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Quick Look: The Best Dental Insurance in Indiana
- Best Overall in Indiana: Humana
- Cheapest in Indiana: Anthem BCBS
- Best for Plan Options: UnitedHealthcare
- Best for Basic Coverage: Guardian
- Best for Adult Orthodontics: Cigna
It’s easy to access all of Indiana from the crossroads in Indianapolis. It should be just as easy to find dental insurance. Keep reading to see which dental insurance providers are an option in Indiana.
Best Dental Insurance Providers in Indiana
We’re here to make your dental insurance search easier. That’s why we went through the top dental insurance companies in Indiana. We took financial ratings, cost and reviews into account to help you find the right provider. See our picks for the best dental insurance companies in Indiana:
1. Humana: Best Overall
Humana is a large insurance company well-known for inexpensive dental insurance plans. The company has a vast national network of dentists.
There are several plan options for families and individuals in Indiana. A good option for above-average coverage with no waiting period is the Dental Loyalty Plus PPO.
This plan gives you a lifetime deductible so you only have to meet your deductible once the entire time you're enrolled.
2. Anthem BlueCross BlueShield: Cheapest Dental Insurance
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield offers the cheapest basic plans.
A Value plan costs around $15 per month and includes 100% coverage for preventive services.
You’ll still get some coverage for fillings as well. Major services aren’t covered by the value plan.
3. UnitedHealthcare: Best for Plan Options
UnitedHealthcare has dental insurance plans for almost anyone.
Choose from a basic plan that covers preventive care only or a full-coverage plan with a large annual maximum.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest insurance provider in the country, so you should have plenty of options to see a dentist that’s in-network.
4. Guardian: Best for Basic Coverage
- Best For:Young adults and families with children and teenssecurely through Guardian Dental Insurance's website
Do you want preventive dental coverage without the extra cost for treatments you may never need? Guardian’s Dental Advantage Bronze plan costs less than $17 a month and gives you access to preventive coverage.
The plan also pays 50% of the cost of fillings. You don't have to cover the treatment completely out of pocket if you have a cavity, for example.
You can choose any dentist, although you’ll receive a discount by going to an in-network provider.
5. Cigna: Best for Adult Orthodontia
Not every plan is available in every area or to every customer.
Most dental insurance doesn’t cover orthodontia for adults. But if you need braces or other orthodontia, Cigna’s Dental 1500 plan could be a good fit.
Cigna covers up to 50% of your orthodontic costs. Orthodontic coverage from Cigna comes with a separate lifetime maximum to help cover the cost.
Types of Dental Coverage
The best dental insurance depends on many factors. One of the biggest factors is what type of coverage you want. There are 3 categories of dental coverage, including:
- Dental health maintenance organization
- Dental preferred provider organization
- Dental discount plans
Understand how each type of coverage works so you know what’s best for you. Here are some important dental insurance terms to know:
- Premium: This is the amount of money you pay for your dental insurance plan. You’ll pay monthly premiums but you may be able to pay on an annual or quarterly basis.
- Dental network: Most dental insurance companies contract with certain dentists and oral health facilities. The dental network is a group of contracted dentists.
- Deductible: A deductible is the price of dental services you to cover before your insurance benefits begin. For example, it’s common for dental insurance to have a $50 deductible. Let’s say you need treatment that costs $100. You’ll cover the first $50 and your insurance covers the remaining $50. Most dental insurance deductibles reset at the beginning of each year.
- Annual maximum benefit or annual maximum: This is the amount your dental insurance pays per year in dental treatments. Let's say your annual maximum is $1,000 and you need $2,000 of dental work. You’ll pay out of pocket once your insurance pays for $1,000 of services.
- Copay: The portion of a dental treatment you must cover and set as a fixed price. For example, your insurance requires a $50 copayment for a $100 treatment. You pay $50 and the insurance covers the rest.
- Coinsurance: Coinsurance is almost the same as a copayment, only it’s represented as a percentage. Let’s say coinsurance costs $100, and your coinsurance is 50%, you need to cover $50.
Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) Plans
A DHMO plan requires you to pick a primary dentist or oral health facility within a dental network. You’ll visit the same dentist each time you need a procedure. You may have to get a referral from your primary provider if you want to see a specialist such as an oral surgeon.
Your dentist receives a payment each month based on the total number of people enrolled in the DHMO plan. Dentists within the network agree to offer certain services at fixed prices. When you visit your dentist, you usually pay a copayment and that’s it. DHMO plans don’t usually require a deductible and may not have an annual maximum.
The downside to a DHMO plan is its lack of flexibility. You need to visit your primary dentist each time you need treatment. If you choose to visit a provider outside the dental network, you may have to pay out of pocket for the treatment.
Dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans
Unlike a DHMO plan, PPO plans in Indiana don’t require you to choose a provider as your primary dentist. Instead, you’re free to visit any dentist within the plan network. You can even choose a dentist outside of the dental network. You may have to pay more out of pocket to visit an out-of-network dentist but your insurance is likely to cover part of the cost.
Most PPO plans have a deductible and annual maximum benefit. That means you’ll need to pay out of pocket before you meet the deductible and after you reach your annual maximum. Instead of a fixed copayment, you’ll pay coinsurance on your dental services.
Dental Discount Plans
A dental discount plan isn’t actually insurance but it can help you save money on expensive dental treatments. You pay a monthly or annual fee for a dental discount plan and receive a discount card. When you visit a dentist within the network of the discount plan, you can show your discount card. You’ll receive a certain discount on the services you need.
There are no deductibles, primary dentists or copays with a discount plan in Indiana. You receive a discount on services and pay the complete amount out of pocket.
What Does Dental Insurance Cover?
Most dental plans cover preventive care and many cover basic dental procedures. More inclusive plans may also cover major dental work. You’ll need to read your plan details so you know exactly what's covered by your plan.
Some of the common procedures covered by dental insurance include:
- X-rays
- Teeth cleaning
- Routine checkups and exams
- Fillings
- Root canals
- Bridges
- Crowns
Many dental plans provide less coverage for major work, such as crowns or bridges. This means you may have to pay more out of pocket for these procedures. But many plans cover the full cost of routine preventive care, like teeth cleaning, at least once a year.
What Does Dental Insurance Not Cover?
As with the inclusions in your plan, you’ll want to check the plan details to see what isn’t covered. For example, you can usually find affordable dental insurance in Indiana if you choose basic coverage. Basic coverage may include preventive care and fillings, but no coverage for crowns or root canals.
Certain services aren't covered by most dental insurance. These procedures include:
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Adult orthodontia
- Diagnosed major pre-existing conditions, injuries or diseases
You're required to wait a certain amount of time before you use benefits. This is a waiting period. Many dental plans won’t pay for more than preventive care until you’ve had the plan for 6 to 12 months.
Average Cost of Dental Insurance in Indiana
Most individual dental insurance plans in Indiana cost between $20 – $50 per month or $240 – $600 per year. The majority of plans are near the $30 – $40 per month range, or $360 – $380. This is above the national average of $350 per year.
Choose a plan with less coverage or a lower annual maximum. For example, a basic plan only covers preventive care often costs less than a plan that covers major procedures.
You can also ask your dental insurance provider if any discounts are available. Some dental plans include vision benefits so you don’t need a separate vision insurance plan.
What to Look for in a Dental Provider
Price and coverage are the 2 biggest factors when choosing dental insurance. You also want to consider your insurance provider.
Make sure you choose a provider that has a good reputation and is stable. Financial stability means an insurance company can pay out claims.
Other things to consider when looking for a dental provider include:
- Is it easy to reach customer service?
- Can you access a representative most times of the day on many channels, such as by phone, email or social media?
- What do customers say in reviews?
- Does the provider’s network include your favorite dentist?
Dental Insurance Plans in Indiana
You may not know where to start if you need dental insurance. Our list of the best dental insurance companies in Indiana is a good place to begin your research.
Most providers are happy to give you a quote for free. Find the providers you think could be a good fit and request a quote for dental insurance today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does dental insurance work?
A dental insurance plan charges a premium in exchange for covered benefits. Unlike health insurance plans, dental insurance plans usually have a cap on benefits, which means your plan may stop providing coverage once you reach the annual cap, often between 1k and 3K. Like other types of healthcare insurance, dental insurance focuses coverage on essential services, like cleanings, fillings, etc. Many plans don’t cover braces or elective cosmetic procedures. Get the cheapest premium here.
Is dental coverage part of health insurance?
Some health insurance plans bundle dental coverage as well but, in many cases, dental insurance is a separate plan. Healthcare plans that are ACA-compliant are required to offer dental coverage to children but there is no requirement that adults have dental insurance coverage. Choosing a separate dental insurance plan can be a cost-saving step and helps make dental health costs more predictable. Check out our best providers for the cheapest rate.
What kinds of dental insurance are available
Your choices for dental insurance plans are similar to health insurance choices. You can choose from a dental HMO, which helps to keep premium costs low by keeping services within controlled network. Dental PPOs give more freedom to choose your dentist and care but cost more than HMO plans. A third option is called a dental indemnity plan, which pays a fixed amount or percentage for covered services. Compare quotes from our top providers for the best price.
Dental Insurance Methodology
To determine the best dental insurance providers, we pored through all United States carriers. We winnowed the list by only including companies that have a wide coverage area and product offering. To further break down the list to the true best dental insurance providers, we gave weight to carriers that offer discounts, are available in all states and have multiple payment plan options.
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