Dental Insurance in California —

Compare Individual & Family Plans

• Dental insurance plans can be very different. Some use an HMO-style network with set copayments, while others are PPO plans that pay a percentage of covered dental expenses.
• The right plan depends on more than the monthly premium. Before enrolling, compare:
  • Whether your dentist participates in the plan;
  • Deductibles;
  • Waiting periods;
  • Annual benefit maximums;
  • What the plan pays for fillings, crowns, root canals, periodontal treatment, dentures and other services;
  • Whether you can use an out-of-network dentist; and
  • How much you could still have to pay yourself.
  • Dental Glossary – Definitions 
• See the plans actually available to you: Compare Dental Insurance Plans & Get Quotes.
• After entering your ZIP code and information, you can compare plans side-by-side and use Plan Details and Find Doctors for the plans that interest you.
• There is no extra charge for our help. We are paid by the insurance company when applicable.
• Questions before enrolling?
  • Email [email protected] or schedule a Zoom meeting.

Already Need Expensive Dental Work?

Read This Before Buying Insurance

• If your dentist just told you that you need a crown, root canal, dentures, periodontal treatment or thousands of dollars of dental work, buying dental insurance today does not automatically mean the new plan will immediately pay half of the bill.
• Before buying a plan, ask your dentist for a written treatment plan showing:
  • Each recommended procedure;
  • The ADA/CDT procedure code;
  • The dentist’s estimated charge; and
  • Which work needs to be done now and which work can safely wait.
• Then compare available dental plans and check each plan for:
  • Waiting periods;
  • First-year benefits;
  • Deductibles and coinsurance;
  • Annual benefit maximums;
  • Whether your dentist is in-network; and
  • Whether the specific procedure is covered.
• A plan with a higher annual maximum is not necessarily the better plan if the treatment you need is excluded, subject to a waiting period, or your dentist is outside the network.
• If you want help comparing a dentist’s treatment proposal with the insurance options, email the treatment proposal and your questions to [email protected].

5 Things to Check Before Choosing Dental Insurance

• 1. Is your dentist in the network?
  • If keeping your present dentist matters, check the dentist before you enroll.
  • Get your dental quote, then use the Find Doctors link next to the plan you are considering.
• 2. Is the plan an HMO or PPO?
  • An HMO generally requires you to receive covered care through the plan’s participating dental network.
  • A PPO generally provides more flexibility, but using an out-of-network dentist can result in substantially higher out-of-pocket costs.
• 3. Is there a waiting period?
  • Preventive care may be available immediately while fillings, crowns, root canals, implants, orthodontics or other services may have different waiting periods.
  • Some plans have no waiting period, and some plans may waive certain waiting periods when acceptable proof of prior comparable dental coverage is provided.
• 4. What is the annual benefit maximum?
  • A PPO may limit how much the insurance company will pay during the calendar year.
  • Some HMO dental plans do not use an annual dollar maximum and instead list the member’s copayment for covered procedures.
• 5. What does the plan actually pay for the dental work you expect to need?
  • Don’t stop at statements such as “50% major services.” Look at the actual plan details, exclusions, limitations and procedure classifications.
  • Compare Dental Plans and Plan Details.

Dental HMO vs. Dental PPO —

What’s the Difference?

• Dental HMO plans:
  • You generally select or use a dentist in the plan’s HMO network.
  • Covered procedures commonly have a stated dollar copayment.
  • Some HMO plans have no deductible, no waiting period and no annual benefit maximum.
  • The major tradeoff is that your choice of dentists can be much more limited.
• Dental PPO plans:
  • You generally have a larger choice of dentists and some out-of-network benefits may be available.
  • The plan commonly pays a percentage of the allowed cost after any applicable deductible.
  • Many PPO plans have an annual benefit maximum.
  • Basic and major services may have waiting periods.
  • Going out-of-network can mean paying your coinsurance plus charges above the plan’s allowed amount.
• Neither type is automatically better.
  • If your dentist participates in an HMO and the copayment schedule works well for the treatment you expect, an HMO can be attractive.
  • If dentist choice and flexibility are more important, a PPO may be worth the additional premium and possible out-of-pocket expense.
• Compare HMO and PPO Dental Plans Available in Your ZIP Code.

Dental Insurance With No Waiting Period —

What Does That Really Mean?

• Yes. Dental plans with no waiting period are available in some situations.
• Our current dental quote system includes plans designed to provide immediate or no-wait coverage for certain dental services.
• But “no waiting period” does not mean “no out-of-pocket cost.”
  • The plan may pay only a percentage of the cost;
  • A deductible may apply;
  • There may be an annual benefit maximum;
  • The percentage paid may increase after you have kept the coverage for one or more years;
  • Orthodontics may have different rules; and
  • Network and other policy limitations still apply.
• This is especially important if you are shopping for insurance after your dentist has already recommended expensive work.
• Compare Dental Plans — Including Available No-Wait Options.
• If you already have a treatment proposal and aren’t sure which benefits matter, email it to [email protected].

Compare Dental Insurance Companies & Plans

• Depending on your ZIP code, age and the coverage requested, our dental comparison system may show plans from companies and programs including:
  • Delta Dental;
  • Anthem Blue Cross;
  • Blue Shield of California;
  • BrightBenefits;
  • Manhattan Life; and
  • Dental for Everyone / MWG.
• Don’t choose a carrier based only on the company name. A single company can offer several very different dental plans.
• For example, one carrier may offer:
  • An inexpensive HMO with fixed copayments;
  • A lower-cost PPO that primarily covers preventive and basic services;
  • A PPO with major dental benefits;
  • A plan with a higher annual maximum;
  • A plan including implants; or
  • A plan with orthodontic benefits.
• Compare the actual plan, not just the carrier.
• Get Current Dental Insurance Quotes & Compare Plans.
• If you would rather have help narrowing down the choices, email [email protected] or schedule a Zoom meeting.

Dental for Everyone & Specialty Dental Plans

• Some dental plans work differently from the traditional “100% preventive / percentage for basic and major services” design.
• Dental for Everyone and other specialty options may include plans with:
  • No waiting period for certain services;
  • Immediate major-service benefits;
  • Benefits that increase after the first or second year;
  • Higher annual benefit maximums; or
  • Orthodontic benefits on selected plans.
• Look at more than the advertised annual maximum.
  • A $3,000 or $5,000 maximum does not mean the plan will automatically pay $3,000 or $5,000 toward dental work during your first year.
  • Check the percentage payable in Year 1, Year 2 and later years, along with deductibles, network rules and covered procedures.
• Some association-based plans may also have membership, administrative or enrollment fees. Review the complete quote and enrollment disclosures before purchasing.
• Compare Dental for Everyone and Other Available Dental Plans.

Looking for a Different Kind of Dental Coverage?

• Dental Implants
  • Implant coverage has special limitations, waiting periods, annual maximums and plan provisions.
  • Dental Implant Insurance — What’s Covered and What’s Not?
• Medi-Cal Dental / Denti-Cal
  • If you have Medi-Cal and want to know what dental benefits Medi-Cal provides, use our separate Medi-Cal Dental page.
  • Medi-Cal Dental Benefits, Dentists & Coverage
• Medicare & Dental
  • Original Medicare dental coverage is limited. Medicare Advantage plans and separate dental insurance work differently.
  • Dental Coverage Under Medicare
• Covered California Dental
  • If you are purchasing health coverage through Covered California and want to add family dental coverage, review the dental options available through your Covered California account.
  • Covered California Dental Plans
• Employer Dental Benefits
  • Dental insurance offered through an employer works differently from purchasing an individual dental plan.
  • Employer & Small Group Insurance
• Dental Glossary – Definitions  
• Still not sure where to start?
  • Email [email protected] and explain what dental coverage or treatment you are trying to solve.
  • Or schedule a Zoom meeting with Steve.