Compare Dental Coverage Types

If you are shopping on your own for dental coverage and not sure what type of dental coverage you need then you need to start with 2 questions:

1. How fast do you need dental coverage?
2. Do you have an excessive amount of dental work needed?

To simplify the answer there are two dental coverage types; one is dental insurance and the other is a non-insurance dental plan.

How do they differ?
- Dental health insurance can be purchased as a standalone policy – without buying one of the provider's health insurance plans or by adding dental insurance as an addition to a health insurance plan. Dental insurance plans differ in the level of reimbursement offered for certain procedures and in the annual allowance spending limitations. Some plans limit the waiting period before certain dental treatments are rendered and have exclusions, meaning that costs for certain dental procedures will not be reimbursed.

Discount dental plans or non-insurance dental plans offer a network of dental care providers that have been contracted to provide quality dental care at reduced prices. Because discount dental plans are not insurance, members pay a discounted fee directly to the dentist for work provided. Your dental savings range from 15% - 60% depending on the dental procedure. Most of these types of dental plans activate within 3 business days and have no annual limitations or maximums.