Delta Dental announces AARP coverage program

According to a news release from the company, the new plan is underwritten by Delta Dental Insurance Co. and administered by the Delta Dental Plans of California, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

“The AARP Dental Insurance Plan is real insurance, not just another dental discount plan,” said Steve Gaal, president of Delta Dental of Missouri, in the release. “With this offering, Missouri seniors can obtain exceptional coverage at affordable rates that will help to ensure their good oral health and contribute to their overall well being.”

The need

According to the landmark U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health, 60 percent of Americans age 50 and older have dental coverage, but most will lose it when they retire.

“While a national lack of dental care access sweeps across all ages, already today a stunning 77 percent of retired senior citizens are without private dental insurance. With the numbers of seniors set to swell as the baby boomers retire, Delta Dental is taking steps to ensure that Missouri seniors, and seniors around the country, have access to quality care,” Gaal added.

Missouri is one of the most recent states across the country to offer the AARP Dental Insurance Plan, and more than 755,000 AARP members in Missouri are eligible to participate in the plan.

The AARP Dental Insurance Plan utilizes the Delta Dental PPO, drawing from Delta Dental’s national network of participating dentists.

Members may use any licensed dentist inside or outside of the network for treatment, however the maximum benefit under the plan is usually achieved when a Delta Dental PPO dentist provides their treatment.

Premiums are regionally determined, with several payment options available. Members are also guaranteed their original enrollment rate for two years of continuous coverage.

Coverage

As soon as coverage becomes effective, AARP Dental plan members are eligible for many basic and preventative dental services such as routine check-ups, cleanings, denture repairs, oral surgery and endodontics.

The scope of benefits grows over time, with members receiving coverage toward major restorations such as crowns and inlays, gum disease treatment, bridges and dentures after 12 months of continuous enrollment.

Two benefit plans offer a choice of deductibles, maximum benefits, and coverage – as high as 100 percent for diagnostic and preventative services, 80 percent for cleanings and basic repairs, and 50 percent for major restorative work and oral surgery.

Additional information about the AARP Dental Insurance Plan is available online at www.deltadentalins.com/aarp.

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