Best Dental Insurance in New Mexico: Comparison and Plan Review

If you're looking for the best dental insurance in New Mexico, you'll find that there are many companies that offer a wide range of dental policies. But how can you determine which dental insurance is best for you?

It's crucial to do your homework before making a choice. Having the correct dental insurance may drastically reduce your out-of-pocket expenses when you require dental treatment, so it's well worth the effort to thoroughly investigate your options.

We've already done some of the legwork for you by sifting through the top dental insurance plans available and putting together this resource to help you get the best dental insurance in New Mexico.

This resource guide will help you find the ideal dental plan in New Mexico and answer the questions you may have, including:

• What type of dental insurance is available in New Mexico?
• What to consider before purchasing a dental plan
• Best dental insurance providers in New Mexico
• How to find dental insurance with no waiting period

We hope that after reviewing the information provided below, you will be able to choose which dental insurance plan is most appropriate for you.

Types of dental insurance in New Mexico

There are so many different dental plans on the market. However, there are three main possibilities for private dental insurance in New Mexico:

PPO plans: PPO stands for “Preferred Provider Organization”. They make up the vast majority of dental insurance plans on the market today because they provide the greatest flexibility and coverage. However, they are also the most expensive.

DHMO plans: DHMO (Dental Health Maintenance Organization) plans are the more affordable option, but they provide less flexibility. With this plan, you may be required to have one dentist who handles all of your treatments.

Dental Discount Plans: They are also known as dental savings plans, and are a great way to save money on dental treatment if you need it right away. These programs aren't really dental insurance, but they may help you save money on your dental care.

What features to look for in a dental insurance plan

It will take some time to choose the ideal dental plan for you because each provider has a slightly different set of features. Here are a few of the most crucial things to know while looking for dental insurance:

Cheap vs. useful

You may be looking for the cheapest dental insurance in New Mexico, but the cheapest option isn't necessarily the best. You may save more money by paying a higher premium in exchange for greater benefits, depending on the treatment you need. When making a choice, consider the following cost factors:

• Annual or monthly premium: Whether you make claims or not, this is a set amount you pay for insurance coverage.

• Deductible: This is the amount you must spend out-of-pocket before your insurance company can repay you. This normally resets once a year. However, some dental insurance policies have lifetime deductibles that remain as long as you continue on the plan. Some treatments may be exempt from the deductible fee.

• Co-pay: This is the amount you will be charged for each treatment, with insurance covering the rest. It may be a set fee or a percentage of the overall bill, and certain treatments (like preventive care) may not require a co-payment at all.

• Yearly maximum: The annual maximum benefit is the highest amount that a dental insurance policy will pay out in a particular year.

It may be difficult to walk a fine line between all of these factors in order to locate the most economical dental plan for you, particularly if you don't know what kind of treatment you'll need in the future.

In general, if your teeth are in excellent shape and you've only required minor dental treatment in the past, you could be better off paying a low premium for preventive and basic coverage.

If your dental health isn't terrific, though, spending a higher premium for a policy with more extensive coverage may save you money in the long term.

Dental insurance in New Mexico with no waiting period

If you require treatment right away, check for dental insurance plans with no waiting period. Many plans provide instant coverage for preventive care, but if you need major treatment immediately (like a root canal), you'll likely have to pay a larger premium or co-payment. But it may still be less expensive than paying for the repair in full.

Humana offers great dental insurance plans with no waiting period, even for major services. Delta Dental also provides some excellent dental plans with no waiting periods. These dental plans, however, still require you to pay a copayment.

If you can't locate quick coverage that meets your needs, dental tourism may be an option. You can just cross the border to Mexico and save up to 70% on dental treatments. This is a terrific method to reduce the cost of major treatments such as dental implants, crowns, and other costly treatments. You can read more about this in our Mexico dental tourism guide.

Comparing the best dental insurance plans in New Mexico

Dental plans are available from a variety of companies in New Mexico, each with its own set of features. We've compiled a list of the most popular so you can start thinking about your possibilities. You may also want to read reviews from other customers to get a sense of the customer service and claims process.

Humana

Humana offers a wide range of dental plans in New Mexico.

Dental Discount Plan

You pay a monthly fee in exchange for discounts at network providers with their dental savings plan. A great benefit is that this dental insurance plan has no waiting period, so this can be a great option if you require treatments right away and you don’t want to commit to a high premium PPO plan.

This plan offers discounts on routine cleanings and exams, x-rays, tooth-colored fillings, extractions, oral surgery, root canals, crowns, and dentures. Orthodontics is covered up to 20%.

Humana’s PPO plans

Humana offers a large variety of PPO plans in New Mexico. With these dental insurance plans, you have the choice to see any dentist you like, but you'll save more money if you go to one of their recommended network dentists.

Some of Humana’s PPO plans offer loyalty incentives. The co-payments decrease and the yearly maximums increase the longer you stay on the dental insurance policy.

The dental plans typically have a $50 lifetime deductible for individuals and a $150 family deductible. Preventive services such as routine cleanings, exams, x-rays, fillings, and extractions have no waiting period. Major treatments have a waiting period of 3 months.

Delta Dental

Delta Dental of New Mexico offers a wide range of dental insurance plans for any requirement and budget.

Delta Dental Core:

This dental insurance plan provides a yearly maximum of $1,000 per person. All treatments are covered at 50% after the $50 deductible has been paid. Preventive services have no waiting period, while basic treatments have a 6-month wait, and major services have a 12-month waiting time.

Delta Dental Enhanced Plan

With this Delta Dental plan, you have diagnostic and preventive services fully covered. Basic services are covered at 80%, and major services at 50%. The annual maximum and the waiting time are the same as with the Core plan.

Delta Dental Coral and Turquoise plans

These plans are graded. The longer you stay on the plan, the greater the benefits. Preventive treatments are covered by the Coral plan with 80% coverage in the first year, 90% coverage in the second year, and 100% coverage in the third year. If you stay longer on these plans, the coverage percentage of basic and major services, as well as the annual maximum, will increase too.

Delta Dental Chile plan

The Chile plan has an annual maximum of $2,000 per year. This dental insurance plan has no waiting periods on any services, including implants and other major services. However, there’s a $50 deductible to pay. Basic services are covered at 80%, and major services are covered at 50%.

If you require treatments immediately, and you are looking for a dental insurance plan with no waiting period, this plan could be a great option.

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

There is no one-size-fits-all dental insurance plan because every person's dental needs and budget are different.

Younger people typically have different dental needs than older adults. That’s why you can purchase special dental insurance plans for seniors or for services like orthodontics. Depending on your needs, you might also want to look for combination plans such as dental and health insurance, or dental and vision insurance.

We combed through New Mexico's best dental insurance plans and verified their availability in the state's major cities, including Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Rio Rancho. Depending on your location, however, various other dental insurance companies may be available, such as Guardian Direct, Metlife, Renaissance Dental, NCD Dental, Ameritas, or Nationwide.

Dentalinsurance.com can assist you in selecting the best dental insurance for your requirements. You may compare the top dental insurance plans in New Mexico by entering your ZIP code and date of birth. To get started, just click the button below.

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