Whats The Best Dental Insurance

Dental Plans Without Waiting Periods For Preventive Basic And Major Care

The below list includes dental plans in each state that do not have waiting periods for preventive, basic, and major dental care. Be certain to check the plan details page to make certain there have not been any plan updates that have changed their no waiting period status. You can also get price quotes for your age and zip code in a few clicks.

NOTE Some of the below plans may not be available in all regions of the state for which it is listed.

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How Can Dental Plans Make Dental Care More Affordable

Dental plans can help you manage your dental care costs better because the cost of not taking care of your oral health could be more.

• People without individual dental coverage are less likely to get routine dental care
• Waiting until theres a problem means that dental treatment will often be more involved and expensive
• Major problems linked to poor oral health are more likely to appear3

We Care About Protecting More Than Your Teeth

Guardian makes it easy for members to access quality preventive dental care because of its clear connection to overall health, as well as the savings gained by avoiding major services and dental procedures down the line. With good oral care, people are 67% less likely to have heart disease, 50% less likely to have osteoporosis, and 29% less likely to have diabetes8.

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How Much Is Dental Insurance

Dental plan premiums range from $17 to $96. Cost varies per plan type, coverage level and state of residence.

The plans with the lowest premiums cover preventive procedures and offer minimal or no coverage for basic and major services. On the other hand, the plans with the highest premiums tend to have shorter or no waiting periods, high annual limits and comprehensive coverage for preventive, basic and major work.

If comprehensive dental benefits are cost prohibitive for you or your family, consider low-cost alternatives to dental health insurance such as dental school clinics and state assistance programs.

Cost of common dental procedures

The cost of dental care depends significantly on the provider, the location and whether the patients insured.

To give readers a general idea, we looked at the average cost of common dental procedures in the 2020 Survey of Dental Fees published by the American Dental Association . Then, we calculated how much that procedure would cost with an insurance policy that covers 100% of preventive care, 80% of basic work and 50% of complex procedures.

Heres what we found:

Helpful Information About Dental Insurance

By the end of 2017, approximately 254 million Americans had some form of dental insurance. Still, a disturbingly high rate of the population remains uninsured. A survey conducted by the National Association of Dental Plans revealed that around 71.6 million US children and adults had no form of dental coverage as of that fiscal year.

Most people are unaware that their oral health is linked directly to their general health, said American Dental Association spokesperson, Dr. Julius Manz. Your oral health could show initial indicators to serious and preventable conditions such as strokes, chronic heart disease, or other systemic health issues. This is why visiting your dentist is essential to your everyday well-being.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90% of all systemic diseases produce oral signs and symptoms at some point.

Fortunately, a rising number of American children are getting the dental care they need. The American Dental Association has seen significant changes in dental care utilization patterns since 2000 among the US population. The US Centers for Disease and Control Prevention has documented a rising trend in dental care utilization among children, particularly in lower income groups, over the past decade. The elderly population has also been getting more dental care in recent years.

MEPS 20002016 Insurance Breakdown, Children Ages 2-18

So, whats the problem?

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Best Basic Coverage: Unitedhealthcare

• Coverage Limit: $1,000 to $3,000
• States Available: 47

UnitedHealthcare is our review’s best for basic coverage with several affordable choices that cover all of your basic dental needs, and most of UnitedHealthcares dental insurance policies impose no waiting period for these basic services, accompanied by low coinsurance rates that decrease every year you stay with the provider.

• Low coinsurance fees for basic services

• No wait for preventive coverage and often basic too

• Six-month waiting period for major services on some plans

• Only one plan to cover orthodontics

• Poor coverage for major services

Even with good oral hygiene and routine preventive care, most people need basic dental services such as fillings at some point. If youre looking for insurance to cover these treatments and you dont want to wait six months to a year for the policy to take effect, we recommend UnitedHealthcare. Seven of the providers 10 dental plans have no waiting period for either preventive and basic services.

UnitedHealthcare offers a wide array of dental policies. Many cover major services, but usually with a six-month wait. However, just one plan covers orthodontics, but coverage wont begin until 12 months after the policy start date.

What Are The Different Types Of Dental Plans

Most dental insurance companies offer a variety of plans across many states. That means you should be able to find plans ranging from affordable to ‘gold level’, premium coverage. Here are the most common dental insurance plans available now:

Dental discount plansThese are not full-coverage plans and should not be considered dental insurance, but they do provide discounts for common procedures. Discount plans usually only cost around $10 per month per person and the benefits can be used immediately, without a waiting list.

Preventive-only plansThese low-premium plans may be suitable for those who dont usually need dental work, and will help you cover the cost of preventive exams and cleanings.

Standard individual plansThe most popular dental plan for individuals since it covers most costs associated with preventive exams. Most cover two exams, cleanings and x-rays per year, and will partially cover additional work. There may or may not be a small exam copay.

Family dental plansThese dental plans are similar to standard individual plans. However, many insurance companies will offer the benefit of a family deductible. While most dental plans require a $50 deductible per person, the majority have a maximum family deductible of $150, which could be beneficial to those who need to insure more than three people.

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Can I Get Dental Insurance With No Waiting Period In Canada

Most insurance plans include a waiting period. The waiting period exists to prevent people from picking up insurance only when they have a health need.

Preventive care like cleaning and x-rays are usually available quickly without a long waiting period. Expensive procedures, including orthodontics and oral surgery, have a waiting period. Sometimes it can stretch to two or even three years.

For this reason, getting a plan now, when you do not yet need it, makes sense. It helps ensure that you are eligible once you have a claim.

Do not wait until you have a problem to start looking for dental insurance. Waiting periods can be long! Shop now so that you are covered when you have a need.

What Is Dental Insurance In Canada

Dental insurance is a type of health insurance. It covers preventive care and restorative dental procedures. In Canada, provincial health care plans offer some emergency dental care. This coverage is often insufficient, so a supplemental private is recommended for most. Below we detail how the two systems work.

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What Types Of Services And Treatment Does A Full Coverage Dental Plan Cover

The services and treatments covered under a full coverage dental plan depends on the type of dental plan you choose.

Typically, full coverage plans go beyond preventive care. They may also offer coverage for the following:

• Basic restorative care:This usually includes things like fillings, extractions, and non-routine X-rays.
• Major restorative care:This includes things like bridges, crowns, and dentures.
• Orthodontic treatment:This includes things like space maintainers, braces, and other devices used to align your teeth.
• Preventive dental care:This includes regular teeth cleanings, routine X-rays, fluoride treatments and sealants as indicated by age and frequency. Many dental plans cover 100% for preventive dental services with the exception of a copay at the time of the visit.

When choosing a full coverage dental plan, read the details carefully. Dental plans can vary even between insurers.

What Does Dental Insurance Cover

Most full coverage dental insurance plans cover two preventive maintenance visits a year without requiring a deductible payment. However, most require a deductible per person per year to cover dental care costs beyond preventive check-ups. If you need work done, most plans will cover a part of the costs.

A new dental plan wont cover an emergency youre experiencing now either, as most have a waiting period of six to 12 months for major work. However, some insurers will waive that if you recently had dental insurance.

• Annual max benefit as low as $1,000
• Waiting periods vary for major care

UnitedHealthcare Dental, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, is part of America’s largest network of dental providers. It also has a solid A+ financial rating from Standard & Poor. That’s because it’s part of the UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune 500 company.

There are no age limits on the various UnitedHealthcare Dental insurance plans, and preventive care is covered without any deductibles or frustrating waiting periods for basic through to common dental procedures. Coverage amounts and maximum benefits vary between plans and are also dependent on where you live.

Online browsing of plans is simple, and you can quickly get a hassle-free quote. As mentioned above, preventative care is covered, meaning exams, x-rays and cleaning won’t be a worry for the foreseeable.

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Best For Family Plans: Unitedhealthone Dental Insurance

United Healthcare

We chose UnitedHealthOne dental insurance for its affordable, accessible family dental plans. UnitedHealthOne offers 10 different dental plans and comes highly rated by AM Best.

• May have a waiting period for some services

• Poor coverage for orthodontics

Dental coverage through UnitedHealthOne is available in both individual and employer plans.

Golden Rule Insurance Company, which underwrites many of UnitedHealthOne’s individual insurance products, is rated “A+ ” from AM Best, and its rating indicates the financial strength and stability of UnitedHealthOne’s products.

Six of United’s most popular dental plans are listed below with the noted benefits:

Is There Specific Dental Insurance For Seniors

Some provinces make public dental insurance available to seniors. These programs can be limited in who they apply to, amounts reimbursed and care covered. Examples include the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and Albertas Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors program. Both target low-income seniors and have income limits. Check with your province to see what is available.

Health care, and particularly dental care, for seniors, can be a significant expense. Private insurance can be critical for defraying the costs.

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Can I Bundle Dental Vision And Health Insurance

In most circumstances, it is unlikely. Most health insurance policies do not provide dental or vision insurance unless otherwise noted. Unlike health insurance, there is no particular enrollment time for dental and vision insurance. There are some providers, like Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, that allow you to bundle dental, vision and health insurance.

Best Coverage Types: Guardian

• Major coverage requires a 12-month waiting period

• Not all plans available in all states

Guardian Life Insurance of America was founded in 1860 and has grown into an insurance provider for dental insurance and many other types of insurance for more than 160 years. Today, it has over 7 million members participating in its PPO or DHMO plans.

Guardian offers excellent coverage for seniors with three plans. With a Bronze, Silver, and Gold plan available, the rates are competitive, and the maximums are generous. The Bronze and Gold plans cover preventative care 100% on day one of coverage and the Silver program at 80%.

There are no deductibles in-network and $50 when out of network. Each plan increases its annual maximum for the first three years by about $250 each year, to $1,000 for Bronze and Silver and $1,500 for Gold. The rates vary by state, but they range from roughly $26 to $51 per month in California.

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Using Your Dental Insurance Couldnt Be Easier:

Choose a licensed dentist practicing in North Carolina

Make an appointment

Show your Blue Cross NC member ID card at the dentists office

Though most dentist offices will file a claim for you, if they don’t offer that service, you will need to file the claim.

Who’s eligible for Dental Blue® for Individuals?

All applicants and their dependents are eligible. Applicants must also be a resident of North Carolina and must have not had a Dental Blue for Individuals policy in the last 12 months.

How do I file a dental claim?

Participating providers will file the claim on your behalf. If your dentist office does not file claims, you should pay the dentist in full and submit your claim to Blue Cross NC for reimbursement. Complete a dental claim form and mail it to us within 180 days from the date of your service.

Mail the completed claim form to:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North CarolinaDental Claims Unit

Will I get credit for my prior dental coverage?

Yes, Blue Cross NC may waive or reduce any applicable dental waiting period by the number of month of prior dental coverage. Proof of prior dental coverage with less than 63 days lapse in coverage is required.

Dental Blue for Individuals is not part of the covered health insurance benefits of any Blue Cross NC plans. Dental Blue for Individuals must be purchased separately.

What Are The Main Types Of Full Coverage Dental Plans

Many types of dental plans provide coverage for services and treatments that go well beyond preventive care. These are considered full coverage. Dental PPO , Dental HMO , Dental EPO , and Dental POS , may all provide coverage for a wide range of dental services and treatments.

They can differ greatly, though, in covered services, costs, and limitations, even between insurance carriers.

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Tricare Retiree Dental Program

The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program is available to retired service members and their families for coverage in all U.S. territories and Canada.

TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Eligibility

The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program is available to:

• Service members entitied to retired pay, regardless of age
• National Guard and Reserve retirees, including those who are not yet receiving retired pay
• Current spouses
• Children up to age 21
• Surviving spouses who have not remarried and surviving children of service members, providing the service member passed away during active duty or retired status
• Medal of Honor recipients, their immediate family members, or their survivors
• Current spouses and children of service members not enrolled in the program, provided that the sponsor is receiving dental benefits from the VA or is otherwise unable to obtain benefits for family members

TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Coverage and Costs

Retired service members and their families are eligible to enroll immediately upon retirement or any time thereafter, and must commit to an initial 24 months of coverage, renewable annually after the initial enrollment period.

The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program covers:

• Exams, routine cleanings, fluoride treatments, and x-rays

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Aflac Dental Insurance Plans With Little To No Waiting Period

At Aflac, well work with you so you can get the treatments you need on a timeline that works. Our network dental insurance and employer-provided dental insurance have no waiting period for any services for most plans and our supplemental dental insurance has little to no waiting period, depending on the treatments you are seeking.

Our dental plans are affordable and thorough. We recommend you chat with an agent about your oral hygiene and coverage goals to see what makes the most sense.

Still have questions?

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What Exactly Does A Full Dental Insurance Cover Include

The first thing you must have is sufficient security for each individual or family group this is critical because no two people or families are alike in their demands and needs.The type of insurance we contract and the amount of support we want to add will be determined by the information provided above, with the understanding that the greater the level of coverage, the higher the costs.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dentures

The majority of full coverage dental insurance policies include some form of restorative coverage, and usually around half the cost of dentures is covered. Deductibles and copays still apply though, so youll find that the final cost to you can still be high.

The waiting period for new dental insurance patients applies to dentures too, as these are considered a non-emergency procedure. So you could be waiting anywhere between six months to a year or longer. And obviously dental plans have an annual maximum limit, so any previous dental work that year will chip into your dentures allowance.

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Who Is Eligible For Retired Military Dental Insurance

At least one of the following qualifications must be true to qualify for FEDVIP discounted retired military dental insurance. You must be:

• Over the age of 65 and qualified to receive retired military pay.
• A member of the Retired Reserve or Guard.
• A retired gray-area reservist set to begin receiving retired military benefits beginning at age 60.
• The spouse of a retired service member who is already enrolled with FEDVIP.
• The child of a service member who receives FEDVIP benefits you must be under age 21 or a full-time student under age 23.
• The unmarried surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty or as the result of a service-related injury or illness.
• A Medal of Honor recipient or the spouse of a Medal of Honor recipient.

You may enroll in FEDVIP only during the open enrollment period. This period usually begins in mid-November and runs until late December. However, you may qualify for a special enrollment period if youve experienced any of the following qualifying life events:

• Lost your dental insurance
• Gained a new family member
• Lost a family member
• Moved to another ZIP code and no longer have dental insurance because your provider doesnt service your new area

Not sure you qualify for a special enrollment period? Create an enrollment profile at BENEFEDS.