Erik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based insurance writer whose articles have been featured in AARP The Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest, USAA Magazine and other publications.
Erik Martin Insurance WriterErik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based insurance writer whose articles have been featured in AARP The Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest, USAA Magazine and other publications.
Written By Erik Martin Insurance WriterErik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based insurance writer whose articles have been featured in AARP The Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest, USAA Magazine and other publications.
Erik Martin Insurance WriterErik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based insurance writer whose articles have been featured in AARP The Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest, USAA Magazine and other publications.
Insurance Writer Les Masterson Deputy Editor, InsuranceLes Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before cove.
Les Masterson Deputy Editor, InsuranceLes Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before cove.
Les Masterson Deputy Editor, InsuranceLes Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before cove.
Les Masterson Deputy Editor, InsuranceLes Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before cove.
| Deputy Editor, Insurance
Updated: Aug 7, 2024, 11:24am
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Dental insurance can be a wise choice. Whether a preventive or comprehensive plan is best depends on how often you visit the dentist and what you want coverage for.
Employers often provide low-cost dental insurance as part of a benefits package. You can also buy coverage directly from dental insurers that may cost more but could offer more coverage options.
Key Takeaways
Dental insurance picks up the tab on many covered services and treatments, up to a certain percentage, based on your plan. But make no mistake: You will be responsible for paying some or most of the expenses for most dental care.
Here are the types of costs with dental insurance plans:
Some plans add a portion of any unused benefits from the prior year to the annual maximum of the following year, helping to build a cushion for unexpected emergencies like crowns, root canals and surgeries.
The average cost of dental insurance is $46 a month for a stand-alone dental plan that you can buy on your own. Comprehensive dental insurance costs $52 a month on average and a dental policy with only preventive coverage costs $26 a month.
Premiums are only part of the cost equation. Depending on your plan, you may also be responsible for copays, coinsurance, deductibles and treatment that exceeds annual coverage maximums. A cheap dental insurance plan could leave you paying a lot out of pocket if you visit the dentist.
Most dental insurance plans cover three areas of care: preventive, basic and major. Dental insurance policies can vary on the amount of coverage included but typically provide:
“Insurance usually covers preventive care in full,” says Albert Abena, assistant dean for Community Partnerships of the College of Dental Medicine at the University of New England. “Keep in mind that getting regular preventive care can safeguard your oral health from future issues and provide advance knowledge of possible problems that your dentist can address proactively instead of reactively.”
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Insurance WriterErik J. Martin is a Chicago area-based insurance writer whose articles have been featured in AARP The Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest, USAA Magazine and other publications.
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