Dental health is part and parcel of your well-being. It’s the reason you keep up with the regular check-ups with your dentist, have regular cleanings, and indulge in other forms of preventive care that keep the more serious dental issues at bay.
However, dental care doesn’t come cheap, especially in Utah, which is why most of her residents resort to dental insurance for the care of their oral health. However, finding dental insurance that’s purpose-built for you can be a difficult task, considering the hundreds of options that are available and the amount of detail you need to pay attention to.
In this article, we will be taking a look at the best dental insurance Utah. We hope that the information will help you cut through the clutter and position you to make an informed decision as you shop for a dental insurance plan in the beehive state.
Factors to Consider When Shopping for Dental Insurance in Utah
There are key factors you should consider as you shop for dental insurance in Utah. Some of them are:
- Extent of Coverage
What services—for example, preventive care, orthodontics, or major procedures—are covered?
- Network
Will you be able to access care with your preferred dentist in the insurance network?
- Premiums and Deductibles
What is the monthly cost of the proposed policy? How much are you paying out-of-pocket as deductibles before the policy kicks in?
- Waiting Periods
How long are you obligated to wait before you can access care? Which services have waiting periods? Which ones can you access immediately?
- Maximum Annual Benefit
What maximum benefit, in a plan year, does your proposed policy offer?
- Customer Reviews
What are those already subscribed to the provider saying about the coverage they paid for? Are the reviews net-positive or otherwise? What features or services in dental insurance are getting the most positive mention? You can use a review service like Trust Pilot to inform your decision better in this regard.
Also read: Top 5 Dental Insurance That Covers Invisalign
Best Dental Insurance in Utah
The Utah insurance marketplace offers a potpourri of dental insurance plans designed to cater to different needs and budgets. We turn the spotlight on some of the best dental insurance in Utah:
Delta Dental of Utah
Delta Dental is widely recognized as a leading provider of dental insurances all over the United States. Operating in Salt Lake City, Utah as the Delta Dental Insurance Co, Delta Dental offers comprehensive dental insurance plans to Utah residents.
Specifically, there is the Delta Dental PPO for individuals, as well as DeltaCare USA, which is a DHMO-type dental insurance.
Per the Delta Dental PPO, there are two variants – the Basic and the Premium. Both can be accessed for between US$49.95 to US$64.92 per month. Both offer 100% coverage with zero wait time and zero deductible for preventive services like cleaning and x-rays.
However, the Delta Dental PPO Basic does not cover major services like root canals, crowns, implants, dentures, or orthodontics; those services can only be accessed by subscribing to the Delta Dental Premium with coverage set at 50%, plus there are wait times.
The maximum annual benefit for both variants caps at US$1,000 per person for basic and US$2,000 per person for premium.
DeltaCare USA is a premium dental insurance. If you are subscribed to DeltaCare USA, you get to enjoy 100% coverage with zero wait time and zero deductible for diagnostic and preventive services like exams, cleanings, and x-rays, as well as for basic services like fillings, tooth removal, teeth whitening and gum cleaning. Also, you get 100% coverage for major services like crowns, root canals, and orthodontics.
MetLife Dental
MetLife is another insurer of repute operating in Utah. MetLife has offices in the Sandy area of Utah.
MetLife’s dental insurance policies balance affordability and comprehensive coverage. For example, MetLife’s My Dental PPO covers preventive care at 100%, restorative treatments like fillings at 80%, and oral surgeries at 50%. Your cost is even lower if you stick to accessing care from a practice or dentist-approved in the network. Dentists approved in the network have been thoroughly credentialed, so you can rest assured of their expertise.
MetLife offers DHMO or pre-paid plans only in specific states of the United States.
Also read: Does Blue Cross Medical Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Cigna Dental
Cigna is another dental insurer operating in Utah. Operating as Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, her offices are in the Bloomfield area of Utah.
Cigna’s dental insurance focuses on preventive care. All their plans cover regular cleanings, exams, and x-rays at 100%. This is an incentive for enrollees to do their regular check-ups. There is also partial coverage for restorative and orthodontic treatments.
Specifically, the Cigna Low Deductible (US$20 per month), High Annual Maximum (US$24 per month), and Bundled Plans (US$32 per month) offer deductibles in the US$0 to US$100 range, up to US$3,000 in benefits in the plan year, and US$0 dental check-ups after deductibles (inclusive of cleanings and routine x-rays). Major procedures like dental implants are only covered under the Bundled Plans.
More importantly, you can see your preferred dentist although you get to save more if you access care with a dentist in the network.
Humana Dental
Humana is another major dental healthcare provider operating as Humana Medical Plan of Utah Inc. out of the Sandy area of Utah. They have a variety of dental insurances that are well-suited for different budgets and coverage needs of residents of Utah. Also, you will get access to a strong network of dentists for market-competitive premiums if you subscribe to any human dental insurance.
Specifically, Humana offers three main dental insurance plans – Preventive Value (US$19.99 per month), Bright Plus (US$22.99 per month), and Complete Dental (US$5.99 per month). All three are PPO-type plans and offer deductibles between US$0 to US$100 for individual plans and as much as US$500 for family plans.
Note that there is no deductible applied if you are subscribed to the Preventive Value plan. The annual maximum benefit you get to enjoy is US$1,250 for both Bright Plus and Complete Dental plans, while it is unlimited for Preventive Value, showing again the premium Humana places on preventive dental care.
Other Notable Providers of Dental Insurance in Utah
Although the providers mentioned above might be the most popular in Utah, there are other providers you can consider as you shop for the best dental insurance Utah. Some of them include Aetna, Guardian, and UnitedHealthCare.
They all offer dental insurance with varying levels of pricing, coverage, and benefits. Their dental insurance is as competitive as the ones we have featured above.
Also read: Pros and Cons of Having Two Dental Insurance
How to Maximize Your Dental Insurance Benefits
It’s only natural that you would want to get the most out of your dental insurance since you would be paying dearly for it. Here’s how to do that:
- Always access care with an in-network dentist
This is important as you will be able to significantly lower your out-of-pocket expenses.
- Invest in regular check-ups and cleanings
Prevention is always better and cheaper than cure. This is why almost all service providers cover preventive care at a higher percentage.
- Take time out to understand the details of your plan
Get familiar with the terms and conditions of the policy you have subscribed to. What is your maximum benefit in the plan year? Are you going to wait, and how long will it take before accessing care? What network of dentists is available to you under your plan? What are the limitations of the policy?
- Utilize your annual benefit to its maximum
Use your coverage throughout the plan year. Remember that any unused benefit at the end of the plan year gets lost automatically, so make the best use of your benefits while they are still valid.
Conclusion
Taking the time out to shop for dental insurance to protect your and your loved ones’ oral health is a wise decision. Carefully consider your needs when comparing the different plans that are available so that you can pinpoint the dental insurance that’s perfect for you and your family.
Lastly, remember that a preventive dental routine—brushing at least twice every day, flossing regularly, and going for regular check-ups with your dentist—is key to maintaining a healthy smile and preventing the onset of costly dental issues in the future.