Dental Insurance

Dental insurance helps cover a portion of the costs associated with dental care. Typically, dental offices maintain a fee schedule, listing the prices for the various services and procedures they offer.

Types of Dental Insurance

1. Indemnity Dental Insurance Plan

This plan is ideal if you want to continue seeing your current dentist, especially if they do not participate in a dental network. Under this plan, the insurance company typically pays a percentage of the cost for your dental services based on the policy you choose. Be sure to review key details such as co-payment requirements, waiting periods, deductibles, annual limits, and graduated percentage scales that vary depending on the type of procedure or how long you’ve had the policy before starting treatment.

2. Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO)

A DHMO plan is when a dentist agrees to a contract with the insurance company to accept a set fee schedule in exchange for providing services at reduced rates as an In-Network Provider. These plans often have minimal or no waiting periods, no annual benefit maximums, and cover major dental work early in the policy period. Some DHMO plans even offer free semi-annual preventive care. However, procedures like fillings, crowns, implants, and dentures may have restrictions.

3. Participating Provider Organization (PPO)

A PPO plan operates similarly to a DHMO, with the flexibility to use both In-Network and Out-of-Network providers. However, using an Out-of-Network provider may result in higher costs, with the patient responsible for any fee differences unless otherwise outlined in the plan. Many PPO plans also have an annual maximum benefit limit. Once the limit is reached, any further treatments may fall under the patient’s responsibility. The annual maximum is typically renewed each year, but the renewal date could vary based on your plan (calendar year, fiscal year, or enrollment date).