Key takeaways
- Many UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Medicare Advantage plans include dental coverage for routine treatments, which can potentially reduce out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries who may otherwise lack dental insurance.
- UHC offers various tiers of Medicare Advantage dental plans with different coverage levels for preventive, basic, and major services, allowing individuals to choose a plan that aligns with their dental health needs and budget.
- Beyond dental, some UHC Medicare Advantage plans provide options to add vision coverage, which includes benefits for eye exams, frames, lenses, and contacts, offering more comprehensive healthcare support.
According to the non-profit KFF, at least 47% of Medicare beneficiaries may not have dental coverage.
However, oral health is often strongly tied to a person’s quality of life and overall health. As a result, many Medicare Advantage insurance companies, like UnitedHealthcare (UHC), offer additional dental health benefits.
Glossary of Medicare terms
- Out-of-pocket cost: This is the amount a person must pay for care when Medicare does not pay the total amount or offer coverage. Costs can include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and premiums.
- Premium: This is the amount of money someone pays each month for Medicare coverage.
- Deductible: This is an annual amount a person must spend out of pocket within a certain period before Medicare starts to fund their treatments.
- Coinsurance: This is the percentage of treatment costs that a person must self-fund. For Medicare Part B, coinsurance is 20%.
- Copayment: This is a fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription drugs.
Original Medicare (parts A and B) covers dental services only when necessary after an accident or when cancer treatments require dental extractions or oral surgery.
However, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans often offer additional coverage, including dental benefits. Starting in 2025, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Medicare Advantage plans began offering plans that focus solely on preventive coverage, as well as those that provide more comprehensive coverage.
Preventive coverage
Preventive coverage may include:
- regular check-ups
- cleanings
- X-rays
- fluoride treatments
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, includes more complex services such as:
- fillings
- crowns
- extractions
- root canals
- dentures
These plans will only cover services up to $1,000, but a person can add the Platinum Dental Rider, which provides full comprehensive benefits with an annual maximum of $1,500.
UHC Medicare Advantage dental plans are divided into tiers with different out-of-pocket expenses. The table below shows which service is offered by each plan and the costs for each:
| Primary | Primary plus | primary preferred | primary preferred plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| preventive cleanings and exams | 100% day one | 100% day one | 100% day one | 100% day one |
| basic services (simple fillings and extractions) | • 50% day one • 65% after year one • 80% after year two | • 50% day one • 65% after year one • 80% after year two | • 35% day one • 65% after year one • 80% after year two | • 35% day one • 65% after year one • 80% after year two |
| major services (root canals, crowns, oral surgeries, bridges) | Not covered | Not covered | • 15% after 6-month waiting period • 50% after year one • 60% after year two | • 15% after 6-month waiting period • 50% after year one • 60% after year two |
| main benefit | lowest premium | allows out-of-network providers | covers major services | covers major services and allows out-of-network providers |
| coverage amount | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| deductible | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 |
A person should be aware that the premiums for each of these plans depend on where they live. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services(CMS), the average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans is estimated to be approximately $14.00 in 2026.
In addition, to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, a person still has to pay the Part B premium.
When evaluating a Medicare Advantage dental plan, a person should consider their dental health needs, such as whether they need coverage for dental cleaning and anticipate needing more extensive dental treatment.
Medicare Advantage plans will usually partner with dentists to create a network and allow for cost savings. However, if a person’s dentist is not part of a plan provider’s network, out-of-pocket costs may increase.
People can use their zip code to compare plans on UHC’s website. Alternatively, they can search for all available plans in their zip code using the Medicare plan finder tool.
If a person needs help to cover the cost of a dental health plan from UHC or another insurer, several options are available. These include:
- Medicaid: Medicaid is a program that receives federal and state funding to help those with low incomes obtain insurance coverage. Although the benefits may vary by state, they often include expanded care options, including dental.
- Health departments: Local health departments may offer health fairs or gather resources for individuals who need extra assistance in paying for or receiving free or low cost dental care.
- Nearby dental schools: If a person lives near a dental or dental hygiene school, they could receive free or low cost dental care.
- Nonprofits: Local nonprofit organizations, such as the United Way, could connect a person with dental resources.
- National organizations: Organizations such as the Dental Lifeline Network can also connect a person with community resources for dental health.
According to a Healthline 2025 review of Medicare Advantage plans, the top chosen plans that include dental coverage are:
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) isn’t an insurance company. However, it endorses certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans in exchange for a fee.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans don’t cover implants. If a person has a plan from another insurer, whether their plan covers dental implants or not depends on the specific benefits of the plan. Some plans may offer this benefit, while others may not.
Dental care services are an essential part of overall health that original Medicare does not cover.
UHC offers dental benefits as part of its Medicare Advantage plans. It also offers individual plans for people who wish to retain Original Medicare.
Because the coverage options vary by region, a person can search for available plans using their zip code.