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Our Delta Dental Insurance Review
Our Delta Dental Insurance Review
Delta Dental PPO Plus Premium plan delivers superior benefits, but it is on the high end of cost among the plans we analyzed. Still, long waiting periods for coverage (except for preventive services) could leave you in a bind. Because Delta Dental plans vary by state, check the plan in your state for specific coverage limits and out-of-pocket costs.
Pros
- $2,000 annual maximum payout is high compared to many other dental plans.
- Preventive care is covered at 100% without a waiting period.
- 80% coverage for Basic care such as fillings.
- 50% payout for Major care such as oral surgery.
- Bridges, dentures and implants also covered at 50%.
- Orthodontics covered for children and adults at 50%.
- Covers teeth whitening at 80% (after 6 months).
Cons
- 6-month waiting period for Basic care benefits seems excessive.
- 12-month waiting period for orthodontics and major services like crowns.
- $10 enrollment fee while most competitors have no enrollment fee.
On Healthcare Marketplace's Website
Top plan
Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier
Deductible
$50 per person (may vary by state)
Dental network size
About 157,878 dentists
Table of Contents
- About Delta Dental
- Delta Dental Insurance Plans
- Methodology
Show more
About Delta Dental
The Delta Dental Plans Association has a national network of Delta Dental companies that offers coverage in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Delta Dental serves more than 80 million consumers in the U.S. and says it has the largest network of dentists of any dental insurance provider.
Summary
- Provider network: Delta Dental Plans Association is the umbrella for a network of 39 independent Delta Dental insurance companies offering coverage in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
- Plans and coverage: Delta Dental offers five plans for individuals. Specifics for each plan can vary by state.
Delta Dental Plans Association describes itself as the nation’s leading dental insurance provider, serving more than 80 million Americans with the largest network of dentists nationwide. Delta Dental was created in 1966 with the goal of coordinating dental insurance for companies with employees in several states.
Additional programs offered by Delta Dental
Beyond dental insurance, Dental Dental may provide users with:
- My Smile Kids, a collection of fun resources for children to help them learn about dental health through stories, games and tips.
- Grin, a wellness e-magazine devoted to recipes and health tips.
- A wellness library chock-full of educational articles and videos about dental health and its implications for overall well being.
Delta Dental Insurance Plans
Delta Dental generally offers five individual and family plans (plans in your state may vary). If you don’t see a plan that fits your needs, consider checking out Forbes Advisor’s list of best dental insurance companies.
- Delta Dental PPO: Delta Dental’s basic PPO option has lower premiums, but also a smaller provider network and lower annual maximum and limited coverage.
- Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier: Delta Dental’s top PPO plan has a larger provider network, which may limit more costly out-of-network care and much more coverage than the standard PPO.
- Delta Dental Premier: Delta Dental’s managed fee-for-service plan has the largest provider network. Dentists on the network agree to fees for covered services.
- DeltaCare USA (HMO): Delta Dental’s HMO focuses on preventive care and restricts you to get care only from network providers.
- Delta Dental Patient Direct: Technically not dental insurance, the discount program provides discounted fees when you get care at participating dentists.
Comparing Delta Dental’s PPO plans
| Delta Dental PPO | Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per month | $29.1 | $64.92 | ||
| Enrollment fee | $10 | $10 | ||
| Annual maximum | $1,000 | $2,000 | ||
| Annual deductible | $50 per person | $50 per person, $150 f0r family | ||
| Preventive care | 100% | 100% | ||
| Preventive care waiting period | None | None | ||
| Basic care | 50% | 80% | ||
| Basic care waiting period | 6 months | 6 months | ||
| Major care | Not covered | 50% | ||
| Major care waiting period | Not covered | 12 months | ||
| Dental implants | Not covered | 50% | ||
| Dental implants waiting period | Not covered | 6 months | ||
| Dentures | Not covered | 50% | ||
| Dentures waiting period | Not covered | 6 months | ||
| Orthodontia | Not covered | 50% | ||
| Orthodontic waiting period | Not covered | 12 months | ||
| Teeth whitening | Not covered | 80% | ||
| Teeth whitening waiting period | Not covered | 6 months | ||
| Monthly costs are based on a 30-year-old female in California. Costs are for comparison only among plans; your own cost will likely be different. | ||||
Featured Partner
1
Ameritas
Network
111,500 providers
Monthly premiums start at
$24.69
Methodology
To find the best dental insurance we scored 30 stand-alone dental plans. Only the top-scoring plans from each company are shown. Benefit details can vary by state, so check the plan brochure for details. Ratings are based on the following criteria for Delta Dental’s plans in California:
- Cost. We compared costs for a 30-year-old female in California. When California wasn’t available, we used Texas: 30% of score.
- Annual maximum insurance payout: 10% of score.
- No waiting period for preventive care: 10% of score.
- Basic care payout level: 10% of score.
- Basic care waiting period: 10% of score.
- Major care coverage in the first year: 10% of score.
- Coverage for implants: 10% of score.
- Coverage for orthodontia: 10% of score.
Best Dental Insurance Companies Of 2024
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