Taking care of your teeth is an essential part of healthcare, but many people put off going to the dentist because of the high cost. While major medical insurance policies usually do not cover dental expenses, dental insurance policies are stepping in to fill this gap. Many companies offer dental plans, and most are available to individuals, unlike regular medical insurance plans that require group membership. Dental insurance works differently than regular medical insurance, with 100% coverage for certain dental expenses, while other types of expenses are typically covered at 80% and 50%. Dental insurance premiums and deductibles are much lower than for regular medical insurance.
Explore the Dental Insurance Plans That Suit You Best
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A common coverage plan for dental insurance includes 100% coverage for preventative care services such as checkups, cleanings, and X-rays, 80% coverage for basic procedures like fillings, extractions, and root canals, and 50% coverage for major procedures such as crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. However, a significant drawback of many dental plans is an imposed waiting period, meaning you cannot make a claim for many months after entering the plan.
The following are highly-rated dental plans that do not have waiting periods and provide good service and broad coverage:
Ameritas:
This company’s dental plans cover orthodontic work and procedures with no waiting period. Their policies cover preventive care at 100%, with a limit of two exams and cleanings per year, basic services at 65% in the first year and then 80% for every subsequent year, and major services at 20% in the first year and then at 50% after that. They have a $50 annual deductible and an annual maximum payout of $2,000.
Delta Dental:
Delta is one of the largest dental plan providers in the country, with more than 80 million members and a nationwide network of more than 152,000 dentists. They work on an HMO model and have set patient costs for specific dental procedures, with no deductibles or annual maximum payouts. Orthodontics are included at a discounted price.
Denali Dental:
Denali covers 100% of preventive services, including four cleanings per year, and 30% of basic services in the first year, increasing to 60% by the fourth year. They cover 10% of major services in the first year, increasing to 60% by the fourth year. They have a lifetime deductible of $100 to $200 and an annual maximum payout of $1,200 in year one, increasing to $2,500 to $6,000 in year four.
Humana:
This large medical insurance company offers dental plans with over 270,000 dentists in their nationwide network. Their Dental Loyalty Plus plan covers preventive services at 100%, including two check-ups and cleanings per year, and major services like root canals at 20% in the first year, increasing to 50% by year three.
MetLife:
MetLife provides dental plans for armed service veterans and their families, known as the Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). It is available to any veteran enrolled in the VA health care program, and they have one of the largest provider networks of any company at 490,000 locations nationwide. They cover preventive care services at 100%, basic services at 70%, and major services at 50%, with an annual deductible of $50 and an annual maximum payout of $3,500.
Spirit Dental:
Spirit offers one of the highest coverage amounts for major dental work, with no waiting period. Their dental plan coverage includes 10-25% coverage of major services in the first year, increasing to 65% in the third year of coverage. They have a lifetime deductible of $100.
