We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Dental care is a key component of your overall health, but it's not included in most health insurance plans. The good news is that dental insurance may be more affordable than you think. You can find a plan individually, or your employer may pay for all or part of your dental coverage as part of your benefits package. Dental insurance typically covers routine cleanings as well as more serious procedures like fillings and crowns. The best dental insurance plans come with affordable monthly premiums, great coverage, and high customer satisfaction. Some dental insurance plans have a waiting period before you can receive full coverage, but others allow you to start taking advantage of benefits right away. Here are some of the best dental insurance providers on the market. Best Dental Insurance Providers Best Dental Insurance Providers Final Verdict Compare Providers FAQs Methodology Why We Chose It 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. Pros & Cons Pros 10 different plan options Affordable monthly premiums Cons May have a waiting period for some services Poor coverage for orthodontics Overview 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+ (Superior)" by AM Best. Its rating indicates the financial strength and stability of UnitedHealthOne's products. These are six of United's most popular dental plans, along with their noted benefits: Why We Chose It Delta Dental is our top pick for families on a budget thanks to its affordable plans for the whole family. It also offers an HMO dental plan with no deductibles or annual maximums, making it easier for you to afford the coverage you need. Pros & Cons Pros HMO plan with no deductibles or annual maximums Affordable cost Cons Not all procedures are covered depending on your plan Some plans have a waiting period Overview Delta Dental is the largest provider of dental benefits in the United States with a network of more than 155,000 practicing dentists nationwide. Delta Dental has an "A (Excellent)" rating from AM Best, which affirmed the financial strength rating and the issuer credit ratings for the company. Delta Dental offers individual and group plans as well as plans through the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplace.Delta Dental offers plans designed to help families on a budget. The following is an overview of two Delta Dental insurance plans: Why We Chose It Humana is a great option if you’re looking for discounts on your dental insurance policy. This insurer regularly offers discounted fees when you use an in-network provider. Pros & Cons Pros No waiting period on some plans Discounts from in-network providers Cons Higher premiums on many plans High co-insurance rates Overview Humana offers dental insurance plans for individuals and groups. According to the company's website, enrollees may save 10% to 60%, depending on their plan, when they get dental services from a dentist in a dental network. The dental plans listed below are available with the noted benefits: Read the full Humana Dental Insurance review. Why We Chose It Cigna Dental is a great choice for patients who travel a lot because it provides a nationwide network at affordable rates. Pros & Cons Pros Large dental provider network Cons Not all plans available in every state Overview Cigna offers three different dental plan options through its network of more than 92,000 dentists. Cigna’s dental network spreads nationwide offering access to dental care while away from home if you travel often. Cigna has an "A (Excellent)" rating from AM Best, indicating that the company has solid financial strength. The following are Cigna Dental's individual insurance plans: Read the full Cigna dental insurance review. Why We Chose It Ameritas is our top pick for a dental insurance plan with a rewards program. Enrollees can increase their annual maximum benefit by making annual visits to the dentist. Pros & Cons Pros Ability to earn rewards and increase the maximum benefit Preventive services are 100% covered Cons Limited orthodontic coverage Overview Ameritas is well known in the insurance industry as a top provider of dental insurance. It also offers a Dental Rewards program through which enrollees can increase their annual maximum benefit to help pay for more expensive procedures in the future by visiting a dental provider each year and submitting a claim. The company has an “A (Excellent)" rating with AM Best and an “A+ (Strong)” rating with Standard & Poor's. Here are some features that come standard with all Ameritas dental plans: Our top pick for dental insurance is UnitedHealthOne. UnitedHealthOne offers competitively priced dental insurance plans for the whole family. Patients can choose from 10 different dental plans with varying levels of coverage. UnitedHealthOne received an A rating in financial stability from AM Best, so it will be able to cover the cost whenever you file a claim. Dental insurance typically covers teeth cleanings, preventive care, crowns, and fillings. Some dental insurance also covers a portion of orthodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics. All plans exclude treatments performed by practitioners who aren't licensed dentists or who aren't working under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Treatments that can be categorized as medical rather than dental usually aren't covered. Insurers typically won't pay for experimental procedures either. Deductibles can be as low as $50, but the number of services covered per year may have a cap, such as $1,000 or $1,500. You may be required to stay within a network or risk paying more for out-of-network providers. Dental insurance usually covers only a portion of the procedures and preventive care you require. You may be better off paying out of pocket for annual checkups and cleanings and nothing more. But, as with health insurance, your savings can be substantial if you need an unexpected procedure such as a root canal. If your employer offers dental insurance coverage as part of its benefits package, it’s generally cheaper than purchasing this insurance on your own. You'll pay a monthly premium as you would with health insurance and you'll have to meet a deductible before the insurance provider pays for your services. We considered several factors when compiling this list of dental insurance providers. We looked for companies that offered several different plan options to choose from. We also selected insurance companies with high financial strength and customer satisfaction ratings. Finally, we looked for plans with low costs and excellent coverage options for both preventive care and major procedures. Article Sources AM Best. “AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings for Most UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Life/Health Subsidiaries.” UnitedHealthcare Golden Rule Insurance Company. "Dental Primary Plans." UnitedHealthcare Golden Rule Insurance Company. "Dental Essential Plans." UnitedHealthcare Golden Rule Insurance Company. "Dental Premier Plans." Delta Dental. "Get the Most Value From Your Insurance by Visiting an In-Network Dentist." AM Best. "AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook to Positive for Delta Dental of California and Its Affiliates.” Delta Dental. "Dental Plan Options." Humana. "The Scoop on Dental Discount Plans." Humana. "Loyalty Plus Dental Plan." Humana. "Preventive Value." Humana. "Bright Plus." Humana. "Dental Savings Plus." Humana. "Complete Dental." Cigna. "Cigna Dental 1500." Businesswire. “AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of CIGNA Global Insurance Company Limited.” Cigna. "Cigna Dental 1000." Cigna. "Cigna Dental Preventive Plan." Ameritas. "Earn Rewards for the Benefits You Use Most." S&P Global. "RatingsDirect Ameritas Life Insurance Corp." AM Best. "Ameritas Life Insurance Corp." Ameritas. "Dental."Best Dental Insurance Providers of 2024
Best for Family Plans : UnitedHealthOne Dental Insurance
Best for Families on a Budget : Delta Dental Insurance
Best for Discounts : Humana Dental Insurance
Best for Nationwide Coverage : Cigna Dental Insurance
Best for Rewards Programs : Ameritas Dental Insurance
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Dental Insurance Providers
Company Plans Providers In-Network Coverage Limit Waiting Period UnitedHealthOne
Best for Family Plans10 100,000 $1,000 to $3,000 Varies Delta Dental
Best for Families on a Budget2 155,000 $500 to $2,500 Varies Humana
Best for Discounts3+ 270,000 $1,000 to Unlimited Varies Cigna
Best for Nationwide Coverage3 92,000 $1,000 to $1,500 Varies Ameritas
Best for Rewards Programs3 Unknown $750 to $2,500 Varies Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Dental Insurance Cover?
What Does Dental Insurance Typically Exclude?
How Much Does Dental Insurance Cost?
Is Dental Insurance Worth the Cost?
Methodology
FAQs
What are the best dental insurance companies? ›
- Anthem – Good for out-of-network coverage.
- Guardian – Good price for benefits provided.
- Ameritas – Good for no waiting periods.
- Humana – Good for preventive care.
- Spirit Dental – Good for dental cleanings.
Best Overall AARP/UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare offers the largest dental network of Medicare Advantage providers and many plans have no annual deductible for covered dental services. The company is well-rated and offers affordable plans.
Learn more using our resource on Ameritas Dental. Metlife is the single largest insurer of dental care in the U.S. Their network includes over 146,000 dentists and related dental care providers (e.g. oral surgeons) and their negotiated dental rates are 30-45% less than average retail prices.
What state has the best dental prices? ›Best and worst for: Dental treatment costs
Lowest dental treatment costs: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Highest dental treatment costs: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Company | Implants Coverage in Year 1 | Deductible |
---|---|---|
Delta Dental Best Overall | 50% | $50 |
MetLife Runner Up | 50% | $50 |
Physicians Mutual Most Affordable | 25% | $0 |
Spirit Best Waiting Period | 50% | $100 |
- Best Overall: Delta Dental.
- Runner Up: MetLife.
- Most Affordable: Physicians Mutual.
- Best for Waiting Periods: Spirit.
- Best for Customer Satisfaction: DentaQuest.
As the private plans' share of the Medicare patient pie has ballooned to 30.8 million people, so too have concerns about the insurers' aggressive sales tactics and misleading coverage claims.
What is the Medicare premium for 2024? ›The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $174.70 in 2024, an increase of $9.80 from $164.90 in 2023. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B enrollees in 2024 will be $240, an increase of $14 from the 2023 deductible of $226.
Which type of dental benefit plan is most common today? ›Dental PPOs are the most common dental policy. The NADP reports that 82 percent of dental policies are dental PPOs.
What does the average American pay for dental insurance? ›On average, people spend between $20 and $50 per month on dental insurance premiums, with annual estimates ranging from $240 to $600. However, dental insurance costs also include co-insurance, copayments for specific treatments, annual maximums (the coverage limit per year) and deductibles.
What is the average cost of dental insurance in the US? ›
How much does dental insurance cost? Dental insurance premiums typically range between $25 and $50 per month. When your dental insurance's annual maximum is reached, you may have to pay out-of-pocket charges.
What is the highest annual maximum on dental insurance? ›Most dental insurance plans have a designated annual maximum—which refers to the total amount your dental insurance policy will pay for dental services on your behalf over the course of the 12-month benefit period. The average dental annual maximum typically falls between $1,000 and $2,000.
Why is dental work so expensive even with insurance? ›You also often have to pay coinsurance, a percentage of the cost of treatment even after you have met your deductible. When you factor in deductibles, copayments and premiums, dental treatment can be expensive even if you have insurance, and it's not always clear if coverage is worth it.
Which dental treatment is the most expensive? ›Dental Implants1 | $3,000-$4,500 |
---|---|
Root Canal11 | $300-$2,000 |
Dentures (basic to mid-range)12 | $600-$3,000 |
Dentures (premium)12 | $4,000-$8,000 |
Gum Contouring (per tooth)13 | $50-$350 |
The state with the worst dental health was Arkansas, followed by West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
What dental plan is the best in California? ›- Delta Dental of California. Pros: Delta Dental is a well-established and widely recognized dental insurance provider. ...
- Anthem Blue Cross. ...
- MetLife Dental. ...
- Guardian Life Dental. ...
- Aetna Dental. ...
- UCLA Dental.
Dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans
The NADP reports that 82 percent of dental policies are dental PPOs. With these plans, a network of dentists agrees to provide care at a discounted rate to patients.
The premium amount may vary between different insurance companies and from plan to plan. A typical premium amount for a dental plan may be $20–$50 per month for an individual or $50–$150 per month for a family.
What is the average cost for dental insurance in California? ›The average dental insurance premium in California is $35.36 per month. *This is the based on average pricing for plans from eHealth, but actual prices available depend on zip code, age, gender, coverage level, and other factors. Get a personalized quote to see what may be available for you.