How To Find Affordable Dental Insurance & Alternative Options

Importance of Dental Insurance

Having dental insurance is a great way to ensure you and your family receive dental care. 

Here are some of the top reasons why dental insurance is important:

Preventive Care

When you have dental insurance, you can easily access checkups with your dentist. These are essential in keeping up with your oral health. 

Regular checkups help detect early oral health problems so they don’t worsen and/or can be treated promptly. 

Cost Savings

Having dental insurance can help you save money on most dental treatments. 

Coverage from your insurance plan can reduce the cost of services like routine cleanings, fillings, and more. Some might be covered in full. 

Emergency Coverage

In case of emergency, a dental insurance plan will come in handy. You don’t have to worry about paying out of pocket.

Instead, your insurance will cover some or all the treatment costs. 

Overall Health

Dental insurance will help you receive the care and treatments you need to stay healthy. Other health issues can arise if you don’t care for your dental health. 

Affordable Dental Coverage

Dental care is essential for maintaining excellent oral health and hygiene. However, dental treatment can be expensive without insurance.  

Fortunately, many insurance companies offer affordable dental plans so individuals and families can receive necessary care. They offer a variety of plans that fit any budget, which ensures you only pay for the dental services you need each year. 

It’s important to pick an insurance plan that meets all dental care requirements. Some low-cost dental plans only cover preventive care (e.g., teeth cleanings). However, they don’t cover restorative care (e.g., cavity fillings and dental crowns) or orthodontics for children. 

Popular Affordable Dental Insurance Options 

To help you choose the right coverage, compare a few different affordable dental insurance plans below:

(Newmouth is not affiliated with any of the insurance companies below)

Delta Dental

Delta Dental is the most affordable and well-known dental insurance provider. Unlike most insurance plans, DeltaCareUSA (HMO) has no maximum or deductible. It also has five dental plans to choose from. These are all listed on the website. 

You can go to their website to get a quote for dental insurance. Remember that Delta’s coverage varies per state, so you should check that beforehand. 

Spirit Dental

Spirit Dental provides affordable dental insurance for individuals and families. Coverage can cost anywhere between $36 and $70 per month.

Dental benefits can include:

• Three free teeth cleanings per year
• Partial orthodontics coverage (children only)
• One-time $100 deductible
• Low monthly premium
• High annual maximum dental insurance (up to $5,000)

Spirit Dental also has dental insurance that covers dental implants immediately. 

Humana

Humana is another well-known dental insurance company. It offers a Preventive Plus (PPO) dental insurance plan that covers preventive care and basic dental services. 

A PPO plan allows you to choose a dentist in or out of the network. However, treatment will be more expensive with an out-of-network dentist.

Investing in a more expensive insurance plan is necessary if you need extra dental coverage. Fortunately, Humana dental insurance is relatively inexpensive. A plan can cost anywhere between $20 and $48 per month.

Humana also offers a discount dental plan, which is different from insurance. You pay your dentist directly at a lower cost with a discount plan.

Benefits of Humana discount dental plans include:

• No annual deductible or annual maximum
• No paperwork or insurance claims
• No waiting period, which means you will get discounted services right away
• Only pay for the treatments you need each year (directly to your dentist)
• Savings on preventive dental care, simple tooth extractions, and restorative procedures
• Discounts on vision care, prescriptions, alternative medicine, and hearing services

CIGNA

Cigna offers various dental insurance plans for you to choose from. Most cost anywhere between $19 and $35 per month.

The cheapest plan only covers preventive dental care, while the most expensive plan covers:

• 100 percent of preventive dental care (teeth cleanings, x-rays, and dental exams)
• Up to $1,000 on orthodontic services for children (separate deductible)
• $50 deductible for individuals and $150 deductible for families
• Up to $1,500 coverage on restorative dental care per year (after deductible)

How to Find Affordable Dental Insurance

Finding affordable dental insurance is easy. Employers usually offer dental insurance as a benefit, or you may purchase dental insurance on your own. 

If you decide on the latter, here are some tips:

1. Ask Your Dentist

When looking for dental insurance, it’s best to ask your dentist. They might accept dental discount plans. 

A dental discount plan is an agreement between a provider and a dentist to offer discounted rates on certain dental services.

2. Check Group Plans

Checking group plans is possible if your employer doesn’t offer dental coverage. 

Programs like Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare offer dental coverage for certain groups. People in the military, for example, can access coverage through Tricare.

3. Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

Another way to get affordable dental insurance is to look at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). 

FQHCs are community health clinics that offer low-cost dental services. You can look for a center near you here. 

4. Shop Around Online

Thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to shop around for the best dental insurance plans available. 

Compare dental plans available in your area. Check their annual limits, covered services, and other costs. This can help you find the most affordable dental plan for your needs. 

What is Dental Insurance?

Dental insurance is a type of health insurance that covers issues related to the teeth and gums. It helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for many dental procedures and treatments.

The type of coverage dental insurance will have will depend on your provider. However, most dental insurance plans will typically cover the following:

• Preventive services — Regular check-ups, routine services and cleanings, and X-rays
• Basic services — Fillings, simple extractions, and emergency procedures
• Major dental procedures — Crowns, bridges, dentures, root canals, and oral surgeries
• Orthodontic treatment — Braces, clear aligners, and other orthodontic procedures

How Does Dental Insurance Work?

Whether or not you’re purchasing a dental insurance plan, it’s essential to understand how they work. 

Here are some important things to know about dental insurance:

• Deductibles — The amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance will pay on a claim. The deductible amount will vary based on your plan. 
• Waiting periods — A waiting period is the time you must wait before you get any coverage from your plan. It usually ranges from 6 months to a year.
• In-network providers — The dental professionals that can accept your insurance plan. You’ll have to ensure your dentist is in-network to get the most out of your plan.
• Premiums — How much you pay for your dental insurance. Higher premiums usually mean more comprehensive coverage.
• Maximum Benefit — The maximum amount your plan will pay for services in a year.

Average Cost of Dental Care Without Insurance

The pocket costs of dental work can add up quickly without insurance. The average prices of standard dental procedures without coverage are as follows: 

• General dentist checkups — Includes teeth cleanings, X-rays, and dental exams, which can cost up to $350 per visit without insurance. These routine visits are free with most low-cost dental insurance plans.
• X-rays — Can cost $200 or more on their own.
• Simple tooth extraction — Can cost up to $300 per tooth without insurance.
• Cavity filling — Can cost up to $500 per tooth without insurance.
• Root canal treatment — Can cost up to $2,000 without insurance.
• Dental crown — Can cost over $1,500 without insurance.
• Wisdom tooth removal — Can cost up to $650 per tooth without insurance.
• Other dental restorations — Includes dental implants, bridges, and dentures, which can cost a few thousand dollars without insurance.

Average Cost of Dental Work With Insurance 

With many affordable dental insurance policies, you can expect:

• 100 percent coverage on routine preventive care, such as teeth cleanings, X-rays, and dental exams.
• 50 percent coverage on restorative treatments, such as cavity fillings, dental crowns, dental bridges, and more.
• 25 percent coverage on minor oral surgeries, such as wisdom teeth removal
• Partial orthodontic coverage for children under 18 years of age (limited to specific plans only; be sure to check yours)

Factors to Consider When Getting Dental Insurance

Here are some factors to consider when choosing a dental insurance plan:

Location of Participating Dentists

The location of participating dentists is important when getting dental insurance. Try to find insurance with in-network partners near you. 

You don’t want to have in-network dentists far from your location. This will make it more difficult to receive treatment. 

Coverage of Pre-Existing Conditions

Some insurance companies don’t cover any pre-existing conditions. If you already need treatment for a dental issue, make sure your chosen plan covers it. 

Otherwise, you will have to pay for any treatments out-of-pocket.

Cosmetic Dentistry Coverage

Coverage for cosmetic dentistry isn’t always necessary, but it can help determine which insurance you get. 

If you want to undergo cosmetic treatments such as veneers or braces, cosmetic dentistry coverage will be a great help. This can help lower the treatment’s costs and make it more accessible. 

Cost of Monthly Premiums

The monthly premium is how much you pay for the plan’s benefits. Some dental plans will have higher premiums than others. 

While plans with lower premiums seem more affordable, coverage is usually limited. Be sure to compare the cost of monthly premiums and the coverage and benefits each plan offers.

Other Dental Coverage Options: Discount Dental Plans

Discount dental plans are another way to save on dental care costs if you cannot afford insurance.

All discount plans have similar benefits, including:

• Only pay for the dental services you need when you need them
• Pay one low annual fee instead of monthly premiums
• As a member, you have easy access to in-network dentists who offer reduced prices
• Pay your dentist directly at reduced rates
• No approvals, claims, or application forms are necessary

There are also dental assistance programs for low-income help.

Summary

Dental care can be expensive without insurance, with some treatments costing up to several thousand dollars. Many people purchase an affordable dental insurance policy to help cover the cost of dental work. 

Different companies offer dental insurance plans to cover basic and major services. This will help you get the healthcare you need.