Dental Insurance

Most dental insurance plans cover preventive care, which includes regular checkups by your dentist, as well as care for cavities, implants or getting a tooth knocked out. Make sure to learn the details of your plan. Some plans may cover a procedure only after a waiting period and often not at 100%.

Dental plans include coverage for preventive care. This includes care like routine exams, cleanings, and X-rays. Many dental plans also include coverage for basic services like fillings and extractions, and major services like root canals, crowns and more. Preventative care is often covered completely. Beyond that you want to know the details of the specific plan because some will cover a procedure at 100%, others at a lower percentage, and others will require a copay. 

Absolutely. 

Plans under the ACA (Affordable Care Act) do not include dental coverage. There is no penalty for not having it, but as you are well aware, dental care can be very costly, so depending on your situation, dental insurance may be a wise choice. For those with Medicare, unfortunately dental is not covered. Medicare Supplement also does not include dental coverage. However, there is some dental coverage with Medicaid and also with Medicare Advantage, so if you have either, please familiarize yourself with the dental coverage details to determine if you should buy any additional dental insurance.

It depends on what care. For preventative care, there is no waiting period. As soon as you purchase the dental insurance you would be able to use the preventive care benefits. Beyon that, some plans do have a waiting period for other care, often ranging from 4-12 months. It is important to prepare ahead of time to make sure you have the covereage you need before you need it!

Most Americans pay just under $500 a year for dental inusrance, or $10-50 a month depending on their needs. You can also sign up for a dental discount plan which is an alternative to dental insurance that does not require paying a premium, but offers sizable discounts for out of pocket costs to you if you select doctors in the dental discount plan's network.