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Best Medicare Advantage Dental Plans 2027

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

The best Medicare Advantage dental plan for 2027 is the one in your county with an annual dental maximum and coverage level that match the dental work you actually expect, from a dentist you can use. Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care.

Many Medicare Advantage plans may include dental benefits, but they range from cleanings only to coverage for crowns and dentures. Not all plans offer all benefits, and amounts can change for 2027.

See best 2027 Medicare Advantage plans and find Medicare Advantage plans by ZIP code.

✔ 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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Annual dental maximums vary widely.

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Major work is where plans differ most.

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Not all plans offer all benefits.

Compare plans and enroll online

What Medicare Advantage Dental May Cover

Dental Service Type Examples How Plans May Cover It
Preventive Cleanings, exams, X-rays Often covered at low or no cost, with frequency limits
Basic Fillings, simple extractions Copays or coinsurance; some plans exclude
Major Crowns, root canals, bridges, dentures Coinsurance up to an annual maximum; often excluded on lower-cost plans
Implants Dental implants Rarely covered; check limits carefully

Not all plans offer all benefits. Amounts vary by plan and county.

How to Rank Dental Benefits

What to Compare Why It Matters
Annual dental maximum The most the plan pays each year; anything above it is yours
Covered service types Preventive-only plans will not help with crowns or dentures
Coinsurance on major work A 50% share on a crown adds up fast
Dental network Some plans use a separate dental network; check your dentist
Allowance or optional rider Some plans use a flexible allowance or sell extra dental for an added premium
Waiting periods and frequency limits Limits can delay or cap the care you need
comparing different types of dental plans

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Match the Plan to Your Mouth

Mostly Healthy Teeth

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Preventive coverage may be enough

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Focus on medical network and drug costs

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A lower dental maximum may be fine

Expecting Major Work

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Look for higher annual maximums

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Check coinsurance on crowns and dentures

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Confirm your dentist is in network

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Price a standalone dental plan too

Medicare Advantage Dental vs Standalone Dental

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

How Medicare Advantage Works

Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C, lets you receive your Medicare benefits through a Medicare-approved private insurer. These plans cover everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, with the exception of hospice care, which Original Medicare continues to pay for. Most also bundle Part D drug coverage, and many may tack on extras like routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

The trade-off is that Medicare Advantage plans generally rely on doctor and hospital networks and may call for referrals or prior authorization for certain services. Each Medicare Advantage plan sets a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, something Original Medicare lacks. You still pay your Part B premium, along with the plan’s premium if there is one.

Feature HMO PPO
Out-of-network care Not covered except emergencies and urgent care Covered at a higher cost
Referrals for specialists Usually required Usually not required
Premiums Usually lower Usually higher
Out-of-pocket maximum In-network limit In-network limit plus a higher combined limit
Best for Lower costs, local care Flexibility, travel, keeping specific doctors

Free dental for seniors on medicare

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.

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.

Switching From Medicare Advantage to Medigap

Step by Step

1

See if you have a guaranteed issue right. One example is when your plan is ending or you are still in your first year of Medicare Advantage.

2

If you don’t, look up your state’s rules. A few states grant extra rights; most permit health questions.

3

Get your Medigap application in before leaving Medicare Advantage. Confirm your approval first.

4

Join a Part D plan. Medigap does not cover drugs.

5

Time your exit from Medicare Advantage correctly. Use Annual Enrollment or the window from January to March.

Medigap With Employer or Retiree Coverage

With coverage through a current employer, you may not need Medigap yet, and postponing Part B can save your Medigap Open Enrollment Period for later. Retiree coverage works differently: it can act like a supplement, so weigh it against Medigap before you give it up, since you may not be able to regain retiree coverage.

You generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans when employer or union coverage that pays after Medicare comes to an end.

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

Pick a 2027 Medicare Advantage plan by its dental maximum, coverage for the work you need and your dentist, after you confirm your doctors and drugs are covered.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Which Medicare Advantage plan has the best dental coverage?

No single plan is best everywhere. The best dental plan is the one in your county with an annual maximum and coverage level that fit the work you expect, from a dentist in its network. Compare plans by ZIP code, because benefits vary by plan and county.

➤ Does Original Medicare cover dental care?

No. Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings or dentures. That is why many people look at Medicare Advantage plans that may include dental benefits, or buy a standalone dental plan alongside Original Medicare.

➤ What is an annual dental maximum?

It is the most a plan will pay for covered dental care in a year. Once you reach it, you pay the rest. Annual maximums vary widely between plans, so check this number before you compare anything else if you expect major dental work.

➤ Do Medicare Advantage plans cover dentures and crowns?

Some plans may cover major work such as crowns and dentures, usually with coinsurance and up to the annual maximum. Lower-cost plans may cover only preventive care. Not all plans offer all benefits, so check the Summary of Benefits.

➤ Do Medicare Advantage plans cover dental implants?

Implant coverage is uncommon and limited when it is offered. If you need implants, read the plan’s Evidence of Coverage carefully and price the procedure with your dentist, because the annual maximum may cover only part of the cost.

➤ Can I keep my dentist with a Medicare Advantage plan?

Only if your dentist is in the plan’s dental network or the plan pays out of network. Some plans use a separate dental network from the medical network, so ask your dentist which plans they accept before you enroll.

➤ Is standalone dental insurance better than Medicare Advantage dental?

It can be if you want higher limits or have Original Medicare with Medigap. Standalone plans charge a separate premium and may have waiting periods, while Medicare Advantage dental is built into the plan, often with lower limits.

➤ Will my dental benefits change in 2027?

They can. Insurers adjust benefits every year, and many are cutting costs for 2027. Read your Annual Notice of Change for your dental maximum and covered services, and compare other plans if your benefits drop.

➤ When can I switch to a plan with better dental?

Coverage chosen during Annual Enrollment, which runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, begins January 1, 2027. People already in Medicare Advantage also get one change between January 1 and March 31, 2027.

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

Russell Noga, licensed insurance agent
( 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.