Best dental insurance that covers dentures in 2023 • Benzinga

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

The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry reports that more than 37.9 million Americans will need access to dentures in 2020.

Quick Look: Best dental insurance that covers dentures

Switching to dentures is a serious investment, and a solid dental insurance or savings plan can help you afford the switch. Check out the best dental insurance providers that cover dentures.

A dental savings plan never has a waiting period and you are guaranteed acceptance. Cigna comes in at best overall for denture coverage because its benefits balance the wait time and savings.

Cigna’s CIGNAPlus dental savings plan includes dentures. An individual plan is $131.71 per year. Cigna claims you could save more than 40% on the total cost of dentures right away, and most traditional insurance plans cover 50% after a waiting period of at least 1 year.

Cigna works with more than 110,000 providers nationwide, so it’s possible to find a dentist who can work with your plan for maximum savings.

Careington is another provider of dental savings plans that can help you pay for your denture work right away. The Careington 500 Series Dental Savings Plan lets you take advantage of your discount right away, and individual plans cost just $131.71 per year.

You can save nearly 40% on dentures with the plan, and your routine preventive or minor dental work qualifies for a discount. There is no authorization and no annual limits. Also, don’t forget that savings plans don’t require paperwork on claims. And what you pay in the office after your dental work is all you will pay.

Humana’s Dental Loyalty Plus PPO plan is worth the wait. The first year of the Humana plan only covers 20% of your denture bill, but by year 3 it will cover 50%.

Humana’s monthly premium averages $34.99, and the annual maximum increases from $1,000 to $1,500 between Year 1 and Year 3. You can see any dentist, but if you stay in-network, you can save more than 25%.

In addition to denture coverage, this plan offers 100% preventive care coverage, a dentist of your choice, and a one-time deductible.

UnitedHealthcare dental plans allow you to purchase your own insurance, especially when dental is not covered at your place of work. Most health plans do not have dental options and you should come here for help. Yes, you may have found a plan in the health care marketplace, but you still need dental coverage.

Contact United to learn more about eligibility and you’ll find that their plans cover:

• Preventive care
• Emergency care
• Fillings
• Roots
• Retainers

There is a large network of providers to choose from. The carrier has no age restrictions and you pay the dentist directly—no waiting for claims or extra bills to arrive in the mail.

Delta Dental has 2 options for denture coverage — Preferred Prime and Platinum Prime. Both are PPO plans and require a 12 month wait for dentures. After waiting, both cover 50% of the cost of your dentures. The biggest differences are the monthly premiums and annual maximums.

Preferred Prime offers an annual maximum of $1,000 and a monthly premium of about $40. Platinum Prime runs $57.22 each month, but the maximum is $2,000. Depending on your provider and the type of denture you choose, Dental Dental could help you foot the bill.

The majority of dental insurance plans provide some coverage. Plans categorize dentures into restoration covers, so 50% coverage of denture services is standard.

You may experience some limitations on your denture coverage under a standard policy, such as a 6 month to 1 year waiting period as a new patient. Most standard dental policies also have an annual limit of $1,000, which doesn’t even come close to covering your dentures bill.

You may not have any coverage for major restorative procedures like dentures if you have a low-premium or high-deductible plan. Your best bet is to find a provider early if you’re going to need dentures. Open enrollment is a great time to make the switch.

You can find a wide range of dental coverage plans out there. It’s normal to feel confused by the array of options. If you’ve never shopped around outside of what an employer provides, here’s a quick breakdown of the types of coverage you’ll find on the market.

A PPO plan is insurance combined with a network of dentists who work with your insurance company. Your insurance provider and preferred dental providers agree to offer you specific services at set fees. You need to go to a preferred provider to ensure you have coverage.

DHMOs advance contracted dentists a certain amount each month for each patient assigned to that dentist. Dentists must then provide certain contracted services at no or reduced cost to these patients.

The plan usually does not reimburse the dentist or the patient for individual services. You must receive treatment at a contracted clinic to receive a benefit.

This type of plan is probably what comes to mind when you think about how insurance works. A dental indemnity plan — also known as traditional insurance — pays claims based on procedures performed. The insurance company usually pays a set percentage of your charges.

Some plans allow you to choose your own dentist, but others require you to visit within a network such as a PPO. Most plans have a maximum limit for each process.

Reimbursement is a self-funded plan. You can go to the dentist of your choice. Some plans require you to pay the dentist directly and seek reimbursement. Other plans pay the dental office directly. Reimbursement plans do not limit services – your limits depend on total dollars spent.

Point of Service plans allow you some choice in providers — for a price. You will still designate a primary dental office. But you have the option of finding treatment out of network. If you do this, your reimbursement will be based on a low benefit schedule and your benefits will be less than if you had service in your network.

Discount and referral programs are not insurance, but they can still help you manage the cost of dental care. The discount provider contracts with a group of dental practices and essentially sells you a card that provides services at a discounted rate. You pay the reduced rate when you receive care.

As the name suggests, exclusive provider organization plans require you to use only participating dentists for reimbursement from the plan. These plans severely limit provider choices and access to care.

These programs pay a set dollar amount for each procedure, regardless of actual charges. You are responsible for the difference between what your plan pays and what your dentist charges. Sometimes these plans are combined with a PPO so that dentists receive the maximum amount that patients can charge.

An individual dental policy costs an average of about $350 per year. You can pay $500 or more for a family. Dental discount programs are about half or even less. You will typically pay your dental insurance premium monthly, while a deductible plan is an annual payment.

Many dental plans have an annual cap on reimbursement — $1,000 to $1,500 is normal. Dental discount programs usually do not have a cap.

The cheapest dentures cost $400 to $1,000 per plate (your upper or lower jaw), and custom dentures are at least $2,500 per plate.

Whenever you’re shopping for insurance, pay attention to factors like customer satisfaction and what you’ll end up paying for a premium each month. Find a balance between the two — don’t overpay for services you don’t need, but don’t choose the cheapest provider if it doesn’t meet your personal needs.

The most important qualifications for dentures are whether the provider covers the dentures and the annual cap for reimbursement. Because annual caps are usually much less than the cost of a set of dentures, dental discounts or savings programs can be the best route to save on dentures.

Whether you’re willing to wait or need help paying for dentures soon, there’s a plan to fit your needs. Dental insurance can provide more comprehensive care over time, but a dental discount plan offers immediate savings with no period and guaranteed acceptance.

Shop around to weigh the benefit of time and savings — enter your zip code to compare dental insurance quotes today.