Best Dental Insurance in California: Review and Plan Comparison

If you're searching for the best dental insurance in California, you'll know there are plenty of companies offering a variety of dental plans. But how do you know which is the best dental insurance for you?

In this article, we will explore the following:

• Dental insurance plans for individuals, families, and seniors
• Dental insurance plan features
• The best dental insurance in California
• Insurance comparison tool
• Other ways to get cheap dental care

So in this California dental insurance review, we'll explain what the different options mean, and we'll also help you compare the best dental plan providers in California. We hope this information helps you decide on the best solution for your dental care.

Different types of dental insurance in California

We'll begin our California dental insurance review by explaining the different types of dental insurance in California. There are several different kinds of dental insurance, but when it comes to private dental insurance plans in California there are three main options:

DHMO (Dental Health Maintenance Organization)

With a DHMO plan, you usually have to select one primary care provider from a small network of dentists. This dentist then performs or arranges all your treatments.

Premiums are generally the lowest with this type of insurance and often include preventive care at little or no extra cost. Other treatments will require a co-payment, and for major work, the discount may be quite small with a long waiting period. DHMO plans often don't cover braces, implants, or any kind of cosmetic work.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)

PPO dental insurance gives more flexibility over which dentist you visit, and usually higher levels of dental coverage, but with higher premiums too. With a PPO plan, you'll have a choice of dentists within an approved network. Most providers also let you visit out-of-network dentists, but often with reduced benefits and a more lengthy claims process.

Preventive care is usually included at no extra cost and is available immediately. Basic and major procedures may have a waiting period of anything from 3 to 12 months. Dental coverage is usually more extensive than with DHMO plans and can include implants, orthodontics, and teeth whitening.

Here is a video explaining the differences between these two plans:

The difference between a PPO and HMO style Medicare Advantage plan is pretty simple…but it’s very important to understand! See more on our blog: https://bit.ly/ppovshmo ————————————————————————————————— Medicare Mindset LLC is an independent insurance agency specializing in Medicare Health Insurance planning. We offer guidance, strategies, and insurance enrollment help from start to finish. www.medicaremindset.com www.facebook.com/medicaremindset www.linkedin.com/company/medicaremindset www.youtube.com/c/MedicareMindset Medicare Mindset, LLC 866.656.4020 [email protected]

Discount plans

Also known as dental savings plans, this is not technically insurance but is a good way to get cheaper dental care if you need urgent treatment. Cover is usually immediate, and offers a fixed discount on treatment with selected dentist(s). Discount plans may also include preventive care like checkups, cleanings, and X-rays.

The fixed discount structure means no deductibles or annual limits, and usually no tiresome claims forms. However, the discounts you receive may be smaller than with other kinds of dental insurance.

Dental insurance plan features

Affordable dental insurance is not just about finding a low-cost premium. There are other factors that will determine which is the best dental insurance plan in California for you. You can read our complete guide to US dental insurance for more detailed information, but here are a few things to consider:

Costs

The cheapest dental insurance in California is not necessarily the plan with the lowest premium, nor is it necessarily one of the best dental plans in California. There are four main costs you need to think about:

• Monthly or annual premium: You pay this in return for your cover, regardless of whether you actually receive any treatment. Only some insurers offer the option to pay monthly.
• Deductible: The amount you must pay yourself for treatment before your insurer covers any costs. May be applied annually or over the lifetime of the policy.
• Co-payment: The amount of each treatment you must pay for out-of-pocket. This can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total cost.
• Maximum limits: Some policies have an annual or lifetime limit for certain treatments. Once you reach this limit, you pay all costs yourself.

So, you can see there is a lot to consider when calculating which are the best dental plans in California for you – and it doesn't help that you can't predict all your upcoming dental needs.

As a general rule, if you have a history of good oral health then you might just want to choose a basic plan with free preventive care and a low premium. On the other hand, if you know you'll probably need a lot of work, it could be worth paying a higher premium in return for more generous discounts and lower deductibles.

Cover for braces and implants

Because they are some of the most expensive dental treatments around, dental implants and braces are often excluded from dental insurance plans. When they are covered, it might be with a high co-payment or low lifetime limit. The same goes for cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening.

Check policy details carefully to see exactly what you'll be able to claim and whether it's worth paying a higher premium for this extra dental coverage.

If you want to find a dental plan that covers braces and other orthodontic work, you can search now at Dentalinsurance.com. If you need any guidance while you're there, you can call their number at 888-626-0057 to speak with one of their licensed agents.

Waiting period

Dental insurance with no waiting period means you can get the treatment you need straight away. However, for some work, you might have to wait up to 12 months.

Bundled insurance

It's common for insurers to offer dental and vision insurance in one package – and sometimes hearing and prescription coverage too. If you need these other types of insurance, you'll probably get a better rate from buying them together.

Remember, some of these features may be worth paying for while others may be of no benefit to you. Consider your options carefully to decide on the best dental plan for you and/or your family.

Best dental insurance in California review

There are many companies that offer dental insurance in California. Below you'll find reviews of dental insurance plans in California for some of the most popular options, so you can get an idea of what's available.

Even with this small selection, you'll see there are many possible options to choose from. At the end is a comparison table, so you can easily compare this information to decide which is the best dental insurance in California for you.

Delta Dental Insurance California

Let's begin our reviews of dental insurance in California with one of the most well-known providers:

Delta Dental has one of the largest dentist networks in the country. If you choose one of their PPO plans, you'll be able to visit any dentist you like, but many network dentists offer preferential rates so you can save more this way. With one of their DeltaCare USA (DHMO) plans, you must select a primary care provider.

In various parts of California, you can choose from gold, platinum, and diamond Premier plans and PPOs. The difference between premiers and PPOs is that premier plans have a larger network of dentists. However, sometimes, with PPO plans, you can still visit dentists who are in the premier network.

The biggest difference isn't between Premier and PPO, but between the different levels of Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.

Some features of the Gold plan are:

• Cleanings: 60%-100% dental coverage, no waiting period
• Fillings: 50%-80% dental coverage, 6 months waiting period
• Crown: 0%-50%, 12 months waiting period
• Deductible: $50/year
• Maximum: $1,000/year

Platinum plan:

• Cleanings: 80%-100% dental coverage, no waiting period
• Fillings: 60%-80% dental coverage, 6 months waiting period
• Crown: 0%-50%, 12 months waiting period
• Deductible: $50/year
• Maximum: $1,500/year
• Orthodontia: 0%-50%, 12 months waiting period, $100 lifetime deductible

Diamond plan:

• Cleanings: 80%-100% dental coverage, no waiting period
• Fillings: 60%-80% dental coverage, 6 months waiting period
• Crown: 0%-50%, 12 months waiting period
• Deductible: N/A
• Maximum: $2,000/year
• Orthodontia: 0%-50%, 12 months waiting period, $ 1,500-lifetime max

Then there's the No Wait Plan and the Immediate Coverage Plan. The No Wait Plan has no waiting period for cleaning, sealants, and crowns and has a $2,000 per year maximum. The Immediate Coverage Plan also has no waiting period for cleaning, fillings, or crowns, and a 12-month waiting period for Orthodontic procedures. Its annual maximum is $3,000 and a lifetime of $1,500 for orthodontic treatment.

These are just some features of the plans. To get full details, you'll need to see the plan brochure specific to your zip code.

Dental insurance for seniors in California is provided through AARP, a company that Delta Dental administers.

If you have dental insurance through Kaiser Permanente in California, this may well be provided through the Delta Dental network.

Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield is a dental insurance plan in California with two DHMO and three PPO plans, as well as combined dental and vision insurance. There is also the option to add life insurance to your plan.

Their DHMO plans give access to a network of 26,000 dentists in the state of California, while PPO customers have access to a wider network of 38,000 dentists.

Some plans include cover for implant placement and orthodontic work; with some, the co-payment is a fixed amount and with others, it's a percentage. With all plans, diagnostic and preventive services are free and have no waiting period. On the PPO plans, other treatments have waiting times between 3 and 12 months. You'll need to check the benefit schedule carefully to see which plan will suit you best.

All Blue Shield of California dental plans terminate at age 65, so are not open to seniors.

Anthem Blue Cross

Blue Cross of California provides dental insurance as Anthem Blue Cross. They offer one DHMO plan and five PPO plans. The DHMO plan has no deductible and no annual limit, but a co-payment is required for everything from checkups to braces.

The cheapest PPO plans only cover preventive and 80% of basic restorative work with an annual maximum of $500. At the upper end of the scale, you get an annual limit of $1,000 – $1,250 with 50% cover for major procedures. You may visit any dentist, but network dentists typically offer lower rates.

Orthodontic work is covered with the most expensive plan but with a separate $100 deductible and $500 annual / $1,000 lifetime maximum. This may only be a small proportion of the full cost of braces.

Humana

Humana offers three PPO dental plans in California for individuals or families. As a member, you may visit any dentist, but discounts with network dentists average 28% in the state.

Differing levels of coverage are available with premiums that vary accordingly. These all come with free preventive care and a percentage discount on some other treatments.

Their Dental Loyalty Plus plan has no waiting periods but a $150 deductible. Benefits increase over the first three years you hold the policy. So, for example, the co-payment for crowns in the first year is 80%, decreasing to 70% in the second year and 50% in the third. At the same time, the annual maximum increases from $1,000 to $1,500.

Humana also has a special dental insurance plan for veterans and their families. Customers may add vision insurance to their dental plan to save $35 on enrollment fees.

Covered California dental insurance

If you already have health insurance through Covered California you have the option to add on dental insurance. Dental cover is available to individuals, married couples, and families with children. It's not possible to purchase a Covered California dental plan if you don't have health insurance through them.

With their DHMO plans, there is no deductible and no annual limit. If you get family cover, there is a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $350 for an individual child or $700 for two or more. Children – but not adults – can get medically necessary orthodontic work with these plans.

The PPO plans have a deductible of $50 for each adult and $65 for each child, which is waived for diagnostic and preventive care. For adults, there is a six-month waiting period for major treatments and an annual limit of $1,500, but these don't apply to children. There is no cover for implants or adult braces.

Customers have the option to visit an out-of-network dentist, but the co-payment is higher for some treatments.

Comparison table

These are just a few of the dental insurance companies in California, but you can already see how much variation there is from one to the next. In the table below we have summarized the best dental insurance companies in California given in this article.

Get your quote

We know it can be difficult to wade through the plethora of plan options. That's why we've created this easy-to-use insurance comparison tool. Just enter your DOB and zip code, and in seconds you'll see the best plans in your area.

Another way to get cheaper dental care

If you're looking for a way to save on dental care without having dental insurance, have you considered traveling overseas? Two popular dental tourism towns, Los Algodones and Tijuana, are just over the Mexican border from California. By making the short journey across, you could save 50-70% on major dental work.

Some dentists in Mexico even accept US dental insurance policies, so you might be able to get the double benefit of lower prices and a contribution from your insurer. You'll need to check your policy to see if your health insurance company will allow this, though.

Other countries where you can get low-cost dental care include:

• Costa Rica
• Thailand
• The Philippines
• Poland
• Hungary

To find out more, read our complete guide to getting dental work overseas.

Conclusion

Whether it's DHMO or PPO insurance you need, you have plenty of options to choose from. The difficulty can be in working out which dental plan provides the benefits that suit you best. Check the details very carefully to be sure you know what you're signing up for.

Once you have narrowed down your options, you'll probably want to check some California dental insurance reviews to find out what other customers think of each provider. Poor customer service is the last thing you want when your teeth are causing you trouble! Online forums and review sites will provide plenty of information about other people's experiences.

Finally, if your insurance includes preventive care (or it comes with a very low co-payment), be sure to make use of it! Getting regular checkups and cleanings will help keep your teeth in good condition. It also lets your dentist spot any problems early on before they become too painful or costly to fix. The ADA's MouthHealthy website has lots of great information about maintaining good oral health.

If you need help finding the best dental insurance plan in California for you, you can go to Dentalinsurance.com. Enter your zip code and date of birth and you'll get to compare the best plans in your area. Click the button below to get started!

If you want to read about the best insurance option in any other state, please select from the list below.

FAQs

What is the average cost of dental insurance in California?

The average cost for dental insurance in California is $35.36 per month. However actual prices will vary based on your age, gender, zip code, and other factors.

How much does dental cover cost in California?

The average cost of a dental visit can range anywhere from $50 to $200, but this excludes additional dental services like X-rays and cleaning.

Is Delta Dental good insurance?

Yes. Delta Dental has one of the largest dentist networks in the country. If you choose one of their PPO plans, you'll be able to visit any dentist you like.