Best Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum

Want to jump straight to the answer? Delta Dental is one of the best dental insurance with no annual maximum provers.

When searching for a dental insurance plan, it’s important to consider each plan’s maximum annual benefit. Between exams, anesthesia, treatments and follow-up care, the cost of a moderate dental care need can quickly put a strain on your household budget. Even if you have insurance, knowing your dental insurance plan’s annual maximum and exploring dental insurance plans with no maximum are both must-dos when it comes to choosing affordable dental insurance.

Quick Look: Best Dental Insurance Companies with No Annual Maximum

• Best for People Who Prefer to Have a Set Network of Dentists: Delta Dental
• Best for People Who Prioritize Preventive Dental Care: Cigna Dental
• Best for Those Without Traditional Insurance: Aetna
• Best for Routine Dental Services With a One-time Deductible: Humana
• Best for People Who May Need a Significant Amount of Dental Work: Careington

Best Dental Insurance with No Annual Maximum

Here are some trusted dental insurance providers who offer dental plans with no annual maximum.

1. Best for People Who Prefer to Have a Set Network of Dentists: Delta Dental 

Delta Dental is one of the top-rated dental insurance providers, and the company offers two options for coverage without an annual maximum.

DeltaCare USA: DeltaCare USA is Delta’s DHMO plan option. Though you’ll need to see a dentist in the Delta Dental network, you’ll enjoy low or no copayments for most preventive services. The plan also doesn’t have a deductible, which means you can start using your benefits right away.

Delta Dental Patient Direct: Delta Dental Patient Direct is Delta Dental’s discount plan option. With this option, you’ll choose from a panel of dental professionals within Delta’s network. After receiving treatment, your dental office will provide you with a discount on services provided. You also won’t need to worry about deductibles or filing a claim with this option. 

Why We Love It: We love Delta Dental because it has discounted plans that provide you with the flexibility to choose dentists with reduced fees. With a variety of plans to choose from, you can select the option that best fits your needs and budget. These plans offer extensive coverage across all states, U.S. Territories, and Puerto Rico.

2. Best for People Who Prioritize Preventive Dental Care: Cigna Dental

If you’re looking for a dental insurance option for preventive care only, you may want to consider the Cigna Dental Preventive plan. Though this insurance plan doesn’t offer coverage for nonroutine treatments like fillings or crowns, you won’t pay anything for your office visits and other routine services. Preventive coverage is available for $19 per month.

Why We Love It: With Cigna Dental Insurance, there is no need to worry about finding a primary dentist. Additionally, Cigna Dental Insurance allows you to see a specialist without the need for a referral. This means that if you have specific dental concerns or require specialized treatment, you can easily schedule a visit with a specialist within its network without any extra steps.

3. Best for Those Without Traditional Insurance: Aetna

Aetna’s discount plan option is called Aetna® Vital Savings and allows access to select discounts on dental services. You’ll save 15% to 50% on dental services and treatments with your savings card. 

Dental-only plan: Benefit from reduced prices ranging from 15% to 50% on a comprehensive suite of dental services, including cleanings, crowns, X-rays, braces and teeth whitening. The plan is accepted by over 262,000 dental providers nationwide.

Dental Plus Prescription Plan: This plan includes all the advantages of the dental-only option, with the addition of prescription drug discounts. Typically, you can save up to 60% on generic and at least 12% on brand-name medications at over 58,000 participating pharmacies.

Why We Love It: Aetna makes it easy for you to enroll online. Additionally, some plans offered by Aetna come with the benefit of no deductibles, making it more affordable for you to maintain good oral health. Another advantage of choosing Aetna is the option to easily switch plans if needed.

4. Best for Routine Dental Services With a One-time Deductible: Humana

Humana offers two dental-care options that come with no annual maximums.

Preventive Value: Humana’s Preventive Value plan offers coverage for routine services at no cost to you. The plan includes coverage for routine cleanings and exams, X-rays, fillings and simple extractions. There is a $50 individual lifetime deductible, and you can begin using your coverage without a waiting period. 

Dental Savings Plan: In addition to a preventive insurance plan, Humana also offers a Dental Savings Plan for less than $8 a month. This plan is not a form of insurance but does include discounts on everything from fillings to dentures and orthodontics as long as you stay within Humana’s network.

Why We Love It: Humana offers a wide range of discounted services, including orthodontics, all covered at an affordable monthly fee. With Humana, there is no waiting period for coverage to start, allowing you to access essential preventive services right away.

5. Best for People Who May Need a Significant Amount of Dental Work: Careington

Unlike other dental coverage providers, Careington’s unique discount plans don’t limit the number of procedures you can undergo on your plan.

Savings range from 20% discounts for cosmetic procedures and orthodontics to 60% for routine treatments and services. Discount plan membership is available from $8.95 per month for individuals.

Why We Love It: Careington offers a range of dental plans that include cosmetic services as part of the coverage. Starting at just $9 per month, these plans provide affordable access to cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening, veneers and more. One of the standout features of Careington's dental plans is that there are no waiting periods, you can access these cosmetic and dental services as soon as you enroll in the plan.

What Is an Annual Maximum in Dental Insurance?

The annual maximum on your dental insurance plan is the total amount of money your dental insurance provider is willing to pay for your dental care needs in one year. In some cases, a dental insurance provider will place a limit on the total amount it’ll pay out throughout your life. For example, you might find a plan with a $1,000 annual maximum and a lifetime maximum of $50,000. If you reach your annual maximum, you’ll need to pay for 100% of your treatments out of pocket that year.

These limits can create problems if you require a major dental procedure. Imagine that you have a dental insurance policy with a $1,000 annual maximum and a 70% reimbursement level. You’ve already met your deductible, so you can begin using your insurance benefits. Now factor in that you need treatment for a major root canal. You receive treatment, and your dentist tells you that the cost of the treatment is $800.

In this example, you’ll use your insurance to pay for the majority of your treatment: $800 x 0.7 = $560, which is the amount of this procedure that your insurance covers. You’ll cover the remaining portion of your treatment costs. However, your maximum benefit is now $440 for the remainder of the year.

Later in the year, you need a crown, which ends up costing $900. Your portion is $900 x 0.7 = $630. However, because your insurance will only cover $440 worth of services for the remainder of the year, your insurance will release $440 to your dental care provider instead of the full 70% value of the treatment. You end up with a bill of $460 for this treatment. Your insurance provider won’t cover any percentage of the dental care that you receive before you reach your annual renewal date.

The bottom line: Once your insurance pays out your maximum benefit, you have no more insurance protection for the year. These factors make it important to choose a plan that offers a high annual maximum benefit.

Types of Dental Insurance

If you’re searching for a dental insurance plan without annual maximum benefits, you’ll be limited to a few choices, as annual maximums are now a common feature in the dental insurance industry. You can select from a few options to receive quality dental insurance that you can depend on.

Dental Health Maintenance Organizations (DHMOs)

DHMO plans operate in a similar manner as health maintenance organization (HMO) health insurance plans. DHMOs are the only type of dental insurance plan that comes without an annual maximum benefit limit. With a DHMO plan, you must see a dentist in your DHMO’s network. If you need to see a specialist, your dentist must refer you to one.

Most DHMO plans include annual cleaning and preventive treatments with $0 copays. If you need a more intensive procedure, you’ll usually need to make a copayment to receive treatment. Like most other types of insurance, DHMO plans may have a deductible that you must reach before you can begin using your benefits.

Dental Discount Plans

A dental discount plan is not the same thing as dental insurance. However, if you’re working on a very limited budget and you need coverage without an annual maximum benefit limit, a dental discount plan can provide you with a more affordable way to get coverage. There are also no deductibles associated with this option.

To join a dental discount plan, you’ll need to pay a membership fee instead of a monthly premium. The fees are usually affordable and are paid annually. After joining the plan, you’ll be provided with a membership card, which you’ll present to your dentist’s office at the time of service. In exchange, you’ll receive a discount on select services. Be sure to use your membership with a dentist who belongs to the plan and accepts discounts to get the most out of your plan. Now that you understand your options when it comes to finding dental insurance without an annual maximum, take a look at the options you have for dental insurance and protection.

Compare the Best Dental Insurance Providers

Dental insurance can be expensive, especially when you consider annual benefit limits. You can choose from a few dental insurance alternatives to protect your oral health without breaking the bank. Explore a few of Benzinga’s favorite options using the chart below.

Finding Dental Insurance with No Annual Maximum Online

Many men and women are surprised at just how much even a minor oral health problem can cost them if they don’t have insurance. A single filling can cost more than $250, while more in-depth oral surgeries and procedures like dentures can cost more than $15,000. Understanding your insurance options and enrolling in a plan before you need to use your coverage can mean the difference between a healthy smile and putting off dental care for even longer.

Frequently Asked Questions