Frequently asked questions

AARP membership is open to any person aged 18 or above. To join or renew your membership, visit www.aarp.org or call 888-OUR-AARP (888-687-2277; TTY: 877-434-7589) Monday — Friday, 7 am — 11 pm ET, or Saturday, 9 am — 5 pm ET. You can also use one of the links at the beginning of this page.

Staying healthy includes caring for your teeth. Poor oral care is linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.¹ Even if you have Medicare, your plan may not include dental coverage. Some Medicare Supplement or Advantage plans include dental coverage, but they may not cover all dental expenses. You can avoid unexpected costs with an affordable dental plan.

The AARP Dental Insurance Plan offers a wide range of coverage and rates that may fit the needs of you and your family. With the plan, you can:
 

• Gain access to large dentist networks²
  
• Get a fixed rate for two years
• Limit out-of-pocket costs
• Save when visiting a network dentist
• Enjoy peace of mind knowing you're covered

Active AARP members and their spouse or domestic partner, partner in a civil union and unmarried dependent children and grandchildren under age 26 are eligible for enrollment.

The AARP Dental Insurance Plan is administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company, which is part of one of the nation’s largest dental benefits systems. For more than 60 years, Delta Dental has offered quality, value-based coverage. More information about Delta Dental Insurance Company’s dental benefit system can be found in the footer on this page.

AARP Dental Insurance Plan options are available in all 50 states including Washington D.C., the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Plan options vary by state and ZIP code.

The PPO plan options through the AARP Dental Insurance plan — PPO Protect Plus, PPO Protect Propel and PPO Protect — provide different levels of coverage, but they all work similarly. You pay a set percentage of the fees that Delta Dental PPO network dentists agree to charge for covered services.³ You have the flexibility to visit any dentist, including dentists outside the PPO network, and you don’t need a referral to see a specialist. Just keep in mind that out-of-network dentists can bill higher fees than PPO network dentists and charge you for the difference.

PPO plans also have annual deductibles and annual maximums, and some have waiting periods for certain procedures.⁴^,⁵ Review more details and compare AARP plan options.

Depending on when and where you purchase one of these plans, you may see the plan name PPO Plan A or PPO Plan B, rather than PPO Protect Plus or PPO Protect. When your plan renews after the initial two-year rate guarantee period, the plan name and certain coverage details will be updated to the newer PPO plan.

The DeltaCare USA plan, where available, provides dental HMO (DHMO)⁶ coverage only in a limited network. That means you’ll need to visit your selected DeltaCare USA dentist to receive coverage.⁷ If you need a specialist, your dentist will refer you. Some other features of the plan include:
 

• No annual deductibles and no annual maximums for covered benefits
• No waiting periods
• Low or no out-of-pocket costs for many diagnostic and preventive services (such as routine cleanings and dental exams)
• Orthodontics coverage for adults and children
• Fixed-dollar copayments (vs. percentages with PPO plans)

To find details about each plan, go to Get a quote, enter your information and select Show Plans. You’ll also find a complete description of benefits in the plan documents: Certificate of Coverage (for PPO plans), Evidence of Coverage (for the DeltaCare USA plan), limitations and exclusions, and a plan brochure.

For the AARP PPO plan options, there are no waiting periods for diagnostic and preventive care (services such as exams, x-rays, routine cleanings and fillings).³ The PPO Protect Plus and PPO Protect plans have waiting periods for major services (such as root canals, crowns and implants).⁴ ⁵ The PPO Protect Propel plan has no waiting periods for any services.

For the AARP DeltaCare USA plan, there are no waiting periods for any services.

1. Visit our Find a dentist page.
2. Enter your address, city or ZIP code.
3. Select the network for your preferred plan: either Delta Dental PPO or DeltaCare USA. Choose the Delta Dental PPO network for the Delta Dental PPO plan and the DeltaCare USA network for the DeltaCare USA (DHMO-type) plan.
4. Select Find a dentist.
5. On the search results page, you can change the location in the Address, city or ZIP code field, or narrow your search by adding optional keywords.

PPO plan members have the freedom to visit any licensed dentist in the United States. While you have flexibility in choosing a dentist with this plan, you may maximize your benefits by visiting a participating Delta Dental PPO network dentist. Delta Dental PPO dentists agree to provide treatment at reduced fees, which means your share of the bill will likely be lower when you see a dentist in the Delta Dental PPO network.

With the DeltaCare USA plan, you may continue to see your current dentist if they participate in the DeltaCare USA network. You must select your contract dentist from the DeltaCare USA network when you enroll. After enrollment, you may change to a different contract dentist as long as they’re in the DeltaCare USA network. You must receive treatment from your DeltaCare USA contract dentist; otherwise, any dental services you receive will not be covered.

If your dentist isn’t listed in one of Delta Dental’s networks, you can check other plans we offer and their networks. For example, sometimes dentists will be listed in our PPO network but not our DeltaCare USA network. (Please note, these are different networks available through different plans.) If your dentist isn’t in any Delta Dental network, you’ll still get coverage on covered procedures when you visit them with a PPO plan, although you may enjoy more savings at a Delta Dental dentist. If your dentist isn’t in any Delta Dental network under a PPO plan, we pay them our contracted allowed amount.

Staying in network is a required part of your DeltaCare USA plan.⁷ To access the dentist directory, refer to the FAQ “How do I determine if my dentist is in network for a specific plan or find a new dentist?” The dentist directory will show the dentists that participate in our networks.

If you're having difficulty finding a dentist near you, you can take a few actions:
 

• Expand your search radius. You can search up to a 75-mile radius.
• Consider searching for a dentist in other places you frequent. You may find dentists you like near your office or school.
• Ask a local dentist to join the Delta Dental network. You can submit a dentist recommendation for the Delta Dental PPO network and the DeltaCare USA network. We will then invite them to apply for admission to the relevant network.

If you have a Delta Dental PPO plan, visiting dentists in a PPO network maximizes your savings. Depending on your plan and the dentist you visit, some procedures could cost you as little as 20% of what a dentist would normally charge.³

If you have a DeltaCare USA DHMO-type plan, you’ll only get the fixed copay prices at your chosen DeltaCare USA dentist. Staying in network is a required part of your plan.

With a Delta Dental PPO plan, a non-network or Delta Dental Premier^® dentist can charge up to their full retail price as their submitted fees. The plan payment will be based on the plan maximums allowed. Members are responsible for their portion of the copay plus the difference between the submitted fees and plan maximums. For details about non-network dentist fees, see the plan Certificate of Coverage.

Delta Dental PPO plan members may visit any specialist. Remember that selecting a PPO dentist may help you lower your out-of-pocket expenses because they have agreed to reduced fees.

If you have a DeltaCare USA plan, your contract dentist will coordinate your dental care and refer you to a specialist. Specialist services may require preauthorization. Except for dental emergencies and preauthorized specialty services, treatment provided by a dentist other than your selected contract dentist will not be covered. Refer to your plan documents for limitations and exclusions.

With a Delta Dental PPO plan, you and any eligible dependents are covered anywhere in the world — even in situations that are not emergencies.

With a DeltaCare USA plan, you may seek emergency treatment from a dentist other than your selected contract dentist without a referral. Benefits for emergency treatment received from any dentist other than your selected contract dentist are limited to a maximum of $100 per emergency, per member. You’re responsible for copayments as well as any charges over the $100 benefit maximum. Emergency dental care is limited to palliative treatment for the elimination of dental pain. You’ll need to seek any further treatment from your contract dentist

You'll receive ID cards in your welcome kit after you purchase an individual Delta Dental plan. When visiting your dentist, you don’t need a printed or digital copy of your ID card on hand. Simply tell them you’re covered by Delta Dental and give the name and date of birth of the primary enrollee.

You’ll receive two printed ID cards in the policy holder’s name. Additional family members on the account can use the same card, but the card will show only the policy holder’s information.

You’ll receive two printed ID cards in the policy holder’s name. Additional family members on the account can use the same card. After you purchase a plan, you can register for a Delta Dental online account. From there, you can email or print a copy of your membership ID card for your dependent. The membership ID card will show only the policy holder’s information.

While an ID card is not required to receive services for insured members, some dentist offices may still ask for it. Your dentist’s office staff can use your ID card to quickly look up your benefit and coverage information. If you don't have your ID card with you, your dentist can look you up with other identifying information.

You can also pull up your digital ID card from your online account to show the dentist’s office. Log in or register for an account.

You can enroll anytime. For more details, refer to the FAQ, "When will my benefits begin?"

You can enroll in the AARP Dental Insurance Plan, administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company, by contacting Delta Dental in one of three ways::
 

• Online: Get a quote right now to help you select your coverage.
• By phone: Enroll by calling 866-583-2085 (TTY: 800-735-2929) Monday – Friday, 7 am - 11 pm ET, or Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm ET.
• Request an enrollment form by calling the number above.
• By mail:
  • Review the information.
  • Complete the enrollment form.
  • Sign it and send the form back via mail

Yes. After you purchase a plan, you’ll have up to 90 days after your initial enrollment to add your spouse or partner, as well as dependents up to age 26, to your plan. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait for a qualifying status change to add a spouse or dependent to your plan.

For details about qualifying changes, refer to the Certificate of Coverage (for a PPO plan) or Evidence of Coverage (for a DeltaCare USA plan).

Coverage for PPO members will begin on the first day of the following month after your eligibility has been verified and your payment has been processed; however, you can enroll up to three months in advance. Enrolling online is the fastest way to get your enrollment and payment processed. Mailed enrollment forms may take longer to process.

For DeltaCare USA plans, your payment and enrollment form must be received by the 21st of the month for benefits to begin the following month. If your enrollment form is received after the 21st of the month, your benefits will not begin until two months later. For example, enrollments received on January 22 will have an effective date of March 1.

For more information about plan benefits, visit the Dental plans page, or get a quote to find details specific to plans available in your area.

You can select the month you’d like your coverage to start, up to three months in advance (with some restrictions for the DeltaCare USA plan — for more details, refer to the previous FAQ). Your plan’s start date is always the first day of the month, and your coverage begins on that date.

When you purchase an AARP Dental Insurance Plan, you’ll have the option to create a Delta Dental account during checkout. You can also register for an account 24 hours after you purchase your plan — visit the Delta Dental account registration page to get started.

Use your Delta Dental account to manage your plan, review benefit details, find a dentist, check claim status, pay premiums and locate your member ID card.

Premiums for the AARP Dental Insurance Plan, administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company, are based on the prevailing dental costs in the region where you live (i.e., your ZIP code). The number of individuals you elect to enroll and your plan choice affect the premium. The plan rates will be included in the information guide you receive. For today’s plan rates, you can also get a quote online now.

Check, money order and most credit cards are acceptable methods of payment, or you may set up an automatic checking or savings account electronic funds transfer (EFT). Please mail any checks or money orders to:

AARP Dental Insurance Plan
c/o Delta Dental Insurance Company
P.O. Box 514787
Los Angeles, CA 90051-4787

Check and money order payments are posted on the day we receive them, which may be several days after you mail them. We cannot accept these payment methods over the phone.

PPO plan members may pay monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. DeltaCare USA plan members may pay monthly or annually.

Premium payments are due on the first of the month. If you’re using autopay, payments are deducted on or around the 25th of the month before the due date. To set up autopay, log in to your online account.

Premium statements are sent one month and 10 days before the due date. If you’re using the monthly payment option, you won’t receive a statement. If you’re using autopay, your premium will be paid on or around the 25th of the month before your due date.