Both traditional dental insurance and dental savings plans (also known as dental discount plans) can help you save money on dental care. Which option you choose should be based on your dental health care needs, budget, and preferences. Below, you’ll find some information on things you should consider when deciding between dental savings plans or dental insurance.

Cost of dental insurance

The typical cost of an individual dental insurance policy is around $350 a year. For a family, the cost is around $550, annually, depending on the type of dental plan.

Dental savings plans are typically priced at about half of that cost. Traditional insurance is usually billed monthly, while dental savings plans are paid annually.

Dental insurance deductibles

Usually, insured individuals must meet their insurance plan deductible before dental coverage for some procedures becomes available. Annual deductibles are typically $50 per covered individual.

Dental insurance caps (also known as annual spending limits)

The majority of dental insurance PPO plans cap the amount of reimbursement that they pay to an annual maximum, usually $1,000 to $1,500 per year. The insured individual is responsible for any costs incurred after that. Dental expenses like these can add up quickly. This may present a challenge for people who need a significant amount of dental work done, especially treatment involving restorative dentistry.

Dental insurance reimbursements

Some individuals with dental insurance policies complain about the process of getting reimbursed for their dental health care. Their issues include having to manage written claims procedures, figuring out the exclusions on pre-existing conditions, and surprise denials for filed claims.

With a dental savings plan, you pay your discounted rate to the dental provider directly, so there’s no need to worry about reimbursements.

Dental insurance waiting periods

Dental insurance PPO plans will frequently have waiting periods of up to one year before you are covered for restorative dental treatments such as root canals, crowns, bridges, dentures and other major treatments.

Dental savings plans members start saving as soon as their plan activates, typically within three days of purchase (immediate activation is available on some plans).

Dental insurance and cosmetic dentistry

Traditional dental insurance rarely covers cosmetic dentistry, which includes what are considered to be “optional” procedures such as overlays, teeth whitening, and dental implants.

Most dental savings plans do have discounts on cosmetic care.

Choosing the right plan for your needs

If you need to lower the cost of expensive dental services, such as crowns, bridges, braces, implants, and dentures – even including treatments rarely included in dental insurance policies such as tooth whitening and other dental cosmetic care and dental implants, join a dental savings plan.

But if your primary goal is to reduce the cost of preventive care, and you don’t expect your dental care costs to be more than about $1,000 a year, dental insurance may be right for you.

Want help choosing the dental plan that’s right for you? Take our online quiz to receive a personalized plan recommendation in minutes or use our calculator below for a quick peek at how much you can save on your dental care with a discount plan.

*Discount Health Program consumer and provider surveys indicate average savings of 50%. Savings may vary by provider, location, and plan.