The Top 5 Dental Health Insurance Plans to Keep Your Teeth Happy and Healthy

As you age, the health of your teeth and gums can deteriorate in a number of ways. Proper dental health insurance can help you cope with these issues, even if you think you’re not at risk. But how do you find the right plan? We’ve put together this list of the top five dental health insurance plans to help you choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.

1) Traditional - PPO

Choosing a dental health insurance plan is not an easy decision. There are several different companies, and each one of them has something unique to offer. No matter what your needs are, there is a company that will be able to provide the coverage you're looking for. This list will take some of the headache out of this difficult decision by detailing five top dental health insurance plans that should be on your radar. If you have yet to make up your mind, use this list as a guideline before moving forward with anything else: 1) United Concordia - United Concordia offers comprehensive dental coverage at affordable rates. They cover a variety of services, including preventative care such as exams and cleanings, diagnostic services such as x-rays and laboratory work, restorative services such as fillings or crowns, endodontic treatment such as root canals or implants, prosthodontic care like dentures or bridges and oral surgery like wisdom teeth removal. They also offer protection from common occurrences like injuries from teeth-clenching (TMJ) or damage from natural disasters. 

2) Delta Dental - Delta Dental provides access to quality dental benefits for people who work in states where they do business.

2) Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

PPO's are the most popular type of insurance coverage, but they're not the only option. Unlike HMOs, you have a few more choices with a PPO. You can go in-network for your dentist visits, or use a participating network for other services that your dental plan doesn't cover. Plus, some plans will give you lower copays for office visits when you don't meet their deductible requirement. It might be wise to invest in this plan if you know you'll visit the dentist at least once a year. But if you're someone who only goes once every couple years, then an HMO might work better for you. Here, you won't pay any out-of-pocket costs unless it's covered by your dental benefits, so there won't be any surprises. Plus, the smaller number of providers means less wait time! The downside is that these plans may not offer certain procedures such as orthodontics, oral surgery or implants - though some plans do offer them. And as with all healthcare coverage, sometimes certain procedures aren't covered by these types of insurance - like teeth whitening - so it's best to do your research before investing in one over another.

3) Point of Service (POS)

Health insurance policies that cover only the provider you choose are called point of service. It's a plan for people who can't or won't buy a traditional health insurance policy, but want protection against unexpected medical expenses. Point of service plans have some limitations compared with other kinds of health coverage, such as those that pay fixed amounts for specific types of care like vision, dental care, prescriptions or hospitalizations. There are no networks under point of service coverage; instead each insurer has agreements with different providers across the U.S., which may be regional or statewide depending on the state where you live. As such, benefits vary from state to state. You need to check your benefits carefully to find out what is covered and what isn't. Some point of service plans will not reimburse any part of a bill if it was an emergency visit or preventive care. The upside: You get better value because your premium is lower than average with point of service coverage. For example, a 30-year-old male nonsmoker living in Illinois could purchase Aflac POS for $58 per month after tax credits - making this one the most affordable dental health insurance options available in America today.

4) Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO)

An EPO is a type of health insurance company that has been certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a federally qualified HMO. These companies negotiate with medical providers, such as doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, labs, and other suppliers on behalf of their members in order to provide quality healthcare at an affordable price. One key benefit of this type of dental plan is that it provides coverage for all members in the group or family--meaning everyone receives the same coverage without any exclusions. What's more is that you can tailor your own individualized coverage with built-in preventative services from annual checkups to a variety of health screening tests. These benefits are exclusive when compared to other types of dental plans such as those offered by various insurers. That said, there are drawbacks to consider before signing up for an EPO. For instance, most people will have to pay a higher monthly premium because they're essentially buying into a large group which decreases the cost per person. Furthermore, if you ever want to leave the group then your only option is termination--which means no future reenrollment unless another policyholder leaves first. Regardless of which dental plan type suits you best, it's always best to understand how each one works before deciding what’s right for you!

5) Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are for people who want to receive health care from a limited network of providers. HMOs include restrictions on what's considered out-of-network care, meaning the plan doesn't cover costs incurred at a dentist, doctor or any other provider not on your approved list. Most plans have a cap on the number of visits that they will cover before you have to pay out-of-pocket costs. For example, if you're seeing your HMO dentist every six months as recommended by the American Dental Association and they need to perform work in between visits, your insurance company may only cover three appointments before you're required to meet their deductible or pay more out of pocket. If you choose an HMO dental plan, it's important to make sure there is an in-network provider near where you live and/or work. If this isn't the case, then it may be better for you to choose another type of dental insurance plan.