Best Dental Insurance in Maine

Quick Look: The Best Maine Dental Insurance

• Delta Dental: Best Overall in Maine
• Humana: Cheapest Dental in Maine
• Anthem BCBS: Best for Plan Options
• Spirit Dental & Vision: Best for Combining Coverage

Dental insurance offers an easy way to protect your teeth from disease and accident. It works similar to health insurance to help cover dental costs, preventative care, major care, related dental procedures, diagnostic services and restorative services.

To choose the right coverage for you and your family, however, you need to consider your options to find a good dental insurance company. Everything from your coverage needs to budget can change which dental benefits plan in Maine is right for you.

Take a look at the different coverage options in Maine. Learn what is and isn’t covered by dental insurance and how much you can expect to pay. Affordable coverage is more important than ever, and you must pair savings with the proper benefit level. We’ll help you consider what factors are most important to choose a provider and give you a list of the best dental insurance Maine has to offer. Look for a variety of plans, national coverage,

Best Dental Insurance Providers in Maine

No two people are alike, so it can be difficult to find a dental plan that’s right for you. What works for your neighbors may not be a good fit for your family. We put together some of the best dental insurance companies in Maine to help you find a provider to fit your needs.

Check out our top picks for dental coverage based on a number of important factors.

1. Delta Dental: Best Overall

Delta Dental provides dental insurance coverage to millions across the U.S. Their Northeast division offers coverage for Maine.

Plenty of plan options and average costs make Delta Dental a great all-around dental insurance provider.

Some plans even offer a $2,000 annual maximum, which is higher than the normal range of $1,000–$1,500.

2. Humana: Cheapest Dental Insurance in Maine

Humana doesn’t have a lot of plan options for dental insurance in Maine. However, their offering has one of the lowest costs available.

Monthly premiums are usually below $20.

You won’t have a lot of coverage for major procedures, but most preventive services are covered. Humana happens to be one of the largest health and dental providers in the country with the financial strength to cover claims.

3. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield: Best for Plan Options

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers lots of dental plans ranging in price and coverage.

If you want basic coverage they have plans with low annual maximums and low monthly deductibles.

You can also opt for higher premiums and more coverage. No matter what you and your family need, Anthem probably has a dental plan option for you.

4. Spirit Dental and Vision: Best for Vision and Dental Benefits

Spirit Dental and Vision dental insurance plans come with some vision benefits included in the price.

This gives you combined coverage for dental benefits plan and vision through 1 plan. If you’re looking to save on vision insurance, Spirit is a great option.

Spirit plans also come with no waiting period and give you 3 no-cost cleanings per year, instead of the industry average 2.

What Does Dental Insurance Cover?

The plan you choose determines what is covered by your dental insurance. Different plans may offer different levels of coverage.

Most plans, however, cover basic care and preventive procedures. Some plans even cover preventive services and regular cleanings at no charge to you. Dental services most often covered by insurance include:

• Regular cleanings
• Annual checkups
• Fillings
• Simple extractions
• Crowns
• Bridges
• Root canals
• Oral surgery

The amount you have to pay for services depends on the type of coverage you have and your individual plan. Coverage amounts generally decrease for more advanced services, such as oral surgery.

Types of Dental Insurance Plans

Different types of dental coverage have different requirements for deductible, coinsurance and more. There are generally 3 types of dental coverage available in Maine:

1. Dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
2. Dental Health Management Organization (DHMO)
3. Dental Discount Plans

Each type of coverage comes with advantages and disadvantages. Which type of coverage you choose depends on your individual needs for coverage, cost and access to dentists.

Dental PPO

Dental PPOs provide a network of dentists who agree to set fees for certain dental services. When you visit an in-network provider, you usually pay coinsurance or copays and your dental plan covers the rest. Under a Dental PPO, you can choose an out-of-network dentist but you may be required to pay higher fees or file your own claim paperwork.

Premiums are usually higher with a dental PPO and you will probably have a deductible and annual maximum. However, you might prefer a PPO thanks to the flexibility to choose any dentist.

DHMO

A DHMO is sometimes referred to as a prepaid dental plan. Dentists within the dental network receive a monthly fee based on the number of people on the plan. As a plan participant, you choose to make one dentist or oral health facility your primary provider.

Contracted treatments have reduced costs for you and often only require a copay. Some services may be no cost to you, such as preventive checkups, but you’re required to visit your primary provider. If you need to see a specialist, your regular dentist refers you and you may need prior authorization.

DHMO plans tend to have lower premiums than PPO plans, and usually don’t have deductibles or annual maximums. If you visit a dentist outside of the limited network, however, you may have to cover the entire bill yourself.

Dental Discount Plans

Dental discount plans aren’t technically an insurance plan. The discount plan provider works with a network of dentists to discount their fees. When you visit an in-network dentist, you’ll cover the entire cost of treatment at the agreed plan rate. There are no deductibles, copays or maximums. Additionally, there are no claims to file, but you will need to pay an annual or monthly fee for your discount plan.

Important Dental Insurance Terms

To find the right dental provider, it’s important to understand what different types of dental coverages are available. You also need to understand some dental insurance terms:

• Deductible: The amount you must pay for dental services before your insurance benefits kick in.
• Annual maximum: The maximum dollar amount your insurance plan pays for dental services. This is usually between $1,000–$1,500.
• Coinsurance: A percentage breakdown of the costs of dental services paid by the insurance company and you. Your insurance provider could pay 80% and you pay 20% on covered services.
• Copayment: Similar to coinsurance, copays are usually a fixed amount that you pay for a service. For a $100 service, you pay $20 and your insurance pays $80, for example.
• Dental network: Many dental plans use a network of dentists who have agreed to a set price for certain dental services. Depending on your plan, using an in-network dentist could cost less than an out-of-network dentist.

What Does Dental Insurance Not Cover? 

There are certain services rarely covered by dental insurance. Some things not usually covered by dental plans include:

• Major preexisting conditions: If you have a small dental issue, such as a cavity, when you sign up for insurance, it will probably be covered. Major dental diseases or serious oral health issues that you have before signing up for insurance are not usually covered.
• Cosmetic dentistry: Cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening are unlikely to be covered.
• Orthodontia: Most dental plans don’t offer coverage for braces or other orthodontic treatments for adults.

In addition to listed exclusions or the services your dental plan specifically doesn’t cover, you may face other restrictions. Many dental plans in Maine require waiting periods, an allotted time where you cannot use your dental benefits after signup. It helps prevent patients from signing up for insurance and immediately requesting expensive surgeries or oral treatments. The average waiting period is 6 months and is often waived for preventive treatments or regular cleanings.

Your dental insurance is also unlikely to cover the full cost of oral surgery or emergency treatment. Each dental insurance policy varies and covers different services, so be sure to read the fine print of any plan you’re considering.

Average Cost of Dental Insurance in Maine

The price you pay for dental insurance in Maine includes a number of factors, such as:

• Premium
• Deductible
• Coinsurance or copayments

All of these factors go into how much you’ll actually spend on dental insurance. For example, you pick a plan with the lowest monthly premium but a higher deductible and copays. You might end up spending more than a plan with a higher monthly premium but no deductible and lower copays.

The average cost of dental insurance is about $350 per year. In Maine, you can expect to pay less than $20 to over $50 per month for an individual plan for a young adult. Each plan and person are different, so finding affordable dental insurance in Maine requires you to seek out quotes from different providers.

You may also be able to find discounts for dental plans. Many dental providers offer vision coverage as well. Just like combining your car and home insurance, you can usually save by combining dental and vision insurance.

How to Compare Dental Plans

You have lots of choices for dental insurance in Maine, so it can be difficult to pick a provider. When you choose a dental insurance company, be sure to ask yourself these questions about coverage and cost:

• Does this company offer the coverage I need?
• What type of coverage is offered?
• Can I afford the coinsurance or copay?
• Do I need any services that aren’t covered?

Ideally, you want to find a provider with plans to meet your coverage needs and budget.

In addition to the plan offerings from a dental insurance company, you should consider the company itself. Ask yourself these questions about the insurance provider:

• Is the company well-rated by reviews or the BBB?
• Is the company financially stable enough to pay dental claims?
• Are there ways to contact customer service, including online, by phone or through the mail?

Find Dental Insurance in Maine 

Get the best dental insurance in Maine for your family. Choose the factors that matter most to you and be sure to ask potential providers questions about coverage and cost. Find a plan that works for you by getting a dental insurance quote today.

Frequently Asked Questions