This article will look at the Best Dental Insurance Plans on the market, keeping coverage, cost, and ease of access for people and families in mind. Selecting an appropriate dental plan will help in controlling costs for dental care, regular routine checkups, and major dental work.
This guide will take you through the leading competitors in the market and what they offer so you can decide what plan will best assist you in maintaining good oral health and protecting you financially.
What is Dental Insurance Plans?
Most caregivers go for dental insurances plans because they facilitate the ability to plan for and cover the cost of different kinds of dental health expenses in the event that dental care is require or needed. Routine dental care like check-ups and cleanings as well as filling and other more expensive dental care like crowns, root canals, and even orthodontics.
Premium based plans charge an ongoing monthly or yearly payment for practice that falls under the plans. Many plans section costs into three care levels – preventive, basic, and major.
Each with differing levels of cost-coverage before the insurance company contributes to cost of care. Even more so, costs plan and make dental health care more affordable. Which encourages and allows patients to chosen oral health care. Which further prevents more serious health problems down the road.
Why Use Dental Insurance Plans
Saving Money on Dental Care: Getting dental insurance will lower the cost of having to pay for dental treatments, cleanings, and check-ups.
Encouragement of Preventative Care: Insurance will cover preventative dental care cleanings and check-ups, and will allow people to go to the dentist before they develop severe problems.
Larger Access to Dentists: Insurance will open the ability to go to numerous dentists, and will make choosing your desired qualified dental professional easier.
Coverage of Major Dental Procedures: Dental insurance will cover major dental expenses and help pay for root canals, crowns, and orthodontics, which can be very expensive.
Overall Health Improvement: Timely treatment of dental problems helps the patient to avoid dental infections and problems which can lead to major health issues.
Comfort: Knowing that certain dental expenses are covered will allow a person to have financial comfort, and to obtain the needed dental procedures.
Key Point & Best Dental Insurance Plans
| Dental Insurance Provider | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Delta Dental | Largest dentist network, strong preventive care coverage, flexible PPO & HMO plans. |
| Cigna Dental | 24/7 customer support, no-cost preventive care, good orthodontic coverage options. |
| Guardian Direct | Fast online enrollment, major dental coverage from day one, competitive premiums. |
| Humana Dental | Affordable plans, good for seniors, wide variety of PPO options. |
| MetLife Dental | Strong employer-based plans, extensive network, good for families & large groups. |
| Aetna Dental | Simple plans with transparent pricing, includes discount programs, strong network. |
| Ameritas Dental | High annual maximums, low waiting periods, strong vision/dental combo options. |
| Principal Dental Insurance | Great for employer groups, strong preventive benefits, nationwide coverage. |
| Spirit Dental | No waiting periods, three cleanings per year, guaranteed acceptance. |
| Denali Dental | Very high annual maximums, progressive benefits, ideal for major dental work. |
1. Delta Dental
Delta Dental is considered one of the best dental insurance plans because of its network size, coverage alternatives, and emphasis on preventive care and wellness. Members can choose from thousands of dentists across the country which offers more flexibility and lower out of pocket expenses than many competing plans.
Delta Dental’s plans focus on preventive treatment and often provide coverage for cleanings and exams at no cost which promotes and helps eliminate potential long-term problems. Another terrific benefit is the customization of plan types available. This includes PPO, and HMO, and even premium plans allowing individuals, families, and employers alike the choice of coverage that fits both cost and care requirements, while providing ongoing dependable dental care.
Delta Dental – Key Features
- Largest Provider Network: Has the largest coverage of any other insurance provider with the widest dentist network in the United States.
- Strong Preventative Coverage: 100% coverage for cleanings every six months, as well as any exams or X-rays, encouraging beneficial oral health.
- Flexible Plan Options: Delta Dental offers PPO, HMO, and premium plans for individuals, families, and employers.
2. Cigna Dental
Cigna Dental ranks among the best in the united states for it’s insurance coverage provided, the ability to go to any dentist, the prevention care, the coverage for being in the military protective services and the ability to bring any US citizen to the military dentist.
Even with an affordable care cost, Cigna dental offers full coverage for military protective service members and their families, cc and fill ins. Members and their families often find great mental comfort in knowing the cost of and Stress involving their dental issues will be minimized.
There is excellent online service and customer service in remitting paperwork and they are efficient in copies of documents/claims and keep people informed on the progress of their paperwork. It’s also great mental ease being able to bring any US citizen to the military dentist.
Cigna Dental – Key Features
- No-Cost Preventative Care: Many of their flagship plans offer cleanings and exams for routine dental procedures for no additional cost.
- 24/7 Customer Support: Customer support is always available for any assistance regarding claims, coverage questions, or dentist selections.
- Wide Specialist Access: Includes very good coverage for orthodontics, periodontics, and repairs.
3. Guardian Direct
Guardian Direct is one of the best dental insurance plans on the market, and it is especially good because of the ability to purchase coverage directly, how easy they are to work with, how simple and clear the coverage is, and how good their customer service is.
Self-employed or freelance individuals have the ability to enroll on their own, unlike many employer-sponsored plans. Members can clearly understand what is and what isn’t covered under the simple benefit design.
No one enjoys surprises at the dentist! Aside from the above, Guardian Direct has affordable premiums, is very easy to work with and is the most comprehensive insurer meaning it is the most flexible and reflects quality care. This is one of the most dependable dental plans on the market.
Guardian Direct – Key Features
- Quick Online Enrollment: Individuals with no employer plans can sign up hassle-free.
- No Waiting for Preventative Care: Cleanings and exams are covered immediately and without delay.
- Affordable Premium Options: Maintain competitive rates while still providing significant dental coverage.
4. Humana Dental
Humana Dental Insurance has gained popularity among clients and businesses. Accessible and affordable insurance is user-friendly and has a strong preventive care focus. It has a large network of general dentists and specialists.
This allows members to be able to find a network provider close to home. Humana plans tend to fully cover cleanings, examinations, and X-rays when going to an in-network provider . This encourages patients to go for routine and preventative care. Many insurance plans have low premiums, and deductibles can be flexible (sometimes having to pay a one-time deductible rather than an annual one).
This makes insurance a valuable product. Humana Dental makes insurance affordable and provides useful tools. They help patients manage their insurance. They have an app and online to help with filing claims, cost tracking, and searching for dentists. Because of these factors, many clients, businesses, and families can trust Humana Dental and get valuable preventive care.
Humana Dental – Key Features
- Senior Friendly Plans: Very suitable for older adults with flexible cost options and large coverage amounts.
- Strong Preventive Care: Many of their plans offer 100% coverage for cleanings and checkups.
- Significant Network Access: Savings come from seeing one of thousands of in network dentists.
5. MetLife Dental
Thanks to the extent of their coverage and networks plus the quality of their customer service, MetLife stands out as the best option in America for family dental coverage and single plans as well as coverage for large groups of employees and their families.
MetLife balances coverage for preventative care offered in the plans such as regular check-ups and cleanings with coverage for restorative and major procedures such as crowns, root canals, and orthodontics.
What allows MetLife to stand out from their competitors is their reputation for flexibility and consistency: having well-designed coverage and benefits, straightforward co-pays, and participating dentist lists which allow customers to really appreciate their coverage.
MetLife Dental – Key Features
- Quality Employer Plans: Good coverage for larger businesses and extended families.
- Defined Co-Pays: Defined costs for preventive, basic, and major care.
- Broad National Network: Many dentists are licensed and part of the network.
6. Aetna Dental
The best thing about Aetna Dental is their straightforward pricing and easy options for coverage. They’re transparent about the benefits offered in their plans such as coverages for cleanings and X-rays which is something many other companies are not. They at Aetna Dental want you to visit the office regularly.
They understand the value in staying on top of your oral health and being able to catch and prevent issues as they arise. Aetna is also nationally known and their member policies are very accessible. There are easy online tools for figuring out your plan and for finding a dentist in your network. Overall, Aetna is a very reliable option and a legitimate business which is often hard to find in the dental field.
Aetna Dental – Key Features
- No Frills, Clear Plans: Straight-forward pricing and benefits.
- User Friendly Online Tools: Member portal to search for dentists, manage claims, and coverage.
- Discounts Available: Some plans provide discounts for orthodontics, implants, and cosmetic services.
7. Ameritas Dental
From the very beginning, Ameritas Dental has offered some of the most immediate coverage and most flexible and transparent benefits plans when it comes to dental insurance .
To this day, Ameritas still provides preventive care like cleanings, exams, and x-rays when you enroll, which is unlike competitors . Preventive services like monthly dental checkups are coverered 100%, which improves the oral health of registered members .
Even for larger operations like fillings, crowns, implants, and dentures, Ameritas has high annual maximums and generous financial reimburs Limitations to offset the incurring debt from other competitors . Ameritas has also provides policyholders with an exceptional nationwide dent to network and online simplified tools for locating providers and claim management, delivering peace of mind and consistent support when dental care is needed .
Ameritas clearly has extraordinary selection immediacy, extensive coverage, and transparency. Opting for dependable insurance coverage for themselves and their families, Ameritas is therefore the most timely coverage option.
Ameritas Dental – Key Features
- High Annual Maximums: For long term savings, benefits are accrued in the second year.
- Short Waiting Periods: Preventive care is covered from day one, and other services have short wait periods.
- Vision-Dental Combo Plans: Easy bundled plans for complete coverage.
8. Principal Dental Insurance
Principal Dental Insurance has one of the most extensive networks of participating dentists of any dental insurance plan with more than 135,000 dentists across the country. 2022) Because of this, most clients of Principal Dental Insurance can find in-network dentists close to home and this makes dental care even more affordable. 2022) Principal makes it a point to promote oral health by offering free preventive dental services to their clients.
Preventive services like routine dental exams, routine dental cleanings, and dental X-rays are fully covered (at 100%). For other more complex dental procedures such as dentures, crowns, and fillings, the insurance also helps with a large portion of the payment leaving the clients with the low-cost out of pocket payments often needed for dental services.
The flexibility also extends to how Principal can handle insuring not just large families but also their employers’ dental coverage for employees. Because of all this and more, reliable coverage at Principal Dental is very affordable and accessible.
Principal Dental Insurance – Key Features
- Good Preventive Benefits: Some plans offer no cost coverage for exams, cleanings, and X-rays.
- Adaptable Plan Design: Individuals, families and Employer Groups.
- Broad Dentist Network: Participating providers in every region, thousands of dentists.
9. Spirit Dental
Spirit Dental is one of the best companies because they offer coverage from the start with no waiting period for any services, whether they are preventative, basic, or even major services! Spirit also allows for three cleanings a year, whereas other plans typically just allow for two, and this is particularly helpful for early problem detections.
Spirit Dental also features higher annual maximum benefits of $5,000, allowing major necesary work like crowns and dentures to be much more affordable. On top of this freedom, Spirit also offers a large nationwide network and even allows you to go out of network!
Spirit Dental – Key Features
- No Waiting Periods: Get coverage for preventive, basic, and major services from the start.
- Three Cleanings per Year: Get extra preventive visits to help maintain oral health.
- High Annual Maximums: Annual benefits can go up to 5k for some plans.
10. Denali Dental
Unique to other plans and undoubtedly among the best, Denali Dental stands out because it offers unparalleled and immediate, no-waiting-period coverage. Unlike other plans, the coverage takes effect immediately.
With Denali, there are no waiting periods to receive coverage for cleanings, exams, or other major procedures. Denali covers two exams and four cleanings each calendar year, allowing you to get preventive care and catch issues before they escalate to bigger problems .
With each year of enrollment, the annual maximum benefit increases (up to $6,000) which becomes extremely beneficial for major work. With Denali, you can see any dentist you choose, even out-of-network ones.
Denali is a trustworthy choice for dental coverage because there is no waiting period, there are long-term benefits, and there is flexibility. This combination of features makes Denali Dental a wonderful and reliable choice for comprehensive dental coverage.
Denali Dental – Key Features
- Four Cleanings per Year: Get more preventive care access than most plans.
- Increasing Annual Maximums: Get benefits that grow each year up to 6k for major treatments.
- Choose Any Dentist: Get coverage that applies in and out of network for full flexibility.
Conclusion
Determining the best option for dental insurance comes down to weighing costs, accessibility, and versatility of benefits. Providers today focus on options for all needs, whether it be preventive coverage, no waiting periods, and/or high provider maxes.
Delta Dental, Cigna, Guardian Direct, Humana, MetLife, Aetna, Ameritas, Principal, Spirit Dental, and Denali have unique benefits to offer, all of which are effective at reducing costs for dental care. Selecting a plan to meet your budget and health priorities is critical to attaining consistent care to improve your dental health and reduce costs.
FAQ
How much will the insurance pay for dental procedures?
A common coverage model is 100/80/50 — meaning 100% of preventive care, about 80% of basic procedures, and roughly 50% of major procedures (after any deductible or copay).
What is a “waiting period”?
Many plans impose a waiting period before they cover basic or major procedures — for example, you might get preventive care immediately, but fillings or crowns may only be covered after 3–12 months.
Are there limits to how much insurance will pay in a given year?
Yes — most dental plans have an annual maximum benefit. Once you reach that limit, you must pay for any additional procedures for the rest of the benefit period.
