Choosing the right dental insurance means choosing the right way to maintain oral health and keep your costs down. Aetna Dental Insurance reviews have been around for years, with many plans to meet a variety of needs, from individuals and families to seniors. A United States-wide network of over 445,000 providers, with select plans covering 100% preventive care, puts Aetna on the market very firmly in dental insurance.
In addition to basic coverage, Aetna offers extra perks such as the free CVS ExtraCare Plus membership for pharmacy discounts so that it can be a dental plan worth considering for a lot of policyholders. But does Aetna Dental Insurance really deliver in terms of affordability, reliability, and customer satisfaction?
In this article, we take an in-depth look at Aetna’s dental plans, weighing coverage options, costs, and benefits, especially for seniors wanting the best fit. So whether you are looking for traditional dental insurance, Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plans, or Aetna’s dental discount card, you can consider this as your one-stop shop for making an informed decision.
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Who Requires Aetna Dental Insurance?
Individuals who want clear, reasonably priced rates.
Aetna has plans, which do offer affordability in its cost, but it’s not the cheapest in town. A plan that is not full of unpleasant surprises or hidden costs; thus, very affordable relative to other similar plans. Older senior citizens may find this as an option in Aetna towards a clear and straightforward way of accessing health benefits. Along with this, there’s a little help for its current policyholders under any do-what-you-can-pay situation. This may also be a safety net for some.
Seniors who may require dental treatment in the near future and will also be switching up their policies.
Aetna has an entire catalog of policies that carry a waiting period of 6 months for basic dental care and a waiting period of 12 months for major care. These waiting periods can, however, be waived subject to a person having had coverage by another provider for 90 days prior to switching to Aetna, which is not usually made available by many other dental insurance providers. This is likely to attract the interests of seniors considering switching providers.
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Aetna Dental Coverage & Benefits
All kinds of dental insurance plans are available from Aetna, including PPO, HMO, and discount plans. These plans usually cover preventive care, like routine cleaning and examinations, at little or no cost. The coverage of restorative services, such as fillings, crowns, and root canals, differs from one plan to another, but most customers find attributes of a competitive nature in such benefits.
Aetna provides a very extensive network of dental insurance providers. Again, it would allow such people to bring forth his or her own dentist without dealing with limitations in access; it would definitely save individuals the stress of having to go around looking for a new dentist just to get treated or referred.
Aetna Dental Direct Preferred PPO
While this plan carries the heaviest monthly premium of any Aetna Dental plan, it is also the one that bears the most thorough coverage, thereby making it ideal for anyone expecting more than just routine care.
You may visit both in-network and out-of-network providers, although out-of-network care will cost you more. The plan has a $50 deductible per year and also offers the highest maximum benefit of Aetna Dental Direct plans of $1,250 in-network and $1,000 out-of-network. Delta Dental has the same deductible of $50, while UnitedHealthcare’s is about $100. Though some UnitedHealthcare DentalWise Max plans offer higher benefit caps, they also come at a higher premium.
Aetna Dental Direct plans do not impose any waiting period for preventive services like X-rays and cleanings. For basic services like fillings and extractions, there is no waiting period provided that, prior to the enrollment, you had dental coverage for at least 90 days. Otherwise, the waiting period is six months after enrollment for basic services; a 12-month waiting period applies for major services like oral surgery or dentures.
Aetna Dental Direct Core PPO
Just like the Preferred PPO plan, and Humana’s applicable dental plans, this Direct Core PPO has an annual deductible which is $50 for an individual and $150 for their family. The Core PPO plan costs several dollars less in premium per month than the Preferred PPO and caps out at lesser benefits of $1,000 ($750 for out-of-network providers). Cigna, as a point of comparison, has plans that come with considerably more significant annual benefit maximums.
For such major work, like oral surgery, crowns and dentures, this plan matches the coverage offered under Preferred PPO, so you will be sharing half (50 percent) of the cost. An important difference exists, however, in coverage for basic dental services under the two plans. Patients with this plan will pay 30 percent more than the Preferred PPO plan for fillings, extractions and periodontal maintenance cleanings. For example, with Core PPO, you pay half the cost for a filling or for periodontal maintenance cleaning, but only 20 percent of the total cost under the Preferred PPO.
Gum recession, oral cancer, and cavities are common in older adults; therefore, consider if you want to have a more extensive cap on covered basic dental care services with your plan. If, however, your teeth are in healthier condition and you would prefer to save a few bucks monthly (which can potentially add up to about $60 or $70 yearly, depending on where you live and your age), you might like the Core PPO plan.
Aetna Dental Direct Preventive PPO
If you are a senior on a budget, this is a preventive care plan that covers about half the monthly premiums of Aetna’s other PPO dental plans. One drawback to this plan is that basic-level procedures and major dental work are contractually excluded, but it does cover exams, full-mouth X-rays, and cleanings at no cost. And, like all the other PPO plans of Aetna, there is no deductible to meet before you receive preventive dental care.
This plan can work for you if you do not expect to undertake any major dental expenses in the near future or if you can afford to do so if any major work should arise. It would also fit anyone wanting to save some bucks for now and take their chances for not needing major dental work. In addition, having the Preventive PPO makes you eligible to receive discounts at CVS stores through the ExtraCare Plus program. (The discounts offered through ExtraCare Plus are not available in Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.)
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Aetna Vital Savings Dental Discount Card
In contrast to traditional insurance, Sensible Savings offers a complimentary, pay-as-you-go dental plan for people who want to save on costs. The dental-only plan charges an individual $8 a month, and $11 a month for families, plus a one-time enrollment fee of $20. Also available is the Dental Plus Rx plan priced at $10 a month for individuals, and $13 a month for families, for dental with a prescription benefit. Generally, the card gives 15-50% discounts on dental services such as crowns, cleaning, orthodontics, etc., at more than 260,000 providers; however, for Montanans, Vermonters (although they may access dental discount plans), and residents of Tennessee where it relates to prescription benefits, this is not available. Confirm eligibility for services before using the card, as there are some providers listed that may not accept it.
It works much like the original Vital Savings plan except now for prescriptions: Member may get the advantage of having access to 68,000 pharmacies, with discounts up to 60% on generics and 12% on brand names.
You may also apply for enrollment online, via mail, or by calling.
Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans With Dental Coverage
Aetna Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans usually entail some dental benefits and are thus a more convenient way for seniors to amalgamate their health and dental needs into one plan. These plans cover services that are beyond Original Medicare, such as dental cleanings, exams, and X-rays, with some programs providing coverage for fillings, extractions, dentures, and even major procedures like root canals and crowns.
Types of Dental Coverage in Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans
Dental benefits vary in Aetna’s Advantage plans, but typically, coverage falls into one of three buckets:
- The Preventive-only coverage covers routine cleanings, exams, and X-rays.
- Comprehensive dental coverage covers preventive care, plus additional services such as fillings, extractions, and in some cases dentures or root canals.
- Dental allowance plans provide a set dollar amount each year for use towards dental services from licensed providers.
Costs and Network Options
Generally speaking, the Aetna Medicare Advantage plans with dental benefits tend to have low or zero premiums, though costs could vary based on location and plan type. Some plans only allow benefits when in-network dentists are used while giving higher out-of-pocket costs for out-of-network care.
Extra Benefits
In addition to dental, Aetna Medicare Advantage plans may cover vision, hearing, prescription drugs, and exercise programs like SilverSneakers.
As you explore an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan that provides dental benefits for you, comparing plan options in your area will help you regardless of what is best for your health and your budget.
How Much Does Aetna Dental Insurance Cost?
Aetna features plans for dental insurance starting at $22 a month, and a deductible of $50. While it is quite affordable, it will result in an above-average annual maximum. More comprehensive plans would, of course, cost more but still be competitive. The company does not have loyalty plans so that a long-term customer will not be able to find any benefits or increase maximum limits. Those having a discount plan rather than a traditional insurance plan can get discounts from 15% to 50% at a rate of $354 for the entire year.
Indeed, the discount plans cost more than what some of the competitors offer, and the discounts are far from being the heftiest. On the plus side, the pricing format has a clearly defined parameters, and, except for Montana and Vermont, operates nationwide on dental treatment.
Plan Aetna Dental® Direct Preferred PPO Aetna Dental® Direct Core PPO Aetna Dental® Direct Preventive PPO
Level of Coverage Highest coverage for more than routine care Lower premium with more costs for services Budget-friendly for routine care
Preventive Care $0 – deductible waived $0 – deductible waived $0
Basic Procedures You pay 20%* You pay 50%* Not covered
Major Procedures You pay 50%* You pay 50%* Not covered
Annual Benefit Maximum $1,250 $1,000 No maximum
Deductible $50 per person, $150 per family $50 per person, $150 per family $0
Monthly Cost Starting at $25.05 Starting at $21.95 Starting at $20.74
Contentment of the Customers
The Customers with Aetna Dental Insurance report mixed experiences. Most of the policyholders are happy about how easy it is to sign up with the insurance company and how cheap preventive care services are. Furthermore, Aetna also receives positive feedback since it has an easy cancellation process, which will make it easier for the user to switch plans if needed.
However, some customers reported some issues regarding the customer service. The most common complaints are long waiting times when trying to reach a representative, failure to resolve billing problems, and differences between the estimated value and the actual cost. This kind of experience underlines the need to read all the details of the plan carefully and check for coverage before undergoing major procedures.
Restrictions on Coverage and Claims
Aetna is solid financially and has an A (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best, but some policyholders have had negative experiences with Aetna when it comes to approving claims. Complaints generally reside in unexpected denials by the company, limited coverage for some advanced procedures, and confusion regarding out-of-pocket costs.
As with other insurance companies, it is critical to read the policy documents thoroughly, consulting dentists about what procedures are going to be part of coverage before treatment is commenced. Knowing exclusions and waiting periods can keep one from experiencing any unpleasant surprises.
Financial Stability and Industry Ratings
Aetna is actually a subsidized insurance company that is really buoyant in the healthcare world, mainly as a subsidiary of CVS Health. Financial stability really drives the company towards payment of its policyholders, making sure that the company communicates about dental coverage.
Final Verdict
Aetna Dental Insurance offers coverage for preventive and routine dental care with a high access to providers. Potential now non-customers should heed the reported ready challenges in customer service and the need to know their plan’s details in order not to incur additional charges.
For individuals considering the addition of Aetna Dental Insurance, the best course of action would be to scrutinize plans, read customer reviews, and speak to a dental provider to ensure it actually covers their needs. Thus, they can get maximum benefit while minimizing frustration.