A dental insurance plan works similarly to a health insurance plan:

Yes. Dental insurance is standalone coverage. You aren’t required to have any other kind of health insurance to purchase it.

No. The ACA doesn’t require anyone to have a dental insurance plan. Although the ACA does require that dental insurance be offered to you if you have children, it doesn’t require you to carry that insurance.

Yes. Dental insurance plans generally come with an annual maximum (the most the insurance will cover in a given year). The annual maximum varies depending on the plan and insurance provider. UnitedHealthcare-branded dental insurance plans, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, come with maximums that can range from $1,000 to $3,000 per year.

Yes. Almost all dental insurance plans include coverage for routine exams, cleanings and routine X-rays — the kind of preventive care you need to keep your teeth healthy. Limits may apply. Some plans require a copay for eligible services, while others cover services with no out-of-pocket charges.

Carrying dental insurance also offers an incentive to improve your dental care routine and may reduce the chances of more serious dental issues later in life.

Yes. Most dental insurance plans cover fillings, simple extractions and root canals. Covered services and how much insurance will pay vary by plan. Be sure to check the details of your plan before you make your purchase. Waiting periods may apply.

It depends. Braces and orthodontic work are covered by a small number of plans. If orthodontics is a primary reason you’re looking for dental coverage, be sure to verify that your plan covers orthodontic work. Read the details of the plan carefully.

There are 3 types of dental insurance: Dental HMOs, Dental PPOs and Dental Indemnity plans. To find the most suitable plan for you and your loved ones, consider purchasing a plan that includes your most important features (e.g., cost, keeping your current dentist, flexibility). The UnitedHealthcare-branded dental insurance plans, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, are Dental PPOs.

Key characteristics of the 3 basic types:

Dental HMOs:
 

HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization. Dental HMOs feature:

Dental PPOs:

PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. Dental plans underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company are PPOs. Features of Dental PPOs include:

Dental indemnity plans:

This is traditional fee-for-service insurance, offering the most freedom of choice. Dental indemnity plans feature:

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: To get the most value out of your dental insurance plan, confirm that your dentist is in your plan’s network before you make your purchase. In-network dentists agree to lower rates for their dental services, so you’ll save by staying in-network.

Find a dentist

With an in-network provider or dentist, you will generally pay less out of pocket than with an out-of-network provider or dentist.

Some dental insurance plans don’t pay any benefits to out-of-network dentists, or pay much less. Check your plan before you make your purchase or before you make your appointment to visit your dentist. Additionally, if you stay in-network, the dental office and your insurance provider will likely handle submitting your claim. If you are out-of-network, you may have to submit your own claims and wait to be reimbursed.

It depends on the plan. Most basic services, like fillings, are available as soon as your plan becomes active. However, major services like implants sometimes require a waiting period.

Dental insurance requires you to pay a premium, and sometimes deductibles or copays, before paying for covered dental expenses. You may be required to pay a portion of some benefits, and waiting periods may apply to some services. Benefits are payable up to an annual maximum.

Dental discount products are not insurance and operate more like price clubs. You pay a fee, and you get access to discounted rates at select dentists. There’s no payout from the discount plan company to your dental provider. You pay the discounted rate for qualified services at participating providers.

Note: Both dental insurance and dental discount products are generally better options than paying cash out of pocket because both have negotiated lower rates on dental care with dentists in their networks.