Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t cover most dental services, such as cleanings, fillings, extractions or dentures. By contrast, 98% of 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, star ratings, state availability, member experience and more. Because dental care needs may differ, we evaluated plans based on factors that might be important to you.
Searching for a large dental network? Consider 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 HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) plans. Want to try a newer company? Devoted Health has great ratings overall and solid dental offerings.
Here are our top picks for the best Medicare Advantage dental insurance for seniors.
Best for size of Medicare dental network: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage.
Best for comprehensive Medicare dental coverage: HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Advantage.
Best Medicare dental coverage with high ratings: Aetna Medicare Advantage.
Best for Part B Giveback with dental coverage: Humana Medicare Advantage.
Best Medicare dental plans among startups: Devoted Health Medicare Advantage.
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Best dental insurance for seniors on Medicare
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.10 | 4.10/5 | 48 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.76 (Above average) | (855) 821-0556 / TTY 711 Call UnitedHealthcarefrom UnitedHealthcare | |
3.61 | 3.61/5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Low (49% or less) | 3.61 (Above average) | from Humana | |
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet | 4.19 | 4.19/5 | 43 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.88 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet |
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.68 | 3.68/5 | 29 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.89 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |
Best for size of Medicare dental network: UnitedHealthcare
- Largest Medicare Advantage medical network of all companies, with more than 1 million providers.
- Largest Medicare Advantage dental network, and all standard plans offer dental coverage.
- Available in 49 states and Washington, D.C.
- Member experience scores are average.
- Offers one of the highest-priced special needs plans, although lower-priced plans are also available.
Why we picked it: UnitedHealthcare offers a very large network of dental providers among Medicare Advantage companies. In previous years, UHC has advertised more than 100,000 dental providers.
In other words: It may be easier to find a dentist who takes your insurance.
UnitedHealthcare is the biggest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S., with a presence in 48 states and Washington, D.C. UnitedHealthcare also partners with AARP and insures Medicare products with the AARP name. About 78% of UHC members are in plans with high star ratings.
Pros
- UHC offers a large dental network alongside its large medical provider network.
- Available with $0 premiums in 45 states.
- UHC plans with comprehensive dental coverage include an average of more than eight services per plan in 2025.
Cons
- Only 64% of UHC plans offer comprehensive dental coverage in 2025, the lowest percentage among major Medicare Advantage providers. Make sure you understand your plan's coverage.
» MORE: Read our review of UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans
Best for comprehensive Medicare dental coverage: HealthSpring (formerly Cigna)
- 8 in 10 plans have $0 premiums.
- Plans with premiums are relatively inexpensive.
- Side benefits include gym memberships, transportation and meal delivery.
- Available in only 29 states and Washington, D.C.
- Star ratings from CMS are below average.
- Plans score 3 stars out of 5 on NCQA's scale.
Why we picked it: Every plan comes with both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage in 2025, including coverage for endodontics, prosthodontics and restorative services.
In other words: There's a good chance you can find a Medicare Advantage plan that covers any extra dental services you might need — up to the plan's limit.
Cigna Medicare has become HealthSpring for 2026 after Cigna's Medicare business was acquired. Eight in 10 HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium. Many also include extras like transportation and meal delivery after a hospital stay.
Pros
- All members have preventive and comprehensive dental coverage in 2025.
- The average dental plan includes more than nine covered comprehensive services in 2025.
- About 94% of comprehensive dental services from in-network providers come with a $0 copay in 2025.
Cons
- Star ratings from CMS are below the industry average.
- Plans are available in only 29 states and Washington, D.C.
» MORE: Read our review of HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Advantage plans
Preventive dental coverage may include cleanings, fluoride treatment, X-rays and exams. Comprehensive dental coverage may include diagnostic services, periodontics (gums), extractions, restorative services (fillings, bridges), endodontics (root canals) and prosthodontics (artificial teeth).
Best Medicare dental coverage with high ratings: Aetna
- Nearly 8 in 10 Aetna plans are rated 4 stars or higher.
- Available in 44 states and Washington, D.C.
- Some plans offer MinuteClinic access for low copays.
- Customer satisfaction lands below the regional average in some major Medicare markets.
- Reduced benefits and plans are no longer available in two states.
Why we picked it: In addition to providing preventive and comprehensive dental on almost all 2025 Medicare Advantage plans, Aetna plans have above-average star ratings and member experience scores.
In other words: Your plan with dental coverage has a high likelihood of being a good plan overall.
Aetna plans with $0 premiums are available to 82% of Medicare beneficiaries. All Aetna plans include SilverSneakers fitness memberships and some coverage for vision and hearing services in addition to their dental coverage.
Pros
- $0-premium plans available to 82% of Medicare beneficiaries.
- In-network preventive dental services (cleaning, X-rays and exams) are covered at 100% on all 2025 plans with dental.
- Plans with comprehensive dental cover an average of seven comprehensive services, including endodontics, periodontics and restorative services in 2025.
- All Aetna Medicare Advantage plans include fitness benefits and some coverage for dental, vision and hearing.
Cons
- Aetna customer satisfaction numbers land below the industry average in most of the Medicare markets where it has significant market share in J.D. Power’s latest survey.
- If you go out-of-network for comprehensive dental services, a majority of procedures require coinsurance between 20% and 70% in 2025.
» MORE: Read our review of Aetna Medicare Advantage plans
Best for Part B Giveback with dental coverage: Humana
- Plans available for most Americans.
- Above-average member experience scores among major providers.
- Part B Giveback benefit in 61% of plans.
- Only 24% of plans are rated 4 stars or higher.
- Customer satisfaction scores are low in several major markets.
- Average out-of-pocket maximums are on the high side.
Why we picked it: Humana offers plans with Part B Giveback benefits in 47 states and Washington D.C., which means those plans cover a portion of your Medicare Part B premium.
In other words: You can get dental coverage as well as some money back.
Humana is the second-biggest provider of Medicare Advantage plans and is available in 85% of U.S. counties. Humana’s star ratings are below average for 2026, however. It also gets below-average scores for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power surveys.
Pros
- Nearly all Humana Medicare Advantage plans offer preventive and comprehensive dental coverage in 2025.
- Humana offers plans in 85% of U.S. counties, making it an option for most people.
- Humana and USAA offer veteran-focused plans designed to work with VA benefits
Cons
- Humana’s comprehensive dental coverage includes fewer than six services, on average, in 2025.
- Humana’s star ratings are below the industry average.
- Customer satisfaction scores are low in J.D. Power surveys.
» MORE: Read our review of Humana Medicare Advantage plans
Best Medicare dental plans among startups: Devoted Health
- Above-average star ratings from CMS.
- Most plans offer a $0 premium.
- Offers plans in just 20 states.
- Limited data on new plans (and many plans are new).
Why we picked it: As a startup, Devoted Health plans have a higher-than-average star rating from CMS, and nearly all of its plans have $0 premiums.
In other words: If you live where this Medicare newcomer is available, it's worth checking out the company's high-rated plans.
All Devoted Health plans offer both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage in 2025.
Devoted Health is a fast-growing Medicare Advantage startup, adding nine states for 2026. Its ratings are high for plans that have enough data to be measured. But since many plans are new, many of them don’t have ratings.
Pros
- All of Devoted Health’s plans offer both preventive and comprehensive dental coverage in 2025, with an average of seven comprehensive services per plan.
- Devoted Health Medicare Advantage plans cover 100% of the cost for in-network and out-of-network preventive and comprehensive dental care in 2025, within plan limits.
Cons
- Devoted Health offers Medicare Advantage plans in only 29 states.
- Many of Devoted Health’s plans are too new to be measured and have no star ratings.
» MORE: Read our review of Devoted Health Medicare Advantage plans
More Nerdy Perspective
My picks for strong Medicare Advantage companies offering noteworthy dental benefits are UnitedHealthcare, HealthSpring (formerly Cigna), Aetna, Humana and Devoted Health. Each of these could be worth considering if they have a sufficient dental network in your area. 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.
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). 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.
» 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
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those 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.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. 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 for additional information.