What is AARP Dental Insurance?

The acronym AARP stands for the American Association of Retired Persons, which offers any person 50 years or older options for discounts and certain types of insurance, such as health insurance and dental. A membership to the AARP qualifies you for the discounts and insurance programs. The requirements needed are a membership and a fee that varies based on whether you are enrolling yearly, biyearly or tri-yearly. The fee also depends upon your location.

General Information

Dental insurance available from the organization is supplied by the Dentegra Insurance Company. In New England states, the insurance provider of AARP dental is Dentegra Insurance Company of New England. The insurance policies offered to the insured are part of a PPO plan, also referred to as a preferred provider organization, meaning that the low-cost option is to always see a dental specialist that is part of the network. Despite this regulation, PPOs have many options in the network, so your choices are not limited to only a few dentists.

Considerations/Membership

Besides an AARP membership, AARP deems it necessary that the beneficiary or the family included on the policy have limited access to only the basic services throughout the first year. After a year, referred to as a holding period, receipts are eligible to a range of services, such as access to more dental providers and coverage for more extensive dental treatments.

Benefits

The American Association of Retired People entitles their members to a choice of two different dental plans. The plan A insurance offers recipients a plan without any co-pays, but for a higher premium than plan B. On the other hand, for a lesser monthly fee, an AARP member may opt for a lower fee with only 80 percent of dental procedures and visits covered.