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Key Takeaways on supplemental dental insurance
- Dental insurance’s annual spending limit is typically $1,000-$1,500 – about the cost of a single dental crown and root canal.
- After you exceed the annual spending limit, supplemental insurance can help reduce the cost of dental care.
- Supplemental insurance can also help pay for dental procedures not covered by a primary insurance plan.
- Medicare recipients may choose a dental savings plan or supplemental dental insurance, to reduce the costs of dental care.
- Dental savings plan members report saving an average of 50%* on their dental care.
A supplemental dental insurance plan is a type of dental insurance that can help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs associated with dental care. This coverage often works alongside your regular dental insurance, helping to fill in coverage gaps and reduce costs after insurance’s annual spending limit is reached. Supplemental dental insurance can be purchased as a standalone policy or added as a rider to your existing dental insurance plan.
Medicare recipients may also wish to purchase supplemental dental insurance, as Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental care. Supplemental insurance can also help you pay for dental procedures that are not covered by your primary insurance plan. Depending on your insurance, these treatments could include:
- Dental implants
- Cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening
- Oral surgery
- Adult orthodontics
- And more
Dental savings plans are an excellent alternative to supplemental dental insurance. Plan members report saving an average of 50%* with their dental savings plans. Unlike traditional dental insurance, dental savings plans have no annual limits and can be used within 72-hours of joining a plan. Since dental savings plans offer flexibility and do not have restrictions, they may eliminate the need for supplemental insurance, as dental savings plans, too, can work well as a complement to existing insurance. Just know that you cannot use any type of dental insurance and a dental savings plan on the same procedure.
Cost of supplemental dental insurance
The cost of supplemental dental insurance varies by plan, but the annual premium is usually between about $400 and $700. For individuals, supplemental dental insurance plans are usually about $20 to $50 a month. For families, it can be $50 to $150 per month. And remember to factor in the cost of your existing individual dental insurance policy, which is around $350 a year for an individual, $550 for a family, as you need to keep paying for your primary dental insurance, even if you can no longer use it due to exceeding your spending limit, until the plan resets.
A dental savings plan can be used by itself to reduce dental care costs, or alongside a dental insurance plan. If you’re using a dental savings plan to supplement insurance, it is important to discuss how to coordinate the use of your plans with your dentist. You cannot use both dental insurance and a dental savings plan for the same dental procedure. You can, however, use your dental savings plan once your insurance is maxed out, or instead of insurance in cases where the savings plan would save you more. The average cost of a dental savings plan is about $128 for an individual, and around $170 for a family, for the whole year
Medicare supplemental dental insurance
Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, such as dental exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures. If you are a Medicare recipient who wants to save on dental care, you can opt for Medicare Advantage, purchase a standalone insurance plan, or join a dental savings plan.
Medicare Advantage Plans are provided by private companies that have been approved by Medicare and must provide all the services that Original Medicare covers except hospice care. Medicare Advantage Plans typically offer extra coverage, including dental. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees is $164.90 a month in 2023.
Note that there are many issues beyond dental coverage to consider when choosing between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Medicare recipients can also purchase a standalone dental insurance plan, and a supplemental plan if needed. As noted above, for an individual the cost of dental insurance is around $350 a year, supplemental plans range from $400 – $700.
Medicare recipients may also choose to join a dental savings plan, a trusted alternative to traditional dental insurance, to help make saving on dental care easier and more affordable.
How supplemental dental insurance works
There are times when we all need extra dental coverage. The kids (or you) may need braces, or your dentist may tell you that you require treatment that will exceed your dental insurance plan’s annual coverage limit. As noted above, dental insurance typically provides $1,500-$2,000 in coverage a year. That’s great if all you need is preventive care and perhaps a filling or two. But one root canal and a crown can drain your dental coverage for the year.
If you’ve maxed out your dental insurance, or it doesn’t cover a particular dental treatment, you may want supplemental dental insurance. You can often find supplemental dental insurance that provides coverage for specific procedures, as well as more generalized insurance. Supplemental plans tend to have no waiting periods and no restrictions on preexisting conditions. They also tend to be expensive, so assume you’ll pay as much for your supplemental plan as you do for your primary plan. Carefully evaluate whether the savings you receive from the supplemental plan – you will probably pay less as an insured patient than an uninsured one – will cover the additional costs of insurance.
In general, the best thing to do is discuss funding options with your dentist before you purchase supplemental insurance. Your dentist may offer to discount the parts of your treatment plan that you will be paying for out of pocket. He or she may be a member of a medical insurance loan plan. Or your dentist may suggest that you consider a dental savings plan.
The advantages of dental savings plans
Dental savings plans are a trusted alternative to dental insurance. Plan members report saving an average of 50%* on their dental care. Unlike dental insurance, there are no annual limits, no restrictions based on current health conditions, and plans activate right away. Plus, many of the plans include additional free bonus benefits too, such as savings on vision and hearing care, prescriptions, and other wellness services.
You can easily explore your savings options at DentalPlans.com, the largest dental plan marketplace, with more than 25 plans from the most trusted brands in healthcare. We make it easy to find the plan that fits your needs. Call us at 1-833-735-0399 with any questions or to receive a personalized plan recommendation.
Want to find out right now how much you can save at the dentist with a dental savings plan? Use the calculator below.
*Discount Health Program consumer and provider surveys indicate average savings of 50%. Savings may vary by provider, location, and plan. All cost averages obtained from DentalPlans.com procedure search tool, and independent research.
