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Visiting the dentist regularly is essential for maintaining a healthy smile. You can also avoid paying these expenses with dental insurance. Adults without dental insurance are estimated to pay between $492 and $785 per year for market value dental care, according to the American Dental Association. Average prices rise with age, starting at $492 for 19- to 34-year-olds, then to $598 for 35- to 49-year-olds, and finally to $785 for 50- to 64-year-olds.

The repercussions will get worse if you wait longer to see a dentist. Regular dental visits can help avoid plaque development, cavities, and the late identification of oral cancer. According to the American Dental Association, money is still the most significant barrier to receiving dental care. This has been increasingly visible in recent years: between 2013 and 2016, 15.2 per cent of Americans who required dental treatment did not receive it due to cost, lack of coverage for their operations, and other financial barriers. Given the difficulties involved in finding the best dental insurance, you need to know the different aspects to take into account. That can include cost, coverage, and benefits, as well as the availability of speciality providers and the community of providers in your area.

Important Takeaways

Dental insurance is no less than health insurance but with far cheaper rates and deductibles. Premiums are often less than $50 a month, with annual deductibles ranging from $50 to $100.
Dental plans usually follow a 100-80-50 cost-sharing model, with 100% coverage for preventative and diagnostic treatments, 80% coverage for essential dental services like fillings, and 50% coverage for significant operations and surgeries.

How Insurance Works?

Dental insurance, unlike health insurance, has a few key differences. The cost is substantially lower — a monthly premium is usually less than $50, and the annual deductible is usually between $50 and $100. Rather than employing annual out-of-pocket maximums, dental insurance policies usually have a yearly coverage cap. The average maximum runs from $1,000 to $1,500, although according to the National Association of Dental Plans, just 5% of Americans go above their annual in-network maximum. Patients must pay a co-payment or coinsurance for services that the plan does not cover, according to the 100-80-50 cost-sharing model. The following items are commonly included in most plans:

Preventative care treatments, such as biannual examinations and cleanings, X-ray scans, and diagnostic tests, are 100% covered.
For basic procedures (80%) – fillings, root canal and extraction.
For major procedures (50%) – bridges, dentures and implants.

Other therapies that are more aesthetic or elective, including teeth whitening or orthodontic care, are often not covered, leaving patients with an out-of-pocket payment.

Types of Dental Insurance

Dental preferred provider organization

This sort of insurance works with a network of dentists who have agreed to provide services for the insurance company at a set price. When using contracted dentists, these discounts are beneficial, but you also have the option of selecting out-of-network dentists with limited coverage.

Dental Health Maintenance Organization

A network of dentists is paid a monthly fee for the patient’s care. In return, the services provided have reduced cost for the patient. You typically have to stay in-network under an HMO.

Dental Point of Service

Patients can see out-of-network providers, but they’ll save money by staying within the insurer’s network.

Best Dental Insurance Ever

United Healthcare

United Healthcare, based in Minnesota, is one of the top three insurance companies in the United States. Its UnitedHealthOne provider network connects patients with dentists around the country. Preventive care is commonly covered by UnitedHealthcare dental insurance with no deductibles or waiting periods. The dental plans offered by the organisation have no upper age limit.

Cigna Dental

Cigna, one of the nation’s largest medical insurance companies, has more than 17 million dental customers. The Connecticut-based company has a countrywide provider network of 93,000 dentists in 297,000 locations, with plans starting at $19 per month on average. Standard waiting periods for essential services are six months, and significant and orthodontic services are twelve months. Cigna’s most comprehensive plan, Cigna Dental 1500, is the only one that covers braces and other orthodontia (though a 12-month waiting period applies).

Delta Dental

Delta Dental and its 39 independent firms, the most significant dental insurer in the United States, provide complete dental coverage in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and other US territories. Over 150,000 dentists across the country are part of the company’s network, which serves over 80 million people. Delta Dental offers controlled fee-for-service and discount plans, as well as HMO and PPO plans.

Humana Dental

Humana Inc., established in Kentucky, is a rising star in the American health insurance market, with over 20 million members and a market share of around 8%. It has a network of 260,000 dentists across the United States and offers a wide selection of dental coverage. For any budget, Humana offers PPO, DHMO, bargain, and value plans.