![Guardian Dental Insurance Provider Review [2024]](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fee3fd14df42836719a4aa2/66dfde8deb3d7a5bea052afd_Screenshot%202024-09-10%20015202.png)
Thinking about enrolling in a dental insurance plan with Guardian? Choosing a plan that works for your budget and dental care needs can be difficult, especially with so many different premiums and levels of coverage to compare. And if you’re anticipating more expensive care like wisdom tooth removal, the process can seem overwhelming.
We can help make the process easier. Our Guardian dental insurance provider review will help you learn all about Guardian dental insurance, including a breakdown of their plan options and some of the pros and cons of choosing a plan with them. We’ll also provide alternatives to Guardian dental plans so you can choose the most affordable dental care for you.
Guardian dental insurance is part of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, which is based in Manhattan and has more than 70 agencies nationwide. Guardian offers four levels of dental insurance plans to help policyholders access the services and care they need.
The benefits of choosing a dental plan from Guardian include:
Some of the limitations of Guardian dental plans include:
We’ll explore Guardian’s four dental insurance plans and what coverage they provide. Coverage may vary by state. Plan premiums start as low as $15/month and vary based on the coverage provided.
Guardian’s Diamond plan offers the most coverage for the highest monthly premium. Policyholders can receive total or partial coverage for all types of dental services.
Preventative care is 100% covered, while basic care like fillings is 80% covered, with no waiting periods for either. Diamond policyholders also receive 50% coverage for major care like crowns or complex extractions, implants, dentures, orthodontia, and teeth whitening.
The annual maximum payout is $1,500, but exceptions include dental implants, orthodontia, and teeth whitening, which have lifetime or yearly annual payouts of between $500 and $1,000. There is no deductible for in-network preventive care, and Guardian offers a $50 deductible for all other dental services and for out-of-network care. Teeth whitening has a separate deductible of $50.
Guardian’s Achiever plan offers 100% coverage for preventative care. Basic care is 70% covered, and both basic and preventative care require no waiting period. Major care, implants, dentures, and orthodontia are all covered up to 50% with a 12-month waiting period, but teeth whitening is not covered.
Maximum payouts increase with each year policyholders stay up to their third year. Guardian will pay out $1,000 maximum for the first year, $1,250 for the second, and $1,500 for the third. Dental implants and orthodontia, however, have lifetime maximums of $1,000 (and a yearly max of $500 for orthodontia).
There is no deductible for in-network preventive care, and Guardian offers a $50 deductible for all other dental services and for out-of-network care.
Guardian’s Core plan preventative and basic care and some major care services. Preventative and basic care services are 80% and 50% covered, respectively, with no waiting periods. Major care, implants, and dentures are 50% covered with a 12-month waiting period, but the Core plan doesn’t cover orthodontia or teeth whitening.
Maximum payouts increase with each year policyholders stay, starting at $500 in year one and reaching $1,000 by year three, but dental implants have a separate lifetime maximum of $700. There is no deductible for in-network preventive care; all other dental services and out-of-network care have a $50 deductible.
The Starter plan offers 100% coverage for preventative care, with no waiting period. Basic care is 50% covered with a 6-month waiting period, but major care, implants, dentures, orthodontia, and teeth whitening are not covered.
Maximum payouts increase for the first three years, starting at $500 and reaching $1,000 in year three. There is no deductible for in-network preventive care, and a $50 for all other dental services and out-of-network care.
The cost of Guardian dental insurance - and all of your dental care under one of Guardian’s plans - depends on which plan you choose. Premiums for the four plans range from $15 to $37 per month.
Be sure to review what each plan covers and consider your dental care needs before choosing whether to enroll with Guardian.
Whether you need alternatives or supplements to a dental insurance plan, you have options. Let’s review a few top alternatives for affordable dental care.
Dental financing is another option if you have major dental procedures coming up. Many major care services are costly, but some loan providers offer personal loans to cover such costs. They’re often called dental loans or medical loans.
Make sure you do your research on loans beforehand so you know what monthly payment you can afford, and compare loans to find the best for your needs. The loan servicer will set an interest rate and monthly payment, giving you immediate access to funds for dental care while helping you pay it off at a rate that works for your budget.
Depending on your monthly budget and the state of your savings, paying for dental care out-of-pocket might make sense for you. You may even be able to find free- or low-cost dental care near you at dental schools or free clinics.
If you need to spread out the cost of dental care over time but don’t want to get a third-party loan servicer involved, talk to your dentist. Some offices allow patients to sign up for in-house payment plans, or dental installment plans, which set a monthly amount for them to pay to the dental office directly.
Many plans offer flexible schedules and payments as well as no credit check options, making dental care more widely accessible. Patients can get the care they need without waiting, and the hope is that they’ll seek timely treatment more often to prevent more serious dental health issues.
Still have questions about whether Guardian is right for you? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about Guardian dental insurance.
The level of coverage you can get from Guardian dental insurance depends on the plan you choose. All Guardian plans offer 100% coverage for preventative care and some level of coverage for basic care. But keep in mind that the least-expensive plan, Starter, does not cover any major dental care. Higher-premium plans, however, provide 50% coverage for major care, including teeth whitening.
To learn if Guardian dental insurance is available in your area, use their website to search for plan pricing based on location. Guardian’s website allows you to search for in-network providers near you.
A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) offers coverage within a large network of providers, some out-of-network coverage, and annual maximum payouts. Guardian dental plans are all PPO insurance plans.
Guardian dental accepts payments for premiums with credit or debit cards, Automated Clearing House (ACH) drafts, and check or money order. Credit, debit, and ACH payments can be completed online, while policyholders paying by check or money order will receive invoices in the mail.
Guardian dental offers several plan options for insurance, with varying premiums and levels of coverage. Depending on your budget and dental care needs, you may find a plan that helps you afford the dental services you need.
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