Why is Dental Insurance Important?
Did you know that individuals without adequate dental insurance benefits face heightened risks of encountering severe health ailments, including heart disease and diabetes? Alarmingly, dental-related emergencies account for over 2 million emergency room visits annually, underscoring the necessity for proactive dental care.
Californians should secure robust dental insurance coverage, particularly those with existing dental conditions such as fillings, crowns, or periodontal disease.
Dental insurance is a financial safeguard and promotes optimal oral health through free routine check-ups. Dental insurance significantly reduces costs, often covering two-thirds of standard fees with in-network providers.
Typically, PPO dental insurance has annual coverage limits between $1,000 and $5,000, with some providers offering even higher limits. However, only a few plans cover implants.
Choosing the best plan
When selecting a dental insurance plan in California, consider the following factors:
Network of Providers: Ensure your preferred dentists and specialists are in-network to maximize your benefits.
Coverage Needs: Assess your dental health needs. If you have ongoing dental issues or anticipate needing major procedures, opt for a plan with higher coverage limits.
Cost: Compare premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs to find a plan that fits your budget.
Customer Service: Choose an insurance provider known for excellent customer service and straightforward claims processing.
Here is an overview of significant insurance carriers in California:
Delta Dental has one of the largest dentist networks. Choosing a PPO plan lets you visit any dentist, but in-network dentists offer lower co-payments due to negotiated rates. Check Delta Dental rates here.
Humana is one of the top dental insurance companies in terms of size, offering individual and group plans. Humana introduced the Extend plan for people over 60. This offers dental coverage up to $2,500 or $5,000, plus vision and hearing benefits. Both plans offer extensive preventive dental services. Subsequently, after a year, they even provide implant coverage and coverage for crowns and other services.
Mutual of Omaha boasts a vast network, including participating dentists from DenteMax, United Concordia, and Connection Dental networks. Notably, network listings are updated weekly. Furthermore, the Individual Dental program features an extended national network of dentists who meet provider qualifications and accreditation criteria, with renewals every three years. This ensures members access to high-quality dentists. Mutual of Omaha has no waiting period for basic, preventative, or major services. They also cover implants up to $3,000. The monthly premium rate ranges from $38 to $69. You may click this link to check which Mutual of Omaha plan suits your needs.
Blue Shield of California dental PPO plan offers oral cancer screening and most no-waiting-period diagnostic and preventive services at no additional cost when using a dental network provider. Their PPO plans start at $46 and include free preventive service. Major services are covered after 1 Year and included in many plans for implant coverage. If the member uses a non-network dentist, they are reimbursed up to an allowed amount for covered services and pay the remaining balance of the total billed charges. Blue Shield waives the waiting period if a member has proof of prior group coverage.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at Solid Health Insurance Services or email us at info@solidhealthinsuance.com with your preferred dentist and their zip code so we can research which dental insurance plan best suits your needs. You can also get a free quote.
