Best Louisiana Dental Insurance

Quick Look: Best Louisiana Dental Insurance

• Best for No Waiting Periods: Smart Health Dental
• Best for No Annual Maximums: Careington
• Best for Saving on Dental Expenses: DentalPlans.com
• Best for Range of Insurance Options: Physician’s Mutual
• Best for Saving up to 40% on Fees: MetLife

The best investment you can make for your smile is to buy the right dental insurance. The good news is that there are plenty of reliable dental insurance companies that offer great coverage. But which truly earn top marks? 

At Benzinga, the staff has done all the research and drilled down to find the best Louisiana dental insurance for every need and budget. You can feel confident when you find solid coverage at a reliable price. 

The Best Louisiana Dental Insurance

The best dental insurance providers in Louisiana are those that offer excellent coverage at an affordable price and have a low (or no) deductible and also provide the best possible care for yourself and your loved ones. 

1. Smart Health Dental

Smart Health Dental (SHD) offers multiple dental insurance and non-insurance plan options. It has an extensive national network of over 200,000 licensed dental providers. No waiting periods

There are no waiting periods, and you’ll find dental insurance plans with up to 100% coverage on preventive procedures.

Call for a free quote Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

2. Careington

Careington Dental Insurance isn’t technically insurance — it’s a dental savings plan. Enrolling in a Careington plan allows you access to dental care from participating providers at a reduced cost. You’ll find a large network of participating dentists, immediate coverage and no age limits.

Its 500 Savings Plan is the most popular. This plan offers an average of 20% to 60% off of standard fees for most dental procedures, including routine exams, teeth cleaning for both adults and children and root canals. The 500 Dental Savings Plan also offers 20% off of orthodontics such as braces. And you’ll also receive unlimited access to eDocAmerica, a free email service to ask dentists questions.

3. Dentalplans.com

Dentalplans.com is a hub for you to search and find a dental savings plan. Dental savings plans are not insurance. But your monthly membership buys you a savings card to present at the dentist of your choice for a percentage off the price of your services.

Dental savings plans can be an affordable alternative to insurance. Your plan works through nationwide network of dentists that offer 10 to 60% savings on preventive and restorative treatments.

Dentalplans.com is the perfect place to find your savings plan. If you find the same dental savings product at a lower cost, call its AtYourService® Team. It will match the price offered by online competitors.

4. Physicians Mutual

Physicians Mutual isn’t the cheapest provider of dental insurance in Louisiana, but it offers a wide range of options that seem to be fairly well-represented from region to region.

This means that even if you move from Louisiana to another state, you can take your dental insurance coverage with you and pay approximately the same amount as you would in Louisiana. 

5. MetLife

MetLife is best known as a life insurance company, but it also offers dental care coverage. MetLife nevertheless ranks highly for its financial stability, so you’re less likely to have claims denied because of financial issues on the company’s behalf.

MetLife tends to vary considerably in terms of location, unlike with Physicians Mutual, where prices tend to be even wherever you go (with the exception of the northwestern U.S. where coverage isn’t offered).

Coverage in Louisiana is among the most inexpensive. The only downside is that if you want dental insurance only for routine care like cleanings, X-rays and basic preventive care, it can be more expensive than other alternatives featured here. 

What is Dental Insurance and Who Needs It?

Dental coverage helps save you money on dental care, an important aspect of keeping your oral hygiene up to snuff. Most dental insurance plans will help you cover the costs of things like exams and cleanings -- basically, your preventative care. Some policies may offer full or partial coverage for other dental procedures, like fillings.

When choosing a dental plan, you'll want to consider the following:

• What is and isn't covered
• The monthly premium you'll pay
• Co-pays and deductibles
• Annual maximums
• Whether or not you're limited to a certain provider network.

If you're ready to compare plans, you can begin your search using the information Benzinga has provided. Remember, however, that coverage may vary depending on your location or other factors determined by the carrier. This is why Benzinga recommends that all insurance shoppers speak directly with the carrier to avoid any surprises.

Note: coverage may not be available in all states. Get in touch with your preferred provider to find out more about available coverage.

Types of Dental Coverage

Like medical insurance plans, Louisiana dental coverage is typically broken down into 2 distinct categories: indemnity care plans and managed care plans.

Indemnity Care Plans

These types of plans provide a wider range of care than managed care plans. Through indemnity plans, the carrier pays for covered services once a bill is received. This means that you may have to pay upfront and then be reimbursed directly from the insurance later.

Managed Care Plans

Managed-care plans usually comprise networks of dental providers. Those providers in a Louisiana dentist network agree to perform services for patients at prenegotiated rates. They also submit the invoice to the insurance company on your behalf. As a result, you have less paperwork to deal with lower out-of-pocket costs while taking advantage of a local network of dentists in the Louisiana area. 

Managed-care plans can be further broken down into preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and dental health maintenance organizations (DHMOs). Both of these types of plans leverage a “network” of dentists that have agreed on discounts for various dental services. Unlike insurance, these types of plans don’t pay anything for your care, but rather, give you a discount when you need something done.  

Discount Plans

Discount plans are generally different from traditional insurance. While a traditional policy offers a range of coverages, a discount plan offers savings on the full price of services. Some dentists/offices belong to clubs or programs that allow you to receive discounted care.

Moreover, you may ask your dentist what the cash price is for your dental care. Many medical professionals offer lower cash prices so that they can avoid all the man-hours, time and money spent on processing claims, going back and forth with insurance carriers and handling paperwork. Think of this as a discount for making the dentist’s life easier.

What Does Dental Insurance Cover?

Depending on the type of dental insurance you choose, you may find that discounts are available for the most common dental procedures. Plus, because dental pain often cannot wait, there are generally no waiting periods. The best dental insurance plans in Louisiana have low lifetime deductibles, as well as the ability to see any dentist from any network. Higher-tiered plans may include orthodontics for children. 

Depending on the plan you choose, you may enjoy regular coverage for common dental procedures including fillings, caps or cleanings, but also services like root canals and dentures. Most major cities in Louisiana are part of an extensive dental insurance network, including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Metairie, Lafayette, Lake Charles and more, so you never have to worry about a lack of dental insurance in Louisiana even if you’re traveling outside of your normal area. 

What Does Dental Insurance Not Cover? 

It’s important to note that there is a distinction between the search for dental insurance in Louisiana and searching for dental benefits. In short, an insurance plan is meant to absorb risk — and mitigate problems before they become even more costly. This includes dental procedures like getting a tooth pulled for an implant or getting a root canal.

A dental benefits plan can cover some things in full, but it’s not a “catch-all” and it’s not meant to pick up for what insurance doesn’t. Remember, also, that varying levels of coverage are provided depending on the serve. For example, you might pay nothing for children’s spacers under one plan, but those very same spacers may not be covered under another plan when you change jobs or select a new program during open enrollment. Review the levels of coverage for each policy before buying.

Average Cost of Dental Insurance in Louisiana

How much you pay for dental insurance will depend on what you need as well as how many people will fall under your coverage or plan. For example, with most plans, you can choose your own dentist, but you’ll save more if you choose a dentist that’s in your network. 

Most dental insurance plans have an annual deductible of around $50 per person or up to $150 per family. There’s also often an annual benefit maximum of up to $1,000 the 1st year, and up to $1,500 the third year onward. Routine preventive cleanings and X-rays are generally 100% covered or deeply discounted. 

What to Look for in a Dental Provider

This is going to depend heavily on your budget as well as your regular dental needs. For example, if you’re looking to buy dental insurance for your entire family, you’ll want to be sure that routine cleanings and check-ups are covered regularly for your children. 

Don’t hesitate to ask around if you’re concerned about more costly dental procedures. Ask family, friends and coworkers who they’d recommend and what kind of service they received. It also pays to check your local Louisiana state dental board to ensure that the dentist you’re considering is certified and licensed to practice dentistry in your state. 

This is also where you can see if there are any claims brought against that dentist or dental group. If anything should seem off or suspicious to you, don’t hesitate to look elsewhere. Moreover, the dentist should be open to chatting with you prior to your first visit. If they have time to chat with existing patients in the waiting room, they can talk to you before you schedule your first appointment.

Fortunately, throughout Louisiana, there are a variety of excellent dental insurance options that provide affordable dental insurance coverage for you and your family. We’ve narrowed down the top providers to save you time and make it easier for you to decide with confidence. 

Choose the Best Louisiana Dental Insurance

As you can see, the best dental insurance is one that’s designed to fit your unique needs and budget. 

It’s worth noting that some dental insurance companies in Louisiana will provide you with discounts if you opt for regular hygiene and oral care screenings or if you get preventive care on a regular basis. If your insurance is provided through your employer, ask the insurance or human resources department if these programs are available.

The best way to find out which insurance company is right for your needs is to get quotes from each of the companies profiled here to determine what your specific costs will be based on the type of coverage that seems right for you and your family. The insurance agent will ask you a few questions to learn more about what you’re looking for, then help you select the best plan that fits your needs.

It takes just minutes to get started, so take the time to get quotes from top dental insurers in Louisiana today.

Frequently Asked Questions