Aetna has been around since 1853 and has over 339,000 dentists in the US, which happens to be one of the largest. The company is known for emphasizing user accessibility above all else, including well-designed mobile apps that make it easy for members to access local information related to nearby dentists and other resources. This is our review of their approach:
Aetna provides out-of-network dentists, but the overall out-of-pocket prices are significantly higher than in-network prices. Unfortunately, this practice is consistent with the dental and medical industry as a whole because most dental plans involve in-network dentists. This means if you have a dental emergency while not at home, you might struggle to find a dentist willing to operate.
The website for Aetna itself is fairly easy to navigate, giving you features that let you do much of your paperwork online. Their interactive map shows you a list of features that are available with their plans and help you calculate your savings and find a dentist in your area. Curiously enough, we found their plans have two sections, one for ages below 49, and one for ages above 50. The plan summaries for both these ages are exactly the same. This could be a glitch they might fix with time.
A forward-thinking business, Aetna stays at the forefront of technology. It allows users to make payments online, and has completely shelved the idea of paying offline. While other dental plan companies provide manual payment options, Aetna does not. Any payments made to Aetna will be done behind safe and secure SSL encryption so all your personal details will be safe.
How Does Aetna Compare with Other Companies?
We asked Aetna to provide us with options for individuals, couples, and families. As we compared the available options in each region and their rates, we found that Aetna’s comprehensive plans were affordable than other providers. That being said, their basic coverage plans stood out as the most expensive.
Lack of Options
Aetna doesn’t provide a large range of options and availability in certain regions such as the Rocky Mountains, East or Northeast (although you can avail employer provided plans in those areas). It is clear that Aetna is driven to cater to employer-provided plans than individual-provided plans. In addition, each region where dental plans were sold had very few options, such as the Dental Core PPO and Dental Preferred PPO.
With Dental Core, the coverage you get is more comparable to a mid-tier plan by other dental plan companies than a basic preventive plan, since it covers all procedures and requires lower payment options. Both these plans will cover 50 percent of the price of procedures.
Detailing Aetna’s Discount Dental Plan
Aetna’s Dental Access program has an option for seniors who don’t have dental insurance. Members can avail discounts between 15 to 50 percent on most dental procedures with the main benefit being that there isn’t any waiting period, so you automatically qualify for savings on crowns, root canals, and other dental procedures you shouldn’t have to wait for.
This is in stark comparison to dental insurance which tend to have significant waiting times and minimum premium requirements before you can have any work done. Usually with dental issues, it is not advisable to wait for procedures to get done because the ailment only gets worse.
The out-of-pocket costs for Aetna’s dental plan came out to be $60 in Oklahoma and Tulsa. Premiums cost $99 annually for individuals, $149 annually for parties of two, and $179 annually for parties of three.
How Easy Is It to Reach Customer Support?
The biggest issue with Aetna is their customer service representatives: it is not easy to get a hold of them over phone. But we found their online options for reaching customized service a relatively easy procedure. This isn’t good news for individuals who aren’t tech-savvy or used to navigating the internet.
Despite their not-so-friendly customer service plan, the Better Business Bureau has awarded them an A+ rating, while customers have give them an average of 1-star rating.
We found that in the past twelve months, they had around 178 complaints. Most people complained about not being able to reach customer representatives quickly enough.
What You Need to Know about Aetna Dental
- Aetna dental plan doesn’t require referrals to see orthodontists, but the specialist must be from within the network
- Tooth extraction is considered to be a dental procedure by Aetna, but there are few exceptions. Make sure to verify with Aetna by giving them a call if you’re not sure.
- Composite filings are covered under Aetna’s dental plans, but this only applies to teeth that are visible.
- If you ask your dentist to send a statement of pre-treatment to Aetna, you will receive documentation from Aetna outlining which procedures are provided by your plan.
- There is a high chance of your teeth not being covered under Aetna dental plans if you lost them before starting coverage. This condition applies to dental implants, bridges, and dentures.
Read More About The Plans Offered
Verdict
Aetna is a company that is worth considering because of its ease of accessibility over the internet.
If you need to reach customer support, try doing so via their online platform because they are usually very responsive online.
Aetna has one of the largest networks of dentists with plans that cover full and partial coverage from minor checkups to orthodontics. That being said, Aetna’s only drawback is that it doesn’t cover independent dental plans for residents in Arizona, Alaska, Illinois, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. If you don’t live in these states, make sure to check out our reviews of other dental plan companies.
