How Much Does Dental Insurance Cost in the US?

Learn about the various costs associated with dental insurance policies in the US, including premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance rates and annual maximums.

How Much Does Dental Insurance Cost in the US?

The cost of dental insurance can vary greatly depending on the type of policy you choose and the factors that influence it. It's important to understand the various dental insurance costs, what you get for them, and how to calculate your annual expenses.When it comes to dental coverage, the premium is the amount you pay for the policy. Many plans will also cover part of the cost of more extensive dental work, such as root canal treatments, crowns, endodontics, and periodontics. With pediatric dental coverage obtained through a health insurance marketplace, orthodontics will generally only be covered when deemed medically necessary.

Once your policy pays its annual maximum, you will be responsible for all dental costs for the rest of the year. In California, CAIC operates as Continental American Life Insurance Company (CAIC NAIC 71730). Dental and vision plans are managed by Aflac Benefit Solutions, Inc. If you have access to an employer-sponsored dental plan, it's likely to provide you with the best value, since your employer will likely subsidize a portion of the premiums.

Many seniors who don't have dental coverage from a former employer or through their spouse's employer turn to Medicare Advantage. Regular dental cleanings, crowns, and fillings can be much more manageable with an affordable dental plan. If you need help covering dental expenses, consider purchasing individual dental insurance or dental discount plans (not insurance). Dental insurance can significantly help reduce the cost of dental care and make it affordable for people to receive routine dental care. Any time you don't go to an in-network dentist (including any care you receive if you have a dental indemnity plan), your dentist may bill you for any amount of your charges that exceeds the “reasonable and customary fee” that the dental plan is willing to pay. State Medicaid programs have to cover pediatric dentistry, but there is wide variation from state to state in terms of how Medicaid covers dental care for adults.

Aflac insurance contracts are not an alternative or substitute for comprehensive health insurance coverage and should only be used to supplement comprehensive health insurance coverage. In general, dental insurance will not cover dental treatments that are considered essentially cosmetic and are not medically necessary. A preferred provider organization (PPO) dental insurance plan will generally give you access to a larger network of dentists than a DHMO and is more likely to offer reimbursement for out-of-network dentist services. While there's no way to know exactly how much you'll spend on dental insurance in any given year, there are ways to calculate it. Most dental insurance plans cover preventive care such as cleanings and x-rays 100%, and coverage for basic services such as fillings, root canals, and tooth extractions, but it's usually limited to a percentage of the cost (e.g.