Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t cover most dental services, such as cleanings, fillings, extractions or dentures. By contrast, nearly all Medicare Advantage plans cover at least some dental care — although the type and amount of coverage can vary.
We analyzed Medicare Advantage companies based on their dental coverage, quality ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), premiums, out-of-pocket costs, member experience and more. Because dental care needs may differ, we evaluated plans based on factors that might be important to you.
Humana is our pick as the best of the major companies this year, with prices and quality that are tough to beat. If you want to combine affordable prescription drug prices with your dental care, consider Aetna. And if you want the widest range of plan options, also take a look at UnitedHealthcare.
Here are our top picks for the best Medicare Advantage dental insurance for seniors.
Best major company: Humana Medicare Advantage.
Best for prescription drug coverage: Aetna Medicare Advantage.
Best for plan options: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage.
Note: We’ve updated our picks below based on plans available in 2027. But the full set of government data that we use to analyze plans’ dental benefits hasn’t yet been released. In the meantime, we’ve included some retrospective information on companies’ 2026 dental benefits below. We’ll update again with 2027 details after the government releases the data.
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Best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare
Insurance company | NerdWallet rating | $0 plan availability | Members in high-quality plans | Member experience | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.8/5 | 68% (Average) | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.26 (Below average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.6/5 | 80% (Above average) | High (85% to 100%) | 3.86 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.2/5 | 78% (Above average) | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.4 (Average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
Best major company: Humana
- Above-average government quality ratings.
- 80% of plans have $0 premiums.
- Lower-than-average caps on out-of-pocket costs.
- Out-of-pocket costs for ambulances, emergency visits and hospitalizations are just average.
- Subpar performance in many states on JD Power’s member satisfaction survey.
Why we picked it: Humana holds on to strong government quality ratings for its 2027 plans while many other major companies saw declines. Its plans are available in more than 80% of U.S. counties, the company says. And its premiums are often low or $0.
In other words: Humana is a good go-to option among the big names with plans available nationwide.
Pros
- Strong CMS quality ratings for 2027.
- $0 copays for most preventive and comprehensive dental services in 2026.
- Nearly all Humana Medicare Advantage plans offer preventive and comprehensive dental coverage in 2026.
- Widely available $0-premium plans.
Cons
- JD Power customer satisfaction survey results aren’t great.
- Higher-than-average customer complaint rates.
» MORE: Read our review of Humana Medicare Advantage plans
Best for prescription drug coverage: Aetna
- Low out-of-pocket costs for many brand-name prescription drugs.
- 78% of plans have $0 premiums.
- Plans with monthly premiums are cheaper than average.
- Below-average government quality ratings.
- Copays for hospital stays can be pricey.
- Higher-than-average caps on out-of-pocket costs.
Why we picked it: Aetna stands out in 2027 for its prescription drug pricing. When we analyzed Medicare Advantage plans’ drug coverage, Aetna had some of the lowest average out-of-pocket costs at Tier 3, which is where most plans put their preferred brand-name prescription drugs. And it doesn’t hurt that about four out of five of Aetna’s plans have $0 premiums, and virtually all of them have $0 out-of-pocket costs for Tier 1 generic drugs.
In other words: If you want to combine affordable drug coverage with your dental benefits, Aetna could be a good pick — especially if you rely on brand-name medications.
Pros
- More than 8 in 10 of Aetna’s 2026 plans have comprehensive dental benefits with about 7 covered services, on average.
- Lower costs than most competitors for Tier 3 brand-name prescription drugs.
- Nearly 80% of plans have $0 premiums, and plans with premiums are relatively inexpensive.
Cons
- Quality ratings have fallen below average for 2027.
- Competitors offered more comprehensive dental services with $0 copays in 2026.
- Hospital copays can be pricey.
» MORE: Read our review of Aetna Medicare Advantage plans
Best for plan options: UnitedHealthcare
- Available with $0 premiums in 47 states and Washington, D.C.
- Offers many plan types to choose from, including all types of special needs plans.
- So-so government quality ratings.
- Below-average scores for member experience.
- Hospital copays could be cheaper.
Why we picked it: UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is available nearly everywhere, and it offers every type of Medicare Advantage plan, including special needs plans. So whether you want an HMO, HMO-POS, PPO or PFFS with dental coverage, UnitedHealthcare might have an option for you. And the same goes for institutional, dual-eligible and chronic condition special needs plans.
In other words: A huge company like UHC can offer a large menu of plan types and coverage. That means you might have more options when picking your best fit in terms of dental coverage, network requirements and out-of-pocket costs.
Pros
- Offers HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS plans (availability might vary by location).
- Every type of Medicare special needs plan is available in at least some locations.
- Available with $0 premiums in 47 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
- Government quality ratings are just so-so, down from previous years.
- Only 57% of UHC plans offered comprehensive dental coverage in 2026, the lowest percentage among major Medicare Advantage companies. Make sure you understand your plan's coverage.
» MORE: Read our review of UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans
More Nerdy Perspective
What's the best dental insurance for seniors over 65?
My picks for strong Medicare Advantage companies offering noteworthy dental benefits are Humana, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. Each of these national carriers could be worth considering if they have a sufficient dental network in your area. And don’t forget to check out the smaller companies serving your area, too — they often get some of our best ratings. When comparing your options, check the plan’s ratings, as well as the specific benefits it offers for dental care. Are services like root canals or dentures covered, and what would they cost? What are the annual limits on what the plan will pay for dental care? Plans can vary quite a bit, so it’s worth checking carefully to find one that meets your needs.
My picks for strong Medicare Advantage companies offering noteworthy dental benefits are Humana, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. Each of these national carriers could be worth considering if they have a sufficient dental network in your area. And don’t forget to check out the smaller companies serving your area, too — they often get some of our best ratings. When comparing your options, check the plan’s ratings, as well as the specific benefits it offers for dental care. Are services like root canals or dentures covered, and what would they cost? What are the annual limits on what the plan will pay for dental care? Plans can vary quite a bit, so it’s worth checking carefully to find one that meets your needs.
Alex Rosenberglead writer covering MedicareHow 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). 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 companies 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 healthcare. Here are some strategies for finding the best plan for you:
Check CMS ratings. CMS collects data on Medicare Advantage plans from member surveys, the plans themselves and medical providers, and then assigns a rating based on the results. The CMS 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 healthcare.
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 healthcare 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.
» MORE: Best Medicare Advantage plans
You may be eligible for Medicare plans during a special enrollment period if you are turning 65, new to Medicare plans, moving or losing coverage.
For information on the Medicare Advantage plans near you, use Medicare’s plan finding tool to see what’s available.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage ratings are based on premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug coverage, quality data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, consumer experience and more. We analyze and calculate ratings for every Medicare Advantage plan sold throughout the U.S. on a curved 5-point scale.
At the national level, we calculate ratings for companies as the average of their plans’ scores, weighted by enrollment.
NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed companies covering about 87% of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in the United States. We reviewed 23 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurance companies having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.)
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies. In many places, one company serves more than half of the market. At the national level, NerdWallet’s reviews include each of the 10 largest brands by enrollment.
We research and analyze all commercial Medicare Advantage plans and publish reviews for selected companies. At the state level, we review at least one major insurer in every state where Medicare Advantage plans are sold, and we review both of the top two insurers in 40 of those 49 states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for Medicare Advantage.