![8+ Best Dental Insurance in New Jersey [2024]](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fee3fd14df42836719a4aa2/66aae3a3ce0f622af269120c_Screenshot%202024-07-31%20212307.png)
If you’re living in New Jersey and working with a limited budget, you may be wondering if dental insurance is worth the expense. But if you’re facing a potential cavity or tooth infection, the idea of facing those costs without insurance may be frightening.
Luckily, there are several options for affordable dental care in New Jersey. We’ll explore the best dental insurance in NJ and other options for affordable care.
Premiums for stand-alone New Jersey dental insurance ranged from $9 to $45 per month in May 2024 for those who purchased insurance through New Jersey’s exchange. The average cost of dental insurance in New Jersey is $24 a month, or about $282 a year.
Unfortunately, many Americans are without insurance to help defray the costs of healthcare. Although the number of Americans without health insurance went down to 25.3 million in 2023, that number was much higher when it came to dental plans: 68.5 million adults didn’t have dental insurance in 2023. According to CareQuest Institute, that number was estimated to rise to 91.4 million.
Without insurance, many people put off both routine care and more serious dental problems. Luckily, there are still options for accessing affordable dental care if you don’t have insurance. We’ll discuss some options you can explore with or without dental insurance.
If you already have a dentist, ask if they have any resources to help you make your dental care more affordable. Some dentists offer free or low-cost dental care on certain days of the year, and some practices have dental membership savings plans. Many of those membership savings plans charge a fixed amount every year for routine procedures like cleanings and exams.
Dental financing essentially means taking out personal loans to cover the costs of a procedure. These loans may be advertised specifically as dental or medical loans. Your loan servicer will set a monthly payment and interest rate, allowing you to get the care you need without having to immediately pay a large medical bill.
If you’re considering financing for a dental procedure, you’ll need to take the following steps:
Low-income adults can apply for government or private dental grants, which enable grantees to get the dental care they need at no cost.
Such grants are often geared toward specific groups and/or dental procedures, so you’ll need to make sure you fit the eligibility criteria for specific grants before applying.
Some dental schools and public dental clinics offer free or low-cost dental care when you’re uninsured. At dental schools, your appointment may take longer than usual, since licensed supervisors check students’ work at each step of the process.
To find dental schools near you, conduct a search with the Commission for Dental Accreditation. Oral Health America has a directory of public dental clinics, while United Way provides a directory of free dental clinics.
If you’re looking for dental insurance coverage, here is a list of some of the top dental insurance companies in New Jersey.
Delta Dental of New Jersey is a branch of the Delta Dental insurance company, operating in New Jersey and Connecticut. Their mission is to promote oral health for as many people as possible by providing accessible dental benefit programs.
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Smart Health Dental is an insurance company offering multiple plans, including non-insurance options. They believe that maintaining quality dental care is the best way to save on dental services, so they work to help policyholders achieve good dental health.
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The Horizon BCBS network offers policyholders access to over 67,000 providers and every New Jersey hospital.
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Guardian Dental is an insurance company offering PPO and EPO plans, offering flexibility so policyholders can find plans that fulfill their particular needs. Founded in 1860, Guardian Dental offers a variety of life, disability, and other benefits.
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Mutual of OMAHA is an insurance company that offers dental, medical, and life insurance policies, including Medicare supplement insurance. They offer Protection and Preferred dental plans to cover the costs of preventative care.
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Humana offers flexible, stand-alone dental insurance plans (i.e., dental insurance plans that are not connected to health or other insurance plans). Options for coverage start at $18 a month, and Humana offers online enrollment or customer service application support via phone.
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Cigna is an insurance company that offers various healthcare insurance plans, including dental. Customers can choose between low-deductible plans, high annual maximum plans, and bundled plans with vision and hearing coverage.
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Aetna is a healthcare insurance provider that offers medical, dental, and vision plans. Customers can choose between three PPO plans depending on their needs and desired monthly premiums.
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The services that New Jersey dental insurance covers depends on the company and type of plan you choose. Some plans only cover only preventative services, while other plans cover a significant portion of major care costs. Unfortunately, plans that cover major care often require higher monthly premiums. Insurance plans also generally have maximum annual payouts, so if you have to seek expensive medical care that surpasses those limits, you’ll have to pay the rest out-of-pocket.
We have answers to your New Jersey dental insurance questions.
The best dental plan in New Jersey depends on your particular needs and budget. If you need coverage ASAP for procedures like bridges or dental crowns, you’ll want a plan with no waiting periods. If you need to save money and you don’t have immediate, expensive dental care needs, you may want a plan with a lower monthly premium.
It’s important to review your options before deciding on an insurance provider, as there are many factors to consider. Look into the details of your plan options, including major care coverage, local vs. nationwide coverage, annual deductibles, and annual maximum cost.
If you have dental insurance, your provider likely has a directory of in-network providers. You can also try looking for the best dentists in your area using your preferred search engine. If you need an in-network provider, you can then call your insurance company to inquire about a specific doctor.
Many dental insurance companies implement a waiting period for major and some basic procedures, like dental fillings for cavities. Although many do not require a waiting period for preventative care, some do. Depending on the type of care, waiting periods may be 6-12 months. Even some dental savings plans require a few business days to take effect.
No matter your situation, you can access affordable care in New Jersey - with or without insurance. Even if you can’t access the plans we’ve explored here, you can try dental financing, grants, savings plans, and more.
