Aetna review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Aetna suits people in the US who want dental and health cover, with premiums from $17 a month and an excess of $0. The insurer behind it has run since 1853, and the PPO plan caps what the insurer pays each year, so the cover limit is worth checking before you join.
Key facts
- Best for
- US households wanting dental and health cover paid monthly with no excess.
- Premium from
- $17↗
- Insurance types
- Dental, Health↗
- Provider type
- Insurer↗
- Monthly payments
- Yes↗
- Excess from
- $0↗
- Cover limit
- Aetna Dental Direct PPO $1,000-$2,000 annual maximum; DMO no maximum↗
- Claims channels
- Online member account, Phone↗
- Legal entity
- Aetna Life Insurance Company↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Founded
- 1853↗
- Support channels
- Phone, Chat, Help-centre↗
- Pricing model
- Monthly
- Official website
- aetna.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 3 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Premiums start at $17 a month on the monthly model
- Excess of $0, so nothing is left to pay on a covered claim
- Claims run through online member account and phone, so you can check cover in the member account
- Cover spans dental and health under one provider
Cons
- The Aetna Dental Direct PPO sets an annual maximum on insurer payments, so costly dental work hits that ceiling
- Support runs on phone, chat and help centre only, so those are the routes for a query
Ready to try Aetna?
Scored 9.3 / 10 by SumCue.
Who it suits
- US residents looking for dental cover alongside health cover
- People who prefer paying a set amount each month rather than in one go
- Members happy to check a claim through the online member account or by phone
Who should look elsewhere
- bunq, which charges no premium and carries no insurance cover
- bunq Spain, which also has no premium and no cover limit
- Linxea, a life insurance provider with no dental or health plans
The company behind it
Aetna is an insurer run by Aetna Life Insurance Company and based in the United States. It has been in business since 1853. Support is available on phone, chat and help centre, and cover is written under the legal entity named here, so claims and complaints sit with that company directly.
How Aetna compares
9.3 vs 8.6
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.3
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 8.7
9.3 vs 8.5
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9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 8.7
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.2
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 8.7Its premium starts at €25 and it writes life insurance, not the dental and health cover Aetna provides.
9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 8.8Its premium starts at €0, so it costs nothing but offers no insurance cover at all.
9.3 vs 8.9
9.3 vs 8.9
9.3 vs 9.0
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9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 8.9
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9.3 vs 8.9- 9.3 vs 8.6
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9.3 vs 8.2- 9.3 vs 8.0
Frequently asked questions
What does Aetna dental cover cost each month?+
Dental premiums start at $17 a month. The site median for premiums is €8.31, so Aetna sits above the middle of the range. Your own premium will depend on which plan you pick and what cover you want.
Is there an excess to pay on a dental claim?+
The excess starts at $0, so there is nothing to pay before the insurer starts covering the claim. That applies to the dental plans listed here, and your monthly premium still runs alongside it.
How much will Aetna pay in a year?+
It depends on the plan you hold. The Aetna Dental Direct PPO sets an annual maximum on what the insurer pays, and the DMO plan is arranged differently, so anyone expecting heavy dental work should read both before joining a monthly plan.
Can I pay for cover monthly?+
Yes. Monthly payments are available, which means cover runs on a monthly payment model rather than a single annual charge. People who prefer spreading the cost evenly across the year find that arrangement easier to plan for, and the premium starts at $17.
What kinds of insurance does Aetna sell?+
Aetna covers dental and health, so dental and health are the lines available. As an insurer it carries the risk itself, and the dental plans sit under the personal and family offering rather than a business one.
Who is behind the Aetna policies?+
Cover is underwritten by Aetna Life Insurance Company, an insurer headquartered in the United States. It has operated since 1853, and support for members runs on phone, chat and help centre. A long trading history gives some reassurance that claims sit with an established company rather than a short-lived seller.
How do I make a claim?+
Claims run through online member account and phone, so you can handle them in the online member account or by phone. Members who want to check what a plan pays before they book a dentist can see cover in the account, and help is available if a query comes up.
How do I reach Aetna support?+
Support is available on phone, chat and help centre. Phone, chat and a help centre are the listed routes, so you can pick whichever suits the question, and members can also check plan details in the online member account.
Sources
- aetna.com/about-us.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Provider type
“Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of companies, including Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna).”
- aetna.com/about-us/aetna-history.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Aetna is formed. We keep the Aetna name as a nod to the good reputation of the original Aetna Life Insurance Company. (1853)”
- aetna.com/individuals-families/buy-dental-coverage.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Claims channels, Cover limit, Excess from, Headquarters, Insurance types, Legal entity, Pricing model, Monthly payments, Premium from, Support channels
“Use your member account to check benefits, track claims, find in-network providers and more.”
Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Related by the facts
Aetna
US households wanting dental and health cover paid monthly with no excess.