Medicare Supplement dental plans
Complete your Blue Shield Medicare Supplement plan with a dental plan to ensure you receive your health and wellness benefits from one source. Call today to learn more (800) 260-9607.
Why do you need a dental plan?
Studies show that more than 90% of all common diseases have oral symptoms.1 Luckily, whether you need treatment or just want preventive care, we have coverage options for you. Blue Shield offers two dental PPO plans with affordable rates. Plus, you can save $3 off the listed rates for the first six months if you enroll in a dental plan at the same time you enroll in your Medicare Supplement plan.2
Blue Shield Dental PPO Plan Highlights
Blue Shield dental PPO plans give you the access to a broad network so you get the care that best fits your needs.
- An extensive network of more than 45,000 general and specialty care dentists in California, and nearly 350,500 nationwide.3
- Three annual teeth cleanings, plus annual X-rays and oral cancer screening covered at 100% when using network providers.4
- No waiting period for dental checkups, cleanings, fillings, x-rays, or basic services.
- A wide range of major restorative dental services and procedures, including crowns, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and prosthetics at low network rates.4
Compare plans
| Dental PPO 1000 | Dental PPO 1500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual plan monthly rates | $36.10 | $52.80 |
| Calendar-year deductible (per member) | $50/person | $50/person |
| Calendar-year benefit max | $1,000 ($750 may be used for non-network dentists)1 |
$1,500 ($1,000 may be used for non-network dentists)1 |
| Blue Shield pays | ||
| Diagnostic and preventive care (not subject to plan deductibles with network dentists; includes routine oral exams, X-rays, and three teeth cleanings annually) | 100% for network dentists 50% for non-network dentists2 |
100% for network dentists 80% for non-network dentists2 |
| Basic services (includes an oral cancer screening, anesthesia, palliative treatment, and restorative dentistry) | 50% for network and non-network dentists2 | 80% for network dentists 70% for non-network dentists2 |
| Major services3 12-month waiting period for Dental PPO 1500 and 6-month waiting period for Dental PPO 1000 (includes crown buildups, crowns, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, prosthetics, inlays, onlays, jackets, post and cores, and veneers) | 50% for network and non-network dentists2 | 50% for network and non-network dentists2 |
Chart disclaimers:
1Each calendar year, the member is responsible for all charges incurred after the plan has paid these amounts for covered dental services.
2The coinsurance percentage indicated is a percentage of allowed amounts that we pay to providers. Non-network providers can charge more than our allowable amount. When members use non-network providers, they must pay the applicable copayment/coinsurance plus any amount that exceeds our allowable amount. Charges in excess of the allowable amount do not count toward the calendar-year deductible or copayment maximum.
3Dental PPO 1500 plan for all Medicare Supplement dental plan members have a 12-month waiting period and Dental PPO 1000 dental plan members have a 6-month waiting period for major restorative services and procedures such as crowns, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and removable or fixed prosthetics.
Find a dentist
With a Blue Shield dental plan, you can get access to one of the largest dental networks statewide. It’s easy to find a dentist or see if your current dentist is in our network with our Find a Doctor tool.
Enroll today
You can sign up for a Blue Shield of California dental plan and vision package on the Medicare Supplement plan application (PDF, 52KB).
Download the following for complete information about our dental PPO plans:
- Dental brochure (PDF, 150 KB)
- Dental PPO disclosure (PDF, 233 KB)
Note: Existing Medicare Supplement plan members who want to transfer into Plan F Extra6, Plan G Inspire7 or Plan G Extra; which include vision benefits, complete the full application and add your dental plan selection.
If you have any questions about applying for dental coverage, you can call (877) 890-7587 to speak with a Blue Shield of California Medicare adviser. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, from October 1 through March 31, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays from April 1 through September 30.
1 “Periodontics and the Oral-Systemic Relationship,” Journal of the California Dental Association, January 2016, volume 44, number 1; pages 29-33.
2 Savings due to increased efficiencies from administering Medicare Supplement plans under this program/service are passed on to the member.
3 Dental providers in California are available through a contracted dental plan administrator. Network numbers are as of June 2019.
4 Annual teeth-cleaning benefit is available once every 4 months with the Dental PPO 1000 and Dental PPO 1500 for Medicare Supplement plan members.
5 Plan F Extra is only available to applicants who attained age 65 before January 1, 2020, or who first became eligible for Medicare benefits due to disability before January 1, 2020.
6 Available in select counties in northern California.
Page last updated: 10/01/2023
