Original Medicare does not pay for cleanings, fillings, crowns or dentures, so most Texas seniors need a separate dental plan. We compared five of the most popular individual dental plans for people 65 and older in Texas: 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 Texas agent at (972) 666-0578. There is no cost to use an agent and the premium is the same as buying direct.
Dental coverage for Texas seniors: Medicare, Texas Medicaid and private plans
Medicare: Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental care in Texas, and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans do not add it. Some Texas Medicare Advantage plans include a dental allowance, but it is often small.
Texas Medicaid (STAR+PLUS for most adults 65+ and adults with disabilities): Texas Medicaid does not include a routine dental benefit for most adults 21 and older; the ADA Health Policy Institute classifies Texas as emergency-only. Adults in the STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver can get dental services, including routine care and dentures, up to $5,000 per service plan year. Because Texas Medicaid covers little beyond emergencies for adults, and most seniors do not qualify for Texas Medicaid at all, a standalone dental plan is the usual way to cover routine and major care. Source
Who regulates these plans: Individual dental insurance sold in Texas is overseen by the Texas Department of Insurance, where you can check that a company is licensed or file a complaint.
Lower-cost care in Texas: UT Health San Antonio's School of Dentistry runs a dental hygiene teaching clinic that offers reduced-fee preventive care for adults and children. Source
Which senior dental plan fits you?
Texas 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 Texas.
 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 Texas 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.
See all 400+ covered procedures
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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.
See our full NCD by MetLife Texas page and rates
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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.
See our full BestOne Dental Texas page and rates
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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 Texas page and rates
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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.
See our full Mutual of Omaha Texas page and rates
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How to choose a dental plan after 65 in Texas
- 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 Texas Medicare Advantage plan includes dental, compare its allowance to a standalone plan; many 2027 Medicare Advantage plans have smaller dental benefits than before.
Texas 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 Texas Medicaid cover dental care for adults in Texas?
Texas Medicaid does not include a routine dental benefit for most adults 21 and older; the ADA Health Policy Institute classifies Texas as emergency-only. Adults in the STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver can get dental services, including routine care and dentures, up to $5,000 per service plan year. Texas seniors who have Medicare but do not qualify for Texas Medicaid 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 Texas?
Premiums depend on your Texas 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 Texas ZIP code
Compare these plans side by side with real Texas 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 Texas ZIP code. Benefit details last reviewed November 2026. Ratings and comments are submitted by visitors and are not endorsements.