Dental insurance works very similar to health insurance.  You pay a monthly premium.  Many dental insurance plans have a deductible that must be met before the plan pays anything, although  some plans do not have deductibles.  Once the deductible is met (if your plan has one) then you pay either a set copay or a percentage of the cost for qualified dental expenses (the percentage you pay is called a “co-insurance”).  Unlike health insurance, many dental plans have an annual benefit maximum amount (also called a “plan maximum”) of what the plan will pay in a calendar year.  Plan maximums will typically be $1,000 - $3,000 per year depending on the plan you choose. To see benefits offered within any plan, click the "View Details" button under the plans name in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder.  

Unlike dental insurance plans, dental discount plans do not pay for services.  Instead, these plans offer discounts off of dental procedures from participating dentists.  Discounts usually range from 10% - 60%.  You pay a membership fee to have access to discounted dental services.  Discount plans have no deductibles, no waiting periods and no plan maximums.  These plans tend to have smaller provider networks than traditional dental insurance.  If you are considering a dental discount plan, be sure to check the provider directory to see if the dentist you would like to see accepts the plan.  To look up dentists in a plan’s provider directory, click “Find Provider” below a plan’s name in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder. This will take you to the plan’s online provider directory.  

To check if a dentist accepts a plan, click the “Find Provider” button below a plan’s name in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder.  This will open a new page for that plan’s specific online provider search.  From there, follow the steps to look up in-network dentists.  NOTE: Providing less information about a dentist or eye doctor will yield greater results. For example, inputting a provider's last name only and zip code - or just the zip code only - will show the most providers in the area you are searching.  Sometimes dentists are listed under different names.  If the dentist you are searching for does not come up, try just entering the dentists’ zip code with a search radius of 1 – 5 miles.

A waiting period is a length of time that begins when you first sign up for a plan that you must wait before certain services are covered. Many dental insurance plans may have waiting periods of 6 to 12 months or longer depending on the type of service.  For example, basic services ( e.g., fillings, space maintainers, recementation of crowns, etc.) may have a 6 month waiting period while major services (e.g., extractions, crowns, bridges, etc.) may have a 12 month waiting period.  Preventive services (e.g., teeth cleaning, x-rays) generally do not have waiting periods and are covered immediately on most plans.  To see if a plan has a waiting period, click the "View Details" button under a plans name in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder.

Yes. Dental discount plans (like the Careington Discount Dental plans) have no waiting period.  Also, Delta Dental offers two dental insurance plans that have no waiting periods: the Delta Dental Immediate Coverage Premier PPO which is found in the Dental & Vision Plan finder; and the DeltaCare USA Dental HMO which can be accessed through the Delta Dental website. 

A couple of things worth noting about the Delta Dental plans: 

The Immediate Coverage Premier PPO only covers 10% on the first year of enrollment for major procedures like root canals and oral surgery. Coverage increases starting on the 2nd year of enrollment. 

The DeltaCare USA Dental HMO has full coverage starting on the first day of enrollment.  However, Dental HMO plans tend to have much smaller networks. If you are considering this plan, be sure to check the provider finder to find an in-network dentist near you. You can access the DeltaCare USA provider finder by clicking on the “Primary care facilities” link located below the plan name on the Delta Dental website.

Many dental plans have an annual benefit maximum amount (also called a “plan maximum”) of what the plan will pay in a calendar year.  However, some dental plans do not have a plan maximum.  Plan maximums will typically be $1,000 - $3,000 per year depending on the plan you choose.  To see if a plan has an annual benefit maximum amount, while viewing the list of plans in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder, click “View Details” below the plan’s name and look for “Plan Maximum”.

Dental discount plans do not have annual benefit maximums (also called “plan maximums”).  Dental discount plans offer discounts off of qualified dental expenses from participating dentists. To see a list of full benefits for any plan, click the "View Details" button under a plans name in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder.

Yes. Because many traditional dental insurance plans have waiting periods, if you have pressing dental issues that need to be addressed immediately, you could also enroll in a dental discount plan in the interim. Dental discount plans do not have waiting periods and therefore can help bridge the gap while you are still in a waiting period of a dental insurance plan. You can find dental discount plans that are available in your area in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder.

Most plans cover cleanings and x-rays as a diagnostic and preventive benefit without a waiting period (see “What is a waiting period?” above for more information on waiting periods).  To see a full description of what benefits a plan will cover, click the “View Details” button below a plan’s name while viewing the list of plans in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder.

Most plans cover major dental procedures.  Major dental procedures may be subject to waiting periods, so be sure to check the plan’s benefit description for information on types of procedures covered and if waiting periods apply (see “What is a waiting period?” above for more information on waiting periods).  To check the plan benefit description, click the “Plan Details” button located below each plan’s name in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder.

Braces and orthodontic care are covered by some plans.  Be sure to check the plan’s benefit description for information on orthodontic care and if waiting periods apply.  To check the plan benefit description, click “Plan Details” located below each plan’s name in the Dental & Vision Plan Finder.

Yes, you can buy dental insurance and/or dental discount plans as an individual or family standalone plan.

Children’s dental coverage is included as part of all health insurance plans sold through the exchanges (Obamacare plans).  This is known as “embedded children’s dental coverage”.  Dental coverage for adults is not considered an “essential health benefit” under the Affordable Care Act and therefore not covered under any health plans as part of the core benefits.