Dental Insurance for Seniors in California: Compare 5 Plans
Original Medicare does not pay for cleanings, fillings, crowns or dentures, so most California seniors need a separate dental plan. We compared five of the most popular individual dental plans for people 65 and older in California: Physicians Mutual, NCD by MetLife, BestOne Dental, Ameritas and Mutual of Omaha. Below you will find what makes each one different, a side-by-side table, and a place to rate each plan and leave a comment.
Need help picking? Call a licensed California agent at (855) 847-7020. There is no cost to use an agent and the premium is the same as buying direct.
Dental coverage for California seniors: Medicare, Medi-Cal Dental and private plans
Medicare: Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental care in California, and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans do not add it. Some California Medicare Advantage plans include a dental allowance, but it is often small.
Medi-Cal Dental: Medi-Cal Dental covers adults and seniors for exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions, emergency care, root canals, scaling and root planing, and partial and full dentures, with crowns on back teeth covered in some cases. Medi-Cal covers up to $1,800 a year in dental services, but medically necessary covered services can go above that amount. If you qualify for both Medicare and Medi-Cal Dental, check those dental benefits first. A private plan mainly helps seniors who do not qualify, or who want a wider choice of dentists. Source
Who regulates these plans: Individual dental insurance sold in California is overseen by the California Department of Insurance, where you can check that a company is licensed or file a complaint.
Lower-cost care in California: The UCLA School of Dentistry says the cost of care from its dental students is significantly reduced compared to a private practice. Source
Which senior dental plan fits you?
California senior dental plans side by side
How the five plans compare on the features that matter most after 65. Benefits shown are for individual policies sold in California.
 Physicians MutualDental PreferredCall for Quote |
 NCD by MetLifeElite 5000 / CompleteGet Quote |
 BestOne DentalBEST Life: Choice / EconomyGet Quote |
 AmeritasPrimeStar Care Lite / Boost / CompleteGet Quote |
 Mutual of OmahaDental Preferred / ProtectionGet Quote |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual maximum | No annual maximum | $5,000 (Elite 5000) / $10,000 (Complete) | $3,000 or $5,000 (Choice); $1,500 (Economy) | Lower in year 1, increases in year 2 | Choice of amount ($1,500 / $3,000 / $5,000) |
| Deductible | $0 | $50 a year (Elite); $100 lifetime (Complete) | $0, $25 copay per visit | Varies by tier | $50 (Preferred) / $100 (Protection) |
| Waiting periods | None on preventive; about 12 months for major | None | None (Choice); 6 months intermediate (Economy) | None | None |
| Cleanings and exams | Covered from day 1 (scheduled amounts) | 100% | 100% after $25 copay | Covered from day 1 | Covered from day 1 |
| Fillings and extractions | Scheduled amounts, higher after year 1 | 80% (Elite); 65% / 80% / 90% by year (Complete) | Choice: 50% year 1, then 80% | Lower in year 1, then increases | Covered right away |
| Crowns, root canals, dentures | After waiting period, scheduled amounts | 10% year 1, then 50% to 60% | Choice: 10% year 1, then 60%; Economy: not covered | Upper tiers, lower in year 1 | Covered right away, reduced first year |
| Implants | Generally not covered | Complete $3,000 a year; Elite after 24 months | Choice: as alternative to a bridge | Upper tiers | Listed as covered |
| Dentist choice | Any dentist | MetLife PDP network | DenteMax + Connection Dental | Ameritas PPO | Mutual of Omaha / TruAssure |
| Issue ages | Adults | Adults (association membership) | 18 to 99 | Adults | 60 to 99 |
| Monthly cost | Quoted by age and ZIP | Quoted by ZIP | Quoted by age and ZIP | Quoted by ZIP (not age) | Quoted by age and ZIP |
| Get a quote | Call for Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
Shading:stronger featurelimitation to note. Swipe the table sideways on a phone.
Plan by plan: what sets each California senior dental plan apart
Rate each plan below on cost, value, customer service and network size. Comments are optional, and your name and ZIP code are only shown if you add them.
Physicians Mutual Dental PreferredNo annual maximum
Simple fixed-dollar plan: no deductible, no yearly cap, any dentist.
Best for: Seniors who want simple, predictable coverage and no annual cap, and who can wait a year for major work.
Rate Physicians Mutual
No ratings yet. Tap the stars in all four categories to unlock the submit button. Comment optional.
NCD by MetLife Elite 5000 / CompleteUp to $10,000 max
The highest annual maximums here, on MetLife's large PPO network.
Best for: Seniors expecting large or ongoing work (several crowns, implants, full-mouth work) over two or more years.
Rate NCD by MetLife
No ratings yet. Tap the stars in all four categories to unlock the submit button. Comment optional.
BestOne Dental BEST Life: Choice / Economy$0 deductible
No deductible and no waiting periods on the Choice plans, issued to age 99.
Best for: Value shoppers who want a $3,000 to $5,000 maximum without paying NCD prices.
Rate BestOne Dental
No ratings yet. Tap the stars in all four categories to unlock the submit button. Comment optional.
Ameritas PrimeStar Care Lite / Boost / CompleteNo waiting periods
Three tiers on a large PPO network, priced by ZIP code rather than age.
Best for: Older seniors whose age would raise the premium elsewhere, and anyone who wants a big PPO network.
See our full Ameritas California page and rates
Rate Ameritas
No ratings yet. Tap the stars in all four categories to unlock the submit button. Comment optional.
Mutual of Omaha Dental Preferred / ProtectionCoverage starts day 1
No waiting periods on any service, from a well-known senior-market carrier.
Best for: Seniors who need a crown, root canal or denture soon and do not want to wait out a waiting period.
Rate Mutual of Omaha
No ratings yet. Tap the stars in all four categories to unlock the submit button. Comment optional.
How to choose a dental plan after 65 in California
- Look at year 1, not just the headline. “No waiting period” plans often pay only 10% of a crown or root canal in the first year. If you need major work right away, Mutual of Omaha pays more up front.
- Match the annual maximum to your mouth. A $1,000 to $1,500 cap is used up by one crown. If you expect several crowns, a bridge or implants, look at NCD Complete, BestOne Choice $5,000 or Physicians Mutual.
- Check implant rules. Implant coverage varies the most between these plans, from none to $3,000 a year.
- Check your dentist. Staying in network avoids balance billing. Physicians Mutual is the only plan here that pays the same at any dentist.
- Compare against your Medicare Advantage dental. If your California Medicare Advantage plan includes dental, compare its allowance to a standalone plan; many 2027 Medicare Advantage plans have smaller dental benefits than before.
California senior dental insurance FAQs
Does Medicare cover dental care?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings, crowns or dentures. Some Medicare Advantage plans include limited dental benefits, but many have small allowances, and several plans have trimmed dental benefits for 2027. A standalone dental plan fills that gap and works alongside Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Does Medi-Cal Dental cover dental care for adults in California?
Medi-Cal Dental covers adults and seniors for exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions, emergency care, root canals, scaling and root planing, and partial and full dentures, with crowns on back teeth covered in some cases. Medi-Cal covers up to $1,800 a year in dental services, but medically necessary covered services can go above that amount. California seniors who have Medicare but do not qualify for Medi-Cal Dental need a separate dental plan for routine care.
Which senior dental plan has no waiting period?
Mutual of Omaha, NCD by MetLife, BestOne Choice and Ameritas PrimeStar have no waiting periods on preventive, basic or major services. Most of them pay a smaller share for major work in the first year, so check the year 1 benefit before scheduling a crown or root canal.
Which plan is best for dental implants?
NCD Complete pays up to $3,000 a year toward implants with no waiting period, and NCD Elite 5000 covers implants after 24 months. BestOne Choice covers an implant as an alternative to a bridge. Mutual of Omaha lists implants as covered. Physicians Mutual generally does not cover implants.
Can I keep my own dentist?
Physicians Mutual lets you see any dentist and pays from a fixed schedule. The others use PPO networks (MetLife, Ameritas, DenteMax and Connection Dental, TruAssure); you can usually still see an out-of-network dentist, but you may pay more because of balance billing. We can check your dentist before you enroll.
How much does senior dental insurance cost in California?
Premiums depend on your California ZIP code, your age (except Ameritas, which prices by ZIP), and the annual maximum you choose. Run a free quote below to see exact monthly rates for your area.
Get senior dental quotes for your California ZIP code
Compare these plans side by side with real California rates, or talk it through with a licensed agent.
Related dental pages
This page is a general summary for comparison and does not replace the policy documents. Benefits, rates, issue ages and availability vary by state, age and plan version and can change; some plans may not be available in every California ZIP code. Benefit details last reviewed November 2026. Ratings and comments are submitted by visitors and are not endorsements.