Best dental insurance that covers crowns in 2024

Get right to it: The best way to get dental insurance that covers crowns is with DentalInsurance.com.

Quick Look: Best dental insurance that covers crowns

Dental crowns do more than just improve the appearance of your smile. They help rebuild your teeth so you can maintain good oral health.

Getting in for crowns can be expensive—but the right dental insurance plan can help foot the bill. Read on for everything you need to know about dental insurance that covers crowns.

Best dental insurance that covers crowns

Ready to find the best dental insurance providers? Here are Benzinga’s picks for providers that cover crowns.

1. Delta Dental

Delta Dental has been in business for 70 years and has focused exclusively on dental care. They have an extensive network that includes 3 out of 4 dentists in the country, so it’s easy to find a great provider.

It offers online tools to make managing your plan easier. Premium plans include 50% coverage for crowns with a relatively short waiting period — 6 months.

2. UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare may be best known for health insurance, but it partners with Golden Rule Insurance Company to offer dental plans as well. Many plans include coverage for crowns along with free preventive care.

UnitedHealthcare dental plans also include access to hearing aid discounts at thousands of providers. As a bonus, you can also add vision benefits to cover annual eye exams, glasses and contacts.

3. Dentalplans.com

Discount dental plans give you painless access to lower cost dental care. You don’t have to worry about what’s covered and what’s not, and you don’t have to file claims.

Dentalplans.com makes it easy to find and compare discount dental plans in your area. With just a few clicks, the site provides you with a list of plans to review and a link to sign up for each one.

4. Humana

Humana offers affordable dental coverage and multiple plans to help pay for crowns. You’ll also find plans that cover 100% of preventive dental care and low deductibles.

Humana offers an easy-to-navigate website and an extensive network of providers. You can register online, but if you prefer a more personal experience, you can also call and speak with a representative.

5. Ameritas

Ameritas’ multiple plans cover crowns and other restorative dental care. It also covers you whether you go to an in-network or out-of-network dentist — although you can save money if you see an in-network provider.

You’ll find plans with low deductibles and high annual maximums. No waiting period for benefits and no enrollment fees set Ameritas apart from other plans.

Does dental insurance cover crowns?

Dental insurance may cover crowns, but coverage for major restorative work varies by plan and provider. Some plans just cover basic, preventive services. Other plans cover more. Here are the levels of coverage you’ll typically see in dental plans:

• Preventive care includes regular cleanings, oral exams and routine x-rays.
• Basic restorative care goes beyond preventive care and adds extensive x-rays, fillings and tooth extractions (tooth removal).
• Important rehabilitation care for crowns, bridges and dentures.
• Orthodontic care covers the cost of braces and other appliances to straighten and move your teeth.

As you look at potential dental plans, double-check the plan to see if crowns are included. Many full coverage plans include crowns, but every company is different.

Check plan exclusions and policies for pre-existing conditions. Some plans don’t cover conditions that happen before you start coverage, while others have a waiting period. For example, a program may have a 180-day waiting period before you can get a crown.

Types of Dental Coverage

Dental insurance plans also vary in how they access care. As you review your options, you’ll see different types of plans, including:

• PPO Dental Plans: Preferred dentist organization (PPO) plans have a network of dentists. If you see an in-network dentist, you’ll get lower rates. You may be able to see out-of-network dentists, but you’ll pay more if you do.
• HMO Dental Plans: Dental health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are more restrictive than dental PPO plans. You choose a dentist or dental facility that is part of the HMO network, and that dentist coordinates all of your care. The plan pays the dentist a monthly fee to cover your care, and this helps keep your costs down. If you visit an out-of-network dentist, you may be responsible for all costs.
• Fee-for-service plans: Insurance companies may also refer to these plans as indemnity or traditional dental plans. With this type of plan, the provider pays a percentage of the charges for any dental services you receive.
• Dental discount programs: These plans are not insurance plans. A discount plan provider negotiates with dentists to offer a set discount on services. You pay a monthly or annual fee to join the program. When you go to the dentist, you will receive a discount on your dental services. No need to file a claim or worry about plan limits.

The right plan for you depends on many factors, including plan coverage, dental network and your budget.

Average cost of dental insurance that covers crowns

The average cost of dental insurance ranges from $15 to $50 per month. Comprehensive plans that pay for crowns may be at the higher end of this range. Your cost may be higher or lower based on a number of factors:

• Where do you live
• Whether you have an individual or group plan
• The type of design you choose
• Whether your coverage is through an employer or not

Some dental plans offer limited discounts. Some plans may offer a small reward that you can use to cover the deductible if you stay below a certain threshold. You may also find plans that offer special rates to seniors. If you are concerned about finding affordable dental insurance, the best approach is to shop around and compare multiple quotes.

What to look for in a dental insurance provider

Dental insurance plans vary, so what should you look for? Here are some things to keep in mind:

• The dental network: Already have a dentist that you and your family enjoy working with? If so, choose a plan that has your dentist in network.
• Your dental needs: If you or a family member is going to need a crown or orthodontic work, look for a plan that provides this coverage. Please note that there may be a waiting period before coverage begins and not all plans cover pre-existing conditions.
• Out-of-pocket costs: Like most types of insurance, dental plans require you to pay for a portion of the cost out of your pocket. These may include:
• Corresponding payments: Copays are a set amount you pay for a given service. For example, your plan may require you to pay $20 for a routine preventive care visit.
• Co-insurance: Your coinsurance is the percentage of service costs that you are responsible for. For example, you might have a 20% coinsurance for a crown, meaning you pay 20% of the cost. Your insurance plan pays the other 80%.
• Deductible: This is how much you pay for covered dental services before your plan starts paying. If you have a $500 deductible and get $1,000 in covered dental work, you must pay $500 before your plan contributes.
• Annual limit: Your annual limit is the most your dental insurance plan will pay in benefits per calendar year. If you have a $2,000 annual limit, your plan will pay up to $2,000 in dental expenses for the year. After that, all costs are your responsibility.
• Premium: This is how much you pay for dental coverage. You can pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

If you want a lower premium, you can choose a plan with a high deductible and a low annual limit. However, such a plan will result in higher out-of-pocket costs, so you may not save money in the long run.

Which dental program is right for me?

There is no one-size-fits-all dental plan. Plans vary greatly, and the plans available to you depend on where you live.

If you want simplicity, discount dental plans are a great option. You pay an annual fee and get discounts up front. You don’t have to worry about whether an insurance company will pay your claim. You can find plans in your area by visiting our trusted partner — Dentalplans.com.

If you prefer more traditional dental plans, take the time to compare multiple quotes. Dig into the details of each plan and analyze the short-term and long-term benefits. For example, many plans increase your benefits the first few years you have the plan. It can cover 20% for crowns in year 1, 30% for crowns in year 2 and 50% in year 3.

Take the time to understand the details and find the best value for your money.