I’m leaving my group plan this July and signing up for Medicare Plan G. My question is, is dental insurance worth it? I’ve been quoted prices between $50 and $95 per month, but most plans only cover basics like cleanings, bitewing X-rays, and exams. Would I be better off asking my dentist for a cash rate? I checked, and insurance paid $193 for the basic services.
Whatever you decide, make sure you sign up sooner rather than later. Most dental policies cover routine cleanings but have a 6-month wait for fillings and a 12-month wait for crowns.
We joined a discount plan with our dentist that costs $98 monthly (about $1176 per year) for two cleanings and a 10% discount on other procedures. It got me thinking about how much cleanings cost on their own and if we’re really getting our money’s worth. Honestly, I’m considering dropping the plan and just putting that money in a high-yield savings account.
@Ari
Where I live, cleanings usually cost around $150-200. Not sure about X-rays, but they’re usually not too pricey. Major dental work can get expensive, but it’s not something I need every year. I self-pay and trust my dentist, but there’s definitely a lot of upselling and unnecessary procedures happening in dentistry.
Honestly, I think dental insurance is mostly a waste. Insurance companies design their plans to make money, so they’re charging more than they expect you to use.
I’m okay with this for health or home insurance, but not dental. I’d rather self-insure and save money in the long run.
@Reagan
Agreed. We’re now self-insuring for dental under the ACA, even though we both need crowns and such. Most of that isn’t covered anyway.
With my spouse’s tendency to brush too hard, I’m sure we’ll have some dental bills, but none of it would really be covered by insurance.
Look into the maximum coverage on the policies you’re considering and see what’s covered for things like fillings, crowns, and root canals.
If they don’t cover major work, dental insurance might still offer some value through negotiated prices. Ask your dentist if they’ll give you a cash deal, then compare that to what insurance would cost. If major stuff is covered, though, it’s more of a gamble on whether you’ll need it.
It’s debatable. My spouse and I pay about $95 per month for ours. We saved a lot on a cap, which was helpful as we get older and need more extensive work. I like having it, but it might not be worth it for everyone. Also, I’m not a big fan of insurance in general and keep it to a minimum.
I don’t have dental insurance, but I go to a dental hygienist school for my cleanings every six months. They do a fantastic job, and it’s free, although it does take a few hours since they need instructor sign-offs. Best cleanings I’ve had, plus they track gum health.
I signed up for a concierge service at my dentist’s office. For a flat monthly fee, I get multiple cleanings each year and a 15% discount on any additional work. My corporate benefits capped at $1,000 annually, so I wanted to stick with my dentist, who doesn’t take Medicare Advantage plans.
Hard pass. When I worked as an executive in health insurance, we used to call dental plans ‘dollar swapping.’
Some of these comments crack me up. While it’s true that dental insurance has its flaws, it’s not all bad. If you’re paying $50 a month and get 100% coverage for preventive care, that’s two annual cleanings, X-rays, and maybe even a filling covered at around 60%. You might just break even, but the real benefit shows up if you need something bigger like an implant. Paying 80% or 50% is a lot better than 100%.
@MissNicklaus
This is misleading. Most dental plans I’ve seen have a max payout of $1k or $1.5k and require years of coverage to reach full benefits. I had a recent extraction and bone graft, and insurance would have barely covered any of it. Stop overhyping it.
@EvansBrown13
Exactly. That annual max is key—it’s the most the plan will pay, and it’s often easy to reach.
Delta Dental has been a nightmare for me. They approved work beforehand, but then downgraded my plan after the fact, refusing coverage. It’s been dozens of calls and hours with no resolution. Worst experience ever.
@Dylan
Any recommendations for better companies?
If you think you might need major work in the future, check whether your plan has a 12-month waiting period for that type of coverage. Might be worth getting coverage sooner rather than later.
Ashton said:
If you think you might need major work in the future, check whether your plan has a 12-month waiting period for that type of coverage. Might be worth getting coverage sooner rather than later.
Plus, you’ll still need to cover the rest of the cost. Dental care here is ridiculous.
@Jace
I’m on the east coast, but Costa Rica is looking appealing. My dentist quoted $12k for two implants, but I could get them done abroad with two week-long trips for under $6k.