating: 3.52 (Above average)

Percent of plans rated 4 stars or higher: 85%

Devoted Health is an up-and-comer in the Medicare Advantage space, launching in 2017 and expanding its reach by adding seven more states to the roster in 2025. Its ratings are high for plans that have enough data to be measured, and all of its plans offer both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage. Since many plans are new, however, many of them don’t have ratings.

» MORE: Read our review of Devoted Health Medicare Advantage plans

How much does Medicare Advantage dental insurance cost?

Dental costs on Medicare Advantage vary by plan and by service. Some require a copay or coinsurance for every service. And some services have a $0 copay if you use an in-network provider but require coinsurance or aren’t covered if you go out of network.

Services may be covered at a $0 copay, but with a dollar limit to what the plan will cover. For instance, there may be a $1,000 annual maximum benefit for preventive or comprehensive services (or both).

For people enrolled in plans with more comprehensive dental benefits, the average annual dollar limit on coverage is $1,300, according to KFF, a health policy nonprofit. It’s important to read a plan’s Evidence of Coverage to understand the limits on any dental coverage being offered.

What if you have Original Medicare?

You’ll need to buy a separate dental insurance policy to cover your dental needs or pay out of pocket for dental care. Many Medicare Advantage providers also sell dental policies, or you can find policies with companies like Delta Dental, Liberty, Spirit Dental or Guardian.

How to shop for Medicare Advantage plans with dental benefits

Medicare Advantage plans aren’t just about dental coverage — you’ve got to get the right coverage for all of your health care. Here are some strategies for finding the best plan for you:

• Check star ratings. The CMS collects data on Medicare Advantage plans from member surveys, the plans themselves and medical providers, and then assigns a star rating based on the results. The star rating is on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best.

• Compare out-of-pocket costs. Each plan will have a monthly premium (for many Medicare Advantage plans, that premium is $0) and a maximum out-of-pocket cost, which is the most you’ll pay in a year for covered health care.

• Keep your meds in mind. Make sure you investigate how each plan will cover your medications — or whether they’re covered at all.

• Look for your doctors. If you’ve got a list of caregivers and medical facilities you use and prefer, look for plans that include them.

• Consider the plan type. If you see specialists frequently and you don’t want to get a referral for every office visit, a PPO plan is probably the better fit. If you’re a light health care user and see mostly your primary care physician, an HMO might be more affordable.

• Drill down on dental. If a plan says it offers dental, keep clicking until you get all the details in a plan’s Evidence of Coverage. Make sure you understand what services are included, what kind of copays and coinsurance you may have to pay and whether there’s an annual limit on what the plan will spend.

You can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan when you first become eligible for Medicare (your initial enrollment period) or during designated annual enrollment periods, such as Medicare open enrollment in the fall and Medicare Advantage open enrollment in the spring.

For information on the Medicare Advantage plans near you, use Medicare’s plan finding tool to see what’s available.