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Getting the dental care you need can lead to significant expenses, from procedure costs to initial consultation fees and X-rays. This problem is only made worse when you don’t have insurance — in the United States alone, 68.5 million people don’t have dental insurance. As a result, they often delay routine care, allowing issues to worsen over time, and turning what could have been a minor cavity filling into a very costly procedure.
Therefore, it can be essential to consider dental insurance to help cover the costs. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know about one of the most popular insurance plans on the market, Delta Dental Insurance, so you can decide whether it’s the right plan for your needs.
Delta Dental Insurance is a dental insurance company that’s been around since 1966. It’s one of the largest dental insurance providers in the country and offers group, individual, and Affordable Care Act plans.
These plans cover major dental care, as well as preventive and basic services. It’s considered one of the most respected dental insurance providers nationwide.
If you’re unsure whether Delta Dental insurance is the right option for you, here are some pros, cons, and more details to help you decide.
Delta Dental has a generous annual coverage cap and a short waiting period for major dental services, helping you get major dental care quickly. It’s also widely accepted throughout the country. Some other benefits Delta Dental Insurance offers include:
- Sample plan with great coverage
- Good coverage for certain procedures
- Customizable policies
- Widely accepted
Delta Dental Insurance typically addresses claims within two to four weeks of receiving them. The app also makes it easy to look up claim information for your dental visits from the previous 18 months.
Despite its benefits, Delta Dental Insurance has a few drawbacks, including:
- $10 enrollment fee
- Long waiting periods for basic dental care
- Confusing terms
Keep in mind that a sample plan provided by Delta Dental Insurance will generally have a higher premium than its competitors.
Delta Dental Insurance offers a number of plans, allowing you to find the one that best fits your needs.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans are the type of plans most popular with people seeking dental coverage. As a result, Delta Dental’s PPO plan is their preferred provider program.
This plan varies depending on your state, but most states offer two to three coverage tiers. As you can expect, plans with lower prices have lower maximums, fewer in-network providers, and coverage limits.
By state, the plans can vary in:
- Name and coverage
- Dentist network size
- Deductible and premium amounts
- Length of waiting period
PPOs provide standard preventive coverage, and with an individual plan, you’re able to visit any licensed dentist. Keep in mind that visiting out-of-network dentists will mean paying more.
The Delta Dental Premier option is a fee-for-service plan that offers the largest network of dentists. These providers have all agreed to contracted fees, which means you won’t pay any more than your copay and deductible when you see these dentists.
With the Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier plan, you have the option of combining the Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier networks, giving you access to the benefits of the PPO plan and much more.
Delta Dental Insurance offers an HMO called DeltaCare USA. It’s a low-cost coverage plan that focuses on preventive care, ideal for anyone hoping to cover routine care with minimal or no copayments.
Keep in mind that with Delta Dental’s HMO plan, there’s no out-of-network coverage. In many states, however, Delta Dental HMOs offer the lowest costs of all available plans.
Delta Dental also offers Delta Dental Patient Direct. This isn’t exactly insurance, but it functions like a dental discount plan. You can visit a dentist in the Patient Direct network and receive a discount on preventive and general dental care. You’ll have much lower premiums with this option than you would with other plans.
You can also enroll in Delta Dental’s family plans using a state or federal health insurance marketplace. Remember that these plans may have lower premiums, but they may also not cover as much as what you’d get directly from Delta Dental.
When looking at what Delta Dental insurance costs, you have to take into consideration your premium payments as well as deductibles, copays, and any other types of out-of-pocket costs. For example, Delta Dental deductibles can range up to $150, but HMOs charge no deductibles at all.
Each plan differs in price, and even those costs can vary from state to state. As an example, a Delta Dental basic PPO plan can cost an average of $29.08 a month and has an annual deductible of $50, while a Premier plan is $64.92 with an annual deductible of $50.
Delta Dental insurance might not be right for everyone. If it doesn't fit your needs or the costs seem too high, there are other options.
If you’re still interested in dental insurance but feel that Delta Dental doesn’t meet your needs, there are plenty of other programs available.
To make the best choice, you’ll want to carefully assess your budget to narrow down your options. Then, consider your dental history and what you may need in the future. If you’re planning on getting a dental procedure at some point in the next few years, see what types of plans cover it. If you need to treat cavities, for example, the policy should cover cavity-filling costs.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, take a closer look at each plan and assess its coverage, including preventive care, orthodontic needs, and basic/major services. Are there limitations or exclusions? You’ll want to ensure that you understand everything the plan will or will not cover before enrolling.
You’ll also want to look at the provider network and consider how large it is. If it’s too small, the costs will generally be lower, but you’ll also have fewer dentists to choose from. As a result, you might need to turn to out-of-network providers, which means greater costs.
Always check the out-of-network provider coverage the plan offers. Evaluate the higher deductibles and see if it’s a viable option for you. It’s often a better idea to go with larger networks, even if that means paying a bit more.
Ensure you read all of the fine print before making a decision. Focus on exclusions so that you don’t have any surprises when you need coverage. You also want to have a clear idea of the cancellation and renewal policies.
Choosing insurance can be a challenging decision that could significantly impact your dental care, so don’t hesitate to get advice and guidance. Ask family and friends for recommendations, and even consider asking an insurance agent.
Another option you have is dental financing, which is like a personal loan that you’ll repay over a set period. It will include interest, of course, but you often will have the chance to pay off the loan early without incurring extra interest.
For these kinds of loans, the lender will look at your credit score to approve it or deny it, and once you are approved, the lender will set the rates and terms of the loan.
Delta Dental insurance can be a great option to consider for anyone looking for dental coverage. If you’re still unsure, take a look at these answers to common questions about Delta Dental insurance.
The answer depends on the exact Delta Dental plan you have. If you have comprehensive dental insurance, you can get coverage for preventive care. This includes cleanings, exams, fluoride rinses, oral cancer screenings, and X-rays.
With comprehensive Delta Dental insurance, you also get coverage for basic services, like crown costs, tooth extractions, the treatment of oral infections, and dental bonding costs. Major dental care is also covered, though the exact services depend on your plan. Usually, you have coverage for root canals, oral surgery, dentures, and dental bridge costs.
Delta Dental insurance covers two preventive visits a year. Most plans follow the 100-80-50 structure. You get 100% coverage for preventive care, 80% for basic procedures, and 50% for major procedures. It’s crucial to ask about the exact coverage details of the plan you’re considering before making a choice.
Delta Dental is a highly regarded insurance company that has been offering services for decades. Because of the size of its network, it’s an option that suits many people. It offers comprehensive dental coverage and even provides coverage for braces in many states.
Yes, Delta Dental insurance does cover dental implant costs in specific circumstances, though the exact coverage it offers will vary by state. Delta Dental PPO offers 50% coverage for implants, while their Premier plan offers 40% coverage.
Where you live and the type of filling you need can both impact the cost. With a PPO plan in Colorado, for example, you can expect to pay around $90 per amalgam or composite filling. The plan also covers replacing an existing filling every two years.
Getting the dental care you need shouldn’t feel impossible. There are various insurance options available, including Delta Dental insurance, as well as financing that can work well for those who can’t afford an insurance plan.
