Dental Help for Seniors

Dental schools offer quality dental services at a fraction of the price.

Many seniors cannot afford the high cost of dental care. Affordable dental health care is found in dental schools, managed care plans, AARP dental plans and direct reimbursement plans. Medicare does not provide routine dental care.

Dental Schools

About half the states in the nation have at least one dental school where senior citizens can access dental care. Dental students under the supervision of licensed dentists assess, evaluate and provide a full range of dental services. Fees are considerably lower than an average dental provider. Most dental schools have state-of-the-art equipment.

Managed Care

Managed care options are member programs that provide dental services based on the type of care plan chosen. A member pays annual premium and the balance of services not covered by the plan. Most will have an annual cap on annual dental costs.

Direct Reimbursement

Seniors can opt for this plan if they have the finances to pay for dental services upfront and wait to be reimbursed by the insurance carrier. The dental insurance policy carries an annual premium and some of the services may only be partially covered. Annual caps on total dental costs will apply.

AARP

AARP offers a premium based plans, providing 80 [ercemt coverage for diagnostic, preventative and maintenance care. Specialty care is offered at 50 percent of the actual fee for the service. An annual deductible may apply before benefits begin.

References

• Dental Site: Dentists/Dental Schools
• A.T. Still University: Frequently Asked Questions