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Delta Dental Medicare Advantage 2027

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) | Last updated October 8, 2026

Delta Dental is a dental insurer, not a Medicare Advantage insurer, so you cannot buy a “Delta Dental Medicare Advantage plan” on its own. Some Medicare Advantage plans may use an outside dental company to run their dental network, and Delta Dental also sells standalone dental coverage in many states.

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, so seniors usually get dental coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, a standalone dental policy or Medicaid if they qualify.

See best Medicare Advantage dental plans and Medicare Advantage plans 2027.

✔ Licensed across all 50 states
✔ Built on CMS 2027 data
✔ No-cost plan comparison

Key Highlights

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Original Medicare does not cover routine dental.

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Some MA plans may use an outside dental network.

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Standalone dental works with any Medicare coverage.

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Not all plans offer all benefits.

Compare plans and enroll online

How Dental Companies Work With Medicare Advantage

A Medicare Advantage insurer decides what dental benefits its plan includes. Some insurers run their own dental network; others may contract with a dental company to handle the network and claims. Your Evidence of Coverage names the dental network and lists covered services, annual limits and any coinsurance.

Question Where to Find the Answer
Which dental network does my plan use? Evidence of Coverage or the plan’s dentist directory
Is my dentist in network? Call the dentist and the plan before enrolling
What is the annual dental limit? Summary of Benefits
Are crowns or dentures covered? Evidence of Coverage, under comprehensive dental

Your Dental Options for 2027

Option How It Works Watch For
Medicare Advantage dental Routine dental may be included in some plans, at times with optional, more robust dental riders Yearly dollar limits, dental networks, tiers of coverage
Standalone dental insurance A separate policy with its own premium Waiting periods for major work, annual maximums
Dental discount plans Pay a membership fee to get discounted rates from participating dentists Not insurance; you pay the discounted price
Medicaid dental Coverage varies widely by state for adults Only for people who qualify for Medicaid

Not all plans offer all benefits. Dental benefits vary by plan and county and can change for 2027.

Delta Dental Medicare Advantage - Understanding Dental Coverage with Delta Dental

Find & Compare Plans Online

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1-833-641-4938TTY 711

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Checklist Before You Pick a Plan for Dental

Before You Enroll

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Confirm your current dentist is in the plan’s dental network

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Compare the yearly dental dollar limit, not just the premium

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Check whether major work such as crowns or dentures is covered

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Ask about waiting periods on standalone dental policies

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Read your 2027 Annual Notice of Change for dental changes

Benefits Plans May Include

Medicare Advantage Plans May Include

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Hospital and medical coverage matching Original Medicare Part A and B

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Part D prescription drug coverage on most plans

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Routine dental, vision and hearing benefits

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Fitness programs and over-the-counter allowances

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Telehealth visits and care coordination programs

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum on every plan

Benefits are not offered by every plan. They differ by plan and county and may change for 2027. Review the Evidence of Coverage for each plan before enrolling.

How to Compare

How to Compare

1

Review your Annual Notice of Change. It spells out every 2027 change to the plan you have now.

2

Verify your doctors and hospitals. Make sure every provider is in the 2027 network, not only the 2026 network.

3

Review your prescriptions. Verify every drug, the tier it falls on and any step therapy or prior authorization rules.

4

Look at the full annual cost. Total up the premium, usual copays and drug costs, and review the out-of-pocket maximum.

5

Look at star ratings. Medicare scores plans on quality and service using a 1 to 5 star scale.

6

Sign up by December 7. Coverage under your new plan begins January 1, 2027.

Evaluating Costs in Advantage Plans

Enrollment Periods

Enrollment Period Dates What You Can Do
Annual Enrollment Period October 15 to December 7, 2026 Join, change or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan effective January 1, 2027
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment January 1 to March 31, 2027 In Medicare Advantage, you can change to another plan or go back to Original Medicare one time
Initial Enrollment Period 7 months around your 65th birthday month Sign up for Medicare and choose your first plan
Special Enrollment Periods Varies Switch plans after events such as a move, a loss of other coverage or your plan exiting your area

Annual Enrollment is when most people make changes. If you like your current plan, no action is needed; it renews on its own. Even so, review your Annual Notice of Change, since networks, premiums, copays and drug lists can all change on January 1.

Reading Your Annual Notice of Change

Check Every Line

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Your 2027 premium and deductible

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Doctor, specialist and hospital stay copays

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The out-of-pocket maximum

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Updates to your formulary, drug tiers and coverage rules

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Whether your doctors, hospitals and pharmacy stay in network

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Updates to dental, vision, hearing and other extras

The Annual Notice of Change must reach members by September 30. It is the most useful single document you receive each fall, since it spells out exactly how your plan will change on January 1.

Special Enrollment Periods

Outside of the fall and early-year windows, changing plans generally requires a Special Enrollment Period. Typical reasons include:

You May Qualify If

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Your plan is leaving your area or ending

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You move outside your plan’s service area

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You lose employer or union coverage

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Your Medicaid status changes, or you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help

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You want to join a 5-star plan, once a year

Every Special Enrollment Period has a separate time limit, so move as soon as the event occurs.

Prior Authorization and Referrals

Prior authorization is required by most Medicare Advantage plans for certain services, including some surgeries, advanced imaging, skilled nursing stays and some drugs. While your doctor usually submits the request, ask whether a scheduled service needs approval so you are not caught off guard by a denial.

You or your doctor can appeal a denied request. Medicare rules give plans deadlines for decisions, and those deadlines are shorter when a wait could seriously harm your health.

Emergency, Urgent and Out-of-Area Care

Emergency and urgent care are covered by every Medicare Advantage plan anywhere in the U.S., whether in or out of network, and an emergency does not require prior approval. Routine care while traveling is different: HMOs generally do not cover it, and PPOs cover out-of-network care at a higher cost.

If you’re away from home for months each year, ask every plan how it covers care where you stay. This is among the most frequent reasons people change plans partway through the year.

Appeals and Complaints

You have the right to appeal if your plan denies a service, a drug or payment for care. The denial notice from the plan explains the process. Appeals have several levels, beginning with the plan and moving on to independent reviewers.

If your issue isn’t about coverage, such as wait times or customer service, you can file a grievance with your plan. For help, you can also reach out to 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

The 2027 Part B Premium

Of the major figures, only the Part B premium is not published alongside the plans. CMS typically announces it in November. Projections in the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report put the 2027 standard premium at about $209.50 a month and the deductible at about $292, up from $202.90 and $283 in 2026. You continue paying it even with Medicare Advantage.

If You Miss December 7

Miss the Annual Enrollment deadline and your current plan automatically renews for 2027, including the changes listed in your Annual Notice of Change. Medicare Advantage members get one more opportunity, from January 1 to March 31, 2027, to change Medicare Advantage plans or go back to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan.

Telehealth

Many Medicare Advantage plans may cover telehealth for some services, at times with a lower copay than an in-person office visit. It is handy for follow-ups and minor problems, but you still need to confirm that your regular doctors are in network.

Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage

Advantages

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Often a low or $0 premium

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum

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Drug coverage usually included

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Dental, vision and hearing benefits may be included in many plans

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One card and one plan

Tradeoffs

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Networks; except for emergencies, HMOs require in-network care

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Prior authorization and referrals are common

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Copays add up if you use a lot of care

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Plans and networks can change every year

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Moving to Medigap later may involve health questions

Special Needs Plans

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans designed for particular groups. Their benefits, networks and drug lists are shaped around the members they serve, and many come with care coordinators. In 2027, SNPs are one of the few places large insurers are adding plans, even while cutting PPOs.

Type Who Qualifies What Is Different
Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) People with both Medicare and Medicaid Coordinates both programs; costs are often very low, with extra benefits
Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) People who have qualifying conditions like diabetes, heart failure or chronic lung disease Doctors, drugs and programs designed around the condition
Institutional SNP (I-SNP) People who live in a nursing home or need that level of care at home Care delivered where the member lives

Turning 65 in 2027

When you turn 65 in 2027, you get a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period: the three months before your birthday month, the birthday month itself and the three months that follow. If you sign up in the first three months, coverage begins on the first day of your birthday month.

Turning 65 Checklist

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Enroll in Part A and Part B, unless you have qualifying employer coverage and decide to postpone Part B

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Choose between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare plus Medigap

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Enroll in a drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs, to avoid a late Part D penalty

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If you go with Medigap, purchase during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Star Ratings

Each fall, Medicare gives every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan a rating of 1 to 5 stars, based on factors such as preventive care, how well chronic conditions are managed, member complaints, customer service and accuracy of drug pricing. You can see the ratings in Medicare Plan Finder.

Using Star Ratings

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Ratings of 4 stars or more are generally a good indicator of quality and service

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A special enrollment period lets you move into a five-star plan once during the year

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A new plan may not have a rating yet, and that alone isn’t a bad sign

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Ratings reflect the plan as a whole, not how well it covers your particular doctors and drugs

Help Paying Medicare Costs

When your income and savings are limited, two programs can greatly lower your Medicare costs:

Medicare Savings Programs

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Run by your state Medicaid office

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May cover your Part B premium, and in some cases deductibles and coinsurance

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Income and asset limits vary by state

Extra Help (Part D)

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Run by Social Security

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Lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays

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Those enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically

If you qualify for both Medicare and full Medicaid, you may also be able to join a Dual Special Needs Plan. See help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.

If a Drug Is Not Covered

A drug you take may not be on a plan’s 2027 formulary, or it may come with a rule such as prior authorization. Even then, you have options:

If Your Drug Is Not Covered

1

Request a transition fill. During the first 90 days of a new plan or plan year, plans generally have to provide a temporary supply of a drug you already take, giving you time to change drugs or ask for an exception.

2

Talk to your doctor about other options. A covered drug from the same class could work just as well for less money.

3

Ask for a tiering or formulary exception. Your doctor sends a statement explaining why you need the drug or a lower copay. Plans have to decide within set time limits.

4

Challenge a denial. When the plan turns you down, you have the right to appeal through several levels of review.

See steps to appeal a Medicare Part D denial.

Part D Drug Coverage in 2027

$700

Maximum 2027 Part D deductible, up from $615.

$2,400

2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap, up from $2,100.

About $36

CMS average standalone Part D premium for 2027, an increase of under $1.

$7

Projected 2027 average for the drug portion of a Medicare Advantage premium, a decrease from $11.32.

Tier Typical Drugs Typical Cost
Tier 1 Preferred generics Lowest copay
Tier 2 Generics Low copay
Tier 3 Preferred brand-name drugs Moderate copay
Tier 4 Non-preferred drugs Higher copay or coinsurance
Tier 5 Specialty drugs Highest coinsurance

Each plan sets its own tiers. Review every plan’s formulary.

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period in Detail

You get a six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period beginning in the first month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. It occurs only once and can’t be restarted. During this period, insurers have to sell you any Medigap plan they offer in your state at the same price healthy people pay.

If you work past 65, keep employer coverage and postpone Part B, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period does not begin until you sign up for Part B. Signing up for Part B early when you do not need it starts the clock and can waste this protection.

Getting Help

You do not need to compare plans by yourself, and help should not cost you anything. Here are the free options:

Free Help Comparing Plans

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Available any time: Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov

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1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), reachable 24 hours a day on all seven days of the week

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Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased counseling

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A licensed agent or insurance broker, who can compare plans across several insurers for free

Gather your Medicare card, a list of your drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies before you call. That way a long conversation becomes a quick one.

Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Delta Dental is not a Medicare Advantage insurer. Compare Medicare Advantage plans by their dental network and yearly limit, or pair any Medicare coverage with a standalone dental policy.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Does Delta Dental offer Medicare Advantage plans?

No. Delta Dental is a dental insurer, not a Medicare Advantage insurer, so it does not sell Medicare Advantage health plans. Some Medicare Advantage plans may use an outside dental company for their dental network, so check the plan’s Evidence of Coverage to see which network applies.

➤ How do I know if my Medicare Advantage plan uses Delta Dental?

Check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage or dentist directory, which names the dental network the plan uses. You can also call the plan and your dentist before enrolling. Dental networks can change from year to year, so confirm it again for 2027.

➤ Does Original Medicare cover dental care?

No. Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings, extractions or dentures. To get dental coverage you generally need a Medicare Advantage plan that includes dental, a standalone dental policy, or Medicaid if you qualify in your state.

➤ Can I buy a standalone dental plan with Medicare?

Yes. A standalone dental policy works alongside Original Medicare, a Medigap plan or a Medicare Advantage plan, and it has its own premium. Many standalone policies have waiting periods for major work and yearly maximums, so read those terms before you buy.

➤ What dental services may Medicare Advantage plans include?

Many Medicare Advantage plans may include preventive dental care such as exams, cleanings and X-rays, and some may include fillings, extractions, crowns or dentures. Not all plans offer all benefits, and most have an annual dollar limit on dental coverage.

➤ What is a dental annual limit?

It is the most a plan pays toward dental care in a year. Once you reach it, you pay the rest yourself. Compare annual limits carefully, because a plan with a low premium but a small dental limit may cost more if you need major work.

➤ Is Medicare Advantage dental better than a standalone dental plan?

It depends on your needs. Dental built into a Medicare Advantage plan has no separate premium but often has lower limits and a set network, while standalone dental costs extra but works with any Medicare coverage. Compare both against the work your dentist expects you to need.

➤ Will my dental benefits change for 2027?

They might. Medicare Advantage benefits can change every year, and insurers are cutting some plans and counties for 2027. Read your Annual Notice of Change for your 2027 dental limit, network and covered services before Annual Enrollment ends on December 7, 2026.

➤ When can I change Medicare Advantage plans for 2027?

You can change plans during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, and your new coverage starts January 1, 2027. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, 2027 allows one more change.

Have Questions?

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938

TTY users 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company

( Medicare Expert )

Russell Noga is the CEO of ZRN Health & Financial Services, and head content editor of several Medicare insurance online publications. He has over 15 years of experience as a licensed Medicare insurance broker helping Medicare beneficiaries learn about Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap insurance, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.