Dental Insurance Plans Best for You
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The following is a common coverage plan:
– 100% for preventative care services, such as checkups, cleanings and X-rays
– 80% for basic procedures, such as fillings, extractions and root canals
– 50% for major procedures, such as crowns, bridges, dentures and implants
A big drawback to many dental plans is an imposed waiting period – meaning you can’t make a claim for sometimes many months after you enter into the plan. Below are listed highly rated dental plans, all of which do not have waiting periods and provide good service and broad coverage.
Ameritas
This company’s dental plans cover orthodontic work and procedures and with no waiting period. Many other dental plans don’t cover orthodontics at all.
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.
Major services at 20% in the first year and then at 50% after that.
$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 maintaining a nationwide network of more than 152,000 dentists. They work on a HMO model and have set patient costs for specific dental procedures, with no deductibles or annual maximum payouts. For example, $20 for cleanings, with exams and X-rays free of charge, while fillings cost $25 to $120, root canals are $240 to $400, and teeth whitening is included with a copay of $125. Orthodontics are also included for a discounted price.
Denali Dental
If you need or want frequent check-ups and cleanings, then Denali is your best bet. They cover 100% of preventive services, including four cleanings per year. Their other coverage:
30% for basic services in the first year, increasing to 60% by the fourth year.
10% for major services in the first year, increasing to 60% by the fourth year.
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 very 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.
Major services like root canals at 20% in the first year, increasing to 50% by year three.
MetLife
MetLife provides very beneficial 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. They have one of the largest provider networks of any company at 490,000 locations nationwide. Their plan covers:
Preventive care services at 100%.
Basic Services at 70%.
Major services at 50%.
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. While you have an option to use your own dentist (out-of-network), using an in-network dentist will give you the highest coverage amounts. Their dental plan coverages:
Major services, the policy will cover only 10% to 25% of the cost of these procedures in the first year, but will increase to 65% in the third year of coverage.
Lifetime deductible of $100 and an annual maximum payout of $5,000.
UnitedHealthcare
United offers dental plans for some of the lowest prices in the country, with no waiting period for both preventive and basic care and orthodontic coverage after a one year waiting period. Their dental plan coverage:
Preventive services at 100%
Basic services at 50% in the first year, then 65% the next year, increasing to 80% in the third year.
