Overall wellness depends on maintaining good dental health. This is achieved through regular checkups, cleanings, and treatments to avoid dental issues. However, dental treatments take a big chunk of your budget. The solution? Have dental insurance!
Dental insurance eases the financial burden of dental procedures. It helps to cover the cost of routine dental care and extensive procedures like root canals, extractions, and braces. Choosing the best among the many options may seem overwhelming.
This article explores the top-rated dental insurance plans that can aid you in making a well-informed decision.
How to Choose the Right Dental Insurance Plan
There are several key factors to consider when opting for a dental insurance plan:
Coverage Options
Make sure the plan covers the dental services you need regularly. You might consider routine cleanings and major procedures. Also, check if there are any limitations, like a waiting period before certain procedures are covered.
Network Providers
Check if your preferred dentist is within the plan’s network of providers. Availing of the services of a dentist outside of the provider’s network entails higher costs.
Deductibles and Copayments
Determine how much cash outlay to incur before the insurance coverage kicks in. Also, you might want to check the copayment amounts for each type of dental service. You might want to weigh the copayment amounts against the dental service.
Waiting Periods
Some plans have waiting periods before certain procedures are covered. Ensure you understand the length of time to forego before you can avail of needed procedures. Check out if there are any exceptions.
Annual Maximum Benefit
The annual maximum benefit is the ceiling amount the insurance plan will pay out per year for dental services you have availed of. Ensure the plan’s maximum benefit aligns with your dental needs.
Cost
Before anything else, you may need to check the amount of cash outlay. Consider the monthly premium cost, deductible, and copayment amounts. Compare them against the dental services covered. Ensure that the plan fits within your budget.
Extras
Some dental plans have add-ons to entice clients, such as bundling that adds more value to the product. The plans may offer additional benefits, such as discounted vision or hearing services. Consider if these extra benefits are important to you.
Customer Reviews
Look at customer reviews and feedback to see how satisfied others have been with the plan’s coverage, network providers, and customer service. On the side, you may consider checking the background and credibility of the customers making the reviews.
Top Dental Health Insurance Plans: Their Differences
Each dental health insurance plan has unique features and benefits that keep it on par with the industry. Each differs in terms of coverage, premiums, deductibles, waiting periods, and network size.
We list down the top-rated dental health insurance plans and how each differs in the market.
1. Humana Dental: Best Variety of Plan Options
Humana Dental, a popular provider and rated one of the best dental plans of 2023, offers a variety of plans to meet different needs and budgets.
Humana offers no waiting period for all covered services on some plans. They also offer a dental savings plan for those who don’t want traditional insurance. They have a large network of dentists, with over 270,000 participating providers.
Humana uses a 100-80-50 cost-sharing model. This means the plan fully pays for the cost of preventive care and diagnostics, 80% for basic services such as fillings, and 50% for major procedures and dental surgeries.
2. UnitedHealthOne: Best for Primary and Premier Plans and Best for High Annual Payout Limits
UnitedHealthOne offers seven policies, divided into primary and premium plans. The premier category includes policies with no waiting periods, high annual payout limits, and high coinsurance for major dental care.
Primary policies offer comprehensive benefits at lower premium rates and better coverage for out-of-network providers.
3. Guardian Direct: Best for Major Work
Guardian Direct offers various plans to meet different budgets and needs. It offers the best coverage for major dental work, making it a good choice for those who need extensive dental work. It offers a high annual payout limit and comprehensive coverage.
For basic care, they are known for shorter waiting periods or are even nonexistent on some plans. They have a huge network of dentists—over 114,000 participating providers. Also, it offers a dental savings plan for those who don’t want traditional insurance.
4. Delta Dental: Best for Braces
Delta Dental is rated as one of the best dental plans for 2023. It caters to the oral health needs of more than 80 million Americans, making it one of the country’s biggest. With over 156,000 dental practitioners, it boasts a colossal network of providers.
Delta Dental plans cover preventive care such as cleanings, check-ups, and X-rays at low or even zero cost to the patient. They also cover basic and major procedures, with higher coverage for major procedures like root canals and crowns.
Delta Dental offers a high reimbursement limit, comprehensive coverage, and shorter or no waiting periods for basic care. They are known for their coverage of orthodontic treatment, making them a great choice for those who need braces.
5. Spirit Dental: Best for No-Waiting Periods
Spirit Dental offers no waiting periods for any dental service—preventive, basic, or major work. The best thing is that their plans offer high annual limits. It’s a good option for individuals who need dental benefits on Day 1 upon availment of their plan.
6. Ameritas: Good for No-Waiting Periods
Ameritas offers a good price, a wide range of benefits, and no waiting periods for basic, major, or orthodontic care. It pays maximum insurance of $1,000 for the initial year and $2,000 in the succeeding years. It has a large network of 130,000 providers.
7. DentaQuest: Best for Affordable Premiums
DentaQuest is known for its plan offerings at affordable premiums limited to preventive dental services only. There’s minimal or no coverage for basic and major services. Their plans have wide coverage at lower premium rates, best for those who are budget-conscious.
8. Anthem: Best for Out-of-Network Coverage
Anthem offers a good alternative for individuals who choose more flexibility. Their plans are known for out-of-network coverage but still offer a wide range of benefits with no waiting periods.
9. Cigna Dental: Best Overall
With its three different dental plan options, the DHMO, DPPO, and indemnity plans, Cigna Dental has a large network of dentists, with over 93,000 participating providers. Cigna is available in all 50 states and has a dental coverage limit of up to $1,500.
Cigna Dental plans cover preventive care, basic procedures, and major procedures like root canals and crowns. They offer various coverage options for orthodontic treatment, catering to individuals, families, and employers.
You may opt for coverage within or outside the network. Cigna is rated as the best provider overall. It uses the 100-80-50 cost-sharing model.
Dental Insurance Plans: Comparing the Options
In summary, the plans with low and budget-friendly premium rates typically cover preventive care only. They offer minimal or no coverage for basic and major dental services.
On the other side of the spectrum, plans with high premium rates typically have shorter and even non-existent waiting periods, high annual benefits limits, and comprehensive coverage for preventive, basic, and major dental services.
When choosing a dental insurance plan, weigh the different factors. Compare the plans and choose the one that best fits your dental needs and budget. Also, check the dentists, or any specialists you may need, that are available within the plan’s network.
Lastly, compare the total costs for the plan each year, including premiums, deductibles, and copays.
Benefits of a Dental Insurance Plan
Dental insurance covers visits for dental check-ups, cleanings, fillings, and extractions. It also provides coverage for preventive and restorative oral health care services. It also covers complex procedures like root canals, crowns, and bridges.
Though dental insurance may seem unimportant to some, it offers numerous benefits that should not be disregarded.
Promotes Oral Health
Dental insurance provides a way to promote good oral health through regular check-ups and cleanings. With dental plans, preventive care is typically 100% covered, resulting in minimal to no charges for patients.
People are more likely to go to the dentist for regular checkups, which can detect potential dental problems in their early stages, reducing the cost of treatment later on.
Reduced Dental Costs
Dental insurance reduces the cost of dental care. Dental procedures can be expensive. Routine check-ups can even add up over time. Having an insurance plan offsets these costs, thus making dental care affordable.
From this perspective, individuals who need extensive dental work greatly benefit from having dental insurance.
Enhanced Overall Health
Having a dental insurance plan enhances overall health. Poor dental health may result in health complications like respiratory infections, heart diseases, and diabetes.
Regular dental checkups covered under an insurance plan can improve a person’s overall physical and mental health, resulting in a more fulfilling life.
Peace of Mind
Like any pre-need program, dental insurance provides peace of mind. It reduces the stress that comes with unexpected dental issues. It also helps individuals plan for their dental care needs, knowing that they have insurance to cover the cost.
Get a Dental Health Insurance Today!
It’s highly important to have dental insurance to ensure proper oral health and prevent expensive dental treatments. With the numerous options available on the market today, deciding on the appropriate plan proves to be a challenge.
Before selecting a dental insurance plan, carefully assess your needs, financial capacity, and provider credibility. This enables you to pick the perfect plan that will guarantee that you and your family enjoy high-quality dental services.
Every insurance provider offers slightly different benefits and coverage. Consider weighing in the monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Also, ensure your current dentist, if you still intend to avail of their services, is within the network of providers.
We at Omega Pediatrics strive to provide holistic care for our young patients. We aim to offer you complete healthcare, and this includes oral health. We can help you make an informed choice for your dental health insurance.
