DentalInsurance.com Review

DentalInsurance.com Ratings at a Glance

DentalInsurance.com works with several insurance providers. This means it has many coverage options available. 

Here are the types of plans you can find on DentalInsurance.com:

• Dental health maintenance organizations (DHMOs): Dental HMOs have a dental provider network. That means that those dentists have contracted to work with the insurance company. You typically need to see an in-network provider. If you go out of network, your dental work may not be covered. Many of these plans cover 100% of preventive care like cleanings and exams. If you need to see a specialist, you may need to get a referral from your primary dentist. 
• Dental preferred provider organizations (PPOs): Dental PPOs also have a network. These plans typically pay more toward your dental work if you see an in-network dentist, but you can see out-of-network ones as well. Most of these plans also cover 100% of your dental care. 
• Indemnity dental insurance plans: These plans are sometimes referred to as traditional or fee-for-service plans. There isn’t a provider network and you may not need a referral to see a specialist. You typically pay your dentist for the care you receive and then seek reimbursement from your insurance company. 
• Dental discount plans: These plans aren’t insurance, but they’re an increasingly popular alternative. With this type of plan, you pay a monthly or annual fee. You receive a discount card that you can present to participating dentists. This card entitles you to a discount on dental services. You receive the discount on the spot without having to wait for insurance approval, and there’s no annual limit to the number of discounts you can receive. 

How Dental Insurance Works

Dental insurance may cover a variety of services, but this depends on the plan. That’s why it’s so important to compare your options. 

Here are the types of dental services your plan may cover:

• Preventive care: This includes cleanings, routine x-rays and exams. 
• Basic restorative care: This includes fillings, simple extractions, and periodontal treatment (treatment for gum disease). 
• Major restorative care: This includes crowns, bridges, dentures and root canals. Root canals are sometimes considered basic care, depending on the plan.
• Dental implants: These are artificial teeth that are secured to your jawbone. Plans typically cover this separately or may not cover implants at all. 
• Orthodontic care: This includes retainers and braces. Plans may not cover orthodontic care, or they may have a separate annual or lifetime limit. Orthodontic care is often limited to minors. 

Plans don’t pay all of your dental costs. You’ll pay a monthly premium for the plan. Here are other out-of-pocket costs to consider:

• Deductible: This is the amount you pay out of pocket before your plan starts paying for dental care. 
• Coinsurance: This is the percentage of your dental costs that you’re responsible for. For example, your plan might pay 80% of the costs of basic restorative care, which means your coinsurance is 20%. 
• Copay: This is a set dollar amount you pay for certain services. For example, you might pay $20 for a routine office visit. 
• Annual maximum: This is the most your plan will pay in benefits in a year. Plan maximums typically range from $1,000 to $3,000 per year. 
• Lifetime maximum: This is the most your plan will pay for a benefit over the period you have your policy. This typically applies to orthodontic work, and not all plans have a lifetime maximum. 

Many plans also have waiting periods. This is the minimum period you must be covered by insurance before the plan will pay for benefits. 

For example, you might have a 6-month waiting period before major restorative services are covered. If you need dental care immediately, look for available plans with no waiting periods or short waiting periods. 

What Isn’t Covered by Dental Insurance

Some services, like orthodontic care and implants, may not be covered by all plans. All dental plans have some exclusions, but these vary by plan. 

It’s important to review the exclusions of potential plans so you don’t have any surprises when you use your benefits. Here are common exclusions from dental insurance plans:

• General anesthesia
• Cosmetic dental services like teeth whitening
• Dental conditions related to a work injury (these may be covered under workers compensation insurance)
• Loss or theft of dentures 
• Dental procedures that occur before your coverage starts or after it ends
• Services on a tooth with a poor prognosis
• Prescription medications
• Missed appointments
• Completion of claim forms

DentalInsurance.com makes it easy to find an affordable dental insurance plan that offers the benefits you need. You can see the plans available in your area and compare up to 3 at a time side by side. This helps you compare the benefits and out-of-pocket costs each plan offers. Remember, as you compare policies, don’t get hung up on just the price. Make sure you know the sort of coverage you’ll get with that policy. Sometimes, when you pay very little, you get very little.

For example, you may not need a plan with orthodontic benefits, but you may need a root canal. You could look for a plan that covers a high percentage of root canals without any orthodontic coverage. 

You can also compare important aspects of coverage like waiting periods, plan maximums and deductibles. 

DentalInsurance.com offers customer service via phone and email. You can call its representatives at 800-296-3800 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. 

Or use the “Email Us” button at the bottom right corner of its website or send a message to customersupport@dentalinsurance.com.

DentalInsurance.com doesn’t offer support via live chat. It also doesn’t offer support on the weekends or into the evening on the West Coast. 

DentalInsurance.com Claims Support

DentalInsurance.com is not an insurance company. You can shop and apply for plans through DentalInsurance.com, but claims are handled by the insurance company you choose. 

If you’re concerned about the claims process, once you narrow down which providers you’re interested in, search for reviews of that company. That will give you a sense of how happy its customers are with the claims process. You can also visit the Better Business Bureau website and look for its rating. 

DentalInsurance.com makes it simple to find the best dental insurance. In a few clicks, you have a list of dental plans in your area, and you can compare your top choices side by side. And it’s easy to call or email for assistance if you need help with choosing a plan or understanding the benefits being offered. 

You can find a wide range of plans on DentalInsurance.com, including dental discount plans. Shopping for dental insurance with DentalInsurance.com can save you time and money. 

The main downside to DentalInsurance.com is that some plans available in your area may not be listed on the website. DentalInsurance.com does work with several major dental insurance companies. 

Which Dental Insurance Is Right for You?

Choosing the right dental insurance is an important decision. Start your search by considering what types of dental care you and your family might need. 

For example, if you’re younger and single, you might be happy with a basic plan covering preventive care. If you have children, you might want a plan with coverage for orthodontic care. If you anticipate needing crowns, bridges or dentures, look for a plan that covers a high percentage of those services and that doesn’t require you to wait for a year. 

Once you know what benefits you’re looking for, narrow down your plan options further by looking at the premium, annual maximum and coinsurance. Choose a plan that fits your budget while covering the care you need.