How to Compare Dental Insurance Plans

Just like having a health insurance plan that helps cover essential healthcare services, a dental insurance plan can help offset the cost of routine dental procedures that keep your smile shining all year long. Dental insurance helps you afford both routine and specialty dental procedures.

Choosing the right dental plan for you and your family can raise some questions, and you may not know exactly where to start. Here’s how to compare dental insurance plans to get the benefits you need.

 

Group Dental Insurance vs. Individual Dental Insurance

One question to answer is where you should get your dental insurance plan. Depending on what works best for you, there are two options: Group dental insurance or individual dental insurance.

 

Group Dental Insurance

Group dental insurance rates may be less expensive than if you were to purchase an individual dental policy. There are a few ways you can get group dental insurance: You can start by looking into your employer’s dental insurance if it’s available to you, or if it’s an option, prioritize a benefits package when looking for your next job.

If group dental insurance is not available to you through your employer or you’re not currently employed full time, group coverage programs through government support can be a great tool for those who qualify, including Medicaid and CHIP. You can also get a dental insurance plan through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

 

Individual Dental Insurance

If you can’t get group coverage, your next option is an individual dental policy. Compared to group dental insurance plans, an individual plan may cost significantly more, whether you’re purchasing for yourself or your entire family.

Be careful to read the fine print when buying an individual policy. Many of them come with drawbacks like limited benefits and extended wait times. So, if you’re looking to get some work done soon, be sure to find out how long you have to wait before you can start using your dental insurance plan.

 

Establish a budget for your dental insurance plan

Before you start diving into dental insurance plans and benefits, be sure to establish a budget for yourself so you’re not paying more than you can afford for your monthly premiums.

No matter your income bracket, it’s always better to spend less so you can save more. To get the most from your dental insurance plan, it’s best to use an in-network dentist to keep your out-of-pocket costs low.

 

Figure out what features best fit your needs

If you’re only purchasing an insurance plan for yourself, you’ll have different needs than someone buying a dental plan for a family with two kids that need braces. Think about what features will be most beneficial from your dental insurance plan and compare plans based on what you’ve decided you need or are most likely to need in the upcoming years.

Think about whether you want to continue seeing your family dentist, which may require you to look for a more extensive dental network, or if you want to find someone new. Consider what dental procedures you think you and your family will need. If you need urgent dental work, you may want to prioritize a plan with a short waiting period or no waiting period at all.

Once you narrow down your goals, it should be easier to see which dental insurance options will help you save.

For groups sit used in NC and for some groups situs in CA, FL, GA, IL, LA, MI, OH, PA, and TX prior to 6/1/22, Aflac dental and vision insurance coverage is underwritten by National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL).

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not a member of the Aflac family of insurers. National Guardian Life

Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life. Aflac dental and vision products may not be available in all states. National Guardian Life Insurance Company | Madison, WI.

For all states that have approved the Aflac dental insurance products, coverage will be underwritten by Aflac. In New York, coverage will be underwritten by Aflac New York.

Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999.

Please see coverage documentation applicable to your situs state for further details.

Notice to Consumer: This is a limited benefit plan and provides dental benefits only. Aflac’s contracts of insurance, including Aflac’s network dental and vision plans, provide limited-scope and/or supplemental benefits only and do not constitute comprehensive health insurance coverage. Aflac’s contracts of insurance do not satisfy the

requirement of minimum essential coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and are not designed to meet any of the essential health benefit requirements mandated by the ACA or federal law,

including pediatric oral or vision care services. Aflac’s contracts of insurance are not an alternative to, or a

substitute for, comprehensive health insurance coverage and should only be used to supplement comprehensive health insurance coverage.

For Network Dental, applies to Policy Series QN81000. In Idaho, QN81100MID. In Oklahoma, policy form QN81100MOK. AGC220080 EXP 1/23

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