Dental Insurance Plans in Iowa: Comparison and Review of Top Plans

Are you looking for the best dental insurance plans in Iowa?

You’re in luck! We’ve already done the legwork for you. We've combed through the leading dental insurance plans on the market and put together this resource to assist you in finding the best dental insurance in Iowa.

With so many options available, it can be very difficult to find the ideal dental plan for your requirements. You'll find a range of alternatives while seeking the top dental insurance coverage, including:

• Dental insurance for individuals, families, and seniors
• Healthcare plans such as PPOs and DHMOs
• Dental and vision insurance
• Dental insurance plans with no waiting period

Follow the steps in this article to determine which dental insurance plan is best for you and your dental needs.

Types of dental insurance plans in Iowa

You have three primary options when it comes to private dental insurance plans in Iowa.

PPO, DHMO, and dental discount plans

• PPO plans provide the most flexibility when it comes to choosing a dentist. Because they offer a broad variety of options, they also make up the vast majority of dental insurance plans. These plans typically have the highest premiums, but they also give you the best savings and provide the best coverage for more complex treatments such as dental implants, cosmetic treatments, and braces.

• DHMO plans may require you to pick a single dentist to handle all of your treatments. These are, nevertheless, the most affordable dental insurance plans, and they often have no waiting period. So this can be a good option if you require immediate dental treatment.

• Dental discount plans are distinct from the other two kinds of plans mentioned above. It is a membership discount card for which you pay an annual fee. Individuals, families, and organizations wishing to save money on dental care may benefit from these dental discount plans. Members save 10–60% on the average cost of dental care and procedures.

Dental insurance for seniors in Iowa

Dental insurance for seniors focuses on treatments that are more likely to be needed by the elderly. Aside from that, it functions similarly to individual dental insurance for younger people. Dental insurance for seniors specifically covers treatments such as dentures, root canals, crowns, and tooth replacement.

Dental insurance combinations

Some healthcare providers also offer dental and vision insurance, enabling clients to acquire all of their coverage from one source. “Medical and dental” and “health and dental insurance” are two more prevalent combinations. If you need both, this might be an excellent approach to streamline your insurance and maybe even get cheaper rates.

What to look for in a dental insurance plan

Cost

If you're searching for the cheapest dental insurance in Iowa, keep in mind that the cheapest plan isn't always the best. Depending on the health of your teeth and the treatment you need, you may be able to save more money by paying a higher premium in return for greater benefits.

Consider the following cost factors when purchasing a dental insurance plan in Iowa:

• Maximum limits: The most a dental insurance policy will pay out in a given year or over the course of the policy's lifetime.

• Deductible: The money you must pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in is known as the deductible.

• Co-payment: The co-payment is the patient's share of the treatment costs. A dental plan will typically only cover a percentage of the cost of any treatment service; the patient is liable for any expenses that are not covered by the plan (the co-payment).

• Premium: The amount you pay your insurance company in return for coverage is known as your dental insurance premium. This is a set monthly fee that stays the same for the duration of your dental insurance coverage, which is generally twelve months. This fee must be paid whether you file a claim or not.

Coverage

Most dental plans in Iowa include coverage for preventive treatments. If you need expensive dental work, such as dental implants, root canals, or braces, you may have to choose a higher premium plan that covers these expenses.

No waiting period

Most dental plans in Iowa may require you to wait a certain length of time before receiving certain dental procedures, especially when they are costly treatments. Waiting periods may range from 90 days to 12 months. In general, the more expensive the procedure, the longer the waiting time.

If you require dental care right away, try to find a dental insurance plan in Iowa with no waiting period. Humana, for example, has some options available if you need major treatments right away.

Best dental insurance plans in Iowa

Dental insurance is available from a variety of healthcare providers in Iowa. The most popular ones are reviewed here so you can get a taste of what's available. We've included a comparison table at the bottom of this page so you can easily review the information and choose which dental insurance plan is best for you.

Delta Dental

Delta Dental of Iowa offers three PPO plans for individuals and families.

Preventive Prime

With the Delta Dental Preventive Prime plan, you get 80% coverage on preventive services such as check-ups, teeth cleaning, and x-rays. Routine and restorative services such as tooth-colored fillings, cavity repair, and restoration of decayed or fractured teeth are covered by 50%.

Out-of-network dentists are covered, but the coverage percentage is typically a bit lower. The deductible with this plan is $50 per person per year.

Preferred Prime

The Preferred Prime gives you more coverage than the Preventive Prime Plan. Preventive services are fully covered. Tooth extractions, cavity repair, and routine oral surgery are covered by 50%. Tooth-colored fillings on back teeth are covered by 40%.

All other complex and major services such as root canals, crowns, bridges, and dentures are covered by 50%. However, these major services are subject to a waiting period of 6–12 months. You will get a yearly maximum of $1,000 with this dental insurance plan.

Platinum Prime

This Iowa dental plan gives you a similar coverage percentage as the previously mentioned plan, with the exception that you have 80% coverage on cavity repair and tooth extractions. The deductible is only $25 per person per year, and the annual maximum benefit is $2,000.

Humana

When it comes to individual dental insurance in Iowa, Humana offers two options.

Preventive Plus

If you're searching for a low-cost dental PPO plan, this one is a good option. This dental insurance plan fully covers cleanings, x-rays, fillings, and extractions, with no waiting period. Fillings and extractions are covered at 50% in-network and 30% out-of-network after a 6-month waiting period.

Loyalty Plus

The Humana Dental Loyalty Plus plan offers loyal customers growing benefits from year one to three. These growing benefits include: paying less out of pocket for root canals, fillings, crowns, and other procedures; an increase in yearly plan maximums; a one-time deductible for as long as you're on the plan; and no copayments or waiting periods.

The majority of preventative treatments are 100% covered. In addition, no matter which dentist you see, the plan pays the same percentage.

Guardian Direct

Guardian Direct offers four individual dental insurance plans in Iowa. With these dental plans, most preventive services are fully covered. Also, all these dental insurance plans have graded plan maximums, which increase from year one to three.

Guardian Direct Iowa is known for its large network of dentists. Most plans have a $50 deductible, but the fee will be waived for preventive services performed within the Guardian dentist network.

Guardian Direct Advantage Starter

Preventive services are fully covered regardless of whether you visit an in-network or out-of-network dentist. This includes exams, cleanings, and x-rays. Also, there is no waiting period for these services. Fillings and extractions are covered at 50% with this Iowa dental plan.

Guardian Direct Advantage Core

This is the only Guardian Direct dental plan that covers preventive services at only 80%, but crowns, root canals, dentures, deep cleanings, and implants are all covered at 50% with a 12-month waiting time.

Guardian Direct Advantage Achiever

This dental plan by Guardian Direct Iowa gives similar benefits as the previously mentioned plan. However, fillings and extractions are covered by 70% and only have a 6-month waiting period. This plan also covers braces and other orthodontia at 50%. This may be a smart alternative if you know that you or your child may need braces in the future.

Guardian Direct Advantage Diamond

This dental plan is similar to the Achiever plan, but with the distinction that fillings and extractions are covered at 80%. This is the only plan that covers teeth-whitening at 50% after a 6-month waiting period. If you know you'll need teeth-whitening in the coming years, this dental insurance plan could be a good fit.

Get a quote for insurance near you

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 zipcode, and in seconds you'll see the best plans in your area.

Conclusion

It might be tough to choose which dental insurance in Iowa is the most cost-effective. Whatever plan you choose, always read the healthcare provider's policy thoroughly before purchasing dental insurance to make sure you completely understand what you'll be agreeing to.

Here's a good general guideline to follow while looking for the right dental insurance in Iowa:

A larger premium may be more cost-effective if you need major dental care, such as dental implants, root canals, or orthodontics.

If your teeth are in excellent form and you just need preventative treatments and sometimes a filling, a lower plan with a cheaper monthly price is more than enough.

Depending on your needs, you might also want to look for dental insurance for seniors, group dental insurance, individual dental insurance, health and dental insurance, or a combination of dental and vision insurance.

We’ve sorted through the top dental insurance plans in Iowa and checked their availability in the state's biggest cities, such as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport. However, different dental insurance providers, such as Metlife, Ameritas, Renaissance Dental, NCD Dental, and Nationwide, may be available depending on your area.

Dentalinsurance.com can help you choose the most appropriate dental insurance for your needs. By entering your ZIP code and date of birth, you may compare the best dental insurance plans in Iowa. Simply 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.

FAQ

What is the best dental insurance in Iowa?

When it comes to dental insurance, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all plan. Choose depending on your oral health and budget, since they are optimized for your unique requirements.