Best Maryland Dental Insurance for 2022

Types of Dental Coverage

The first thing you’ll need to research when you choose a dental insurance plan is your plan type. You’ll usually see multiple plan types available at different price points. The specific options you’ll have access to depend on the company whose dental plans you’re looking at.

There are 3 main types of offerings you’ll usually see:

• Dental health maintenance organizations (DHMOs): Dental health maintenance organizations (sometimes called “HMOs”) are the most limited type of dental insurance plan. Your insurance representative will send you a list of dental offices that accept your insurance. You need to pick a primary service provider from your list. If you don’t see a dentist in your network, you can’t use your benefits. DHMOs can be a more affordable option if you’re tight on cash — just make sure your dentist is in your network.
• Preferred provider organizations (PPOs): PPOs offer policyholders a bit more freedom at an increased cost. You can typically save on your treatment or premium if you do see an in-network dentist and you can use your plan at any provider. A PPO plan might be right for you if you already have a dentist that you want to keep seeing and you don’t mind paying a little extra for your care.
• Discount or benefit plans: Discount plans (sometimes also called “benefit plans” or referral plans”) are the cheapest type of plan offered by dental insurance companies. They’re not actually insurance because the companies who offer these plans don’t pay for any percentage of your dental care. Instead, signing onto a dental benefit plan gives you access to percentage discounts on each service listed if you see a particular dentist. 

What Does Dental Insurance Cover?

Most dental insurance plans include coverage for 3 types of dental treatments: 

• Preventive care is a class of treatment intended to help you avoid oral health problems. Your biannual dental checkups are an example of preventive care. 
• Regular services are routine treatments that help correct common dental health issues. Simple tooth extractions and cavity fillings are usually classified as regular services. 
• Major services are rare and often invasive treatments that correct very large dental health issues. Bridges and crowns are usually classified as major services. 

The percentage of your care cost that your dental insurance provider covers depends on your plan. When you look at plan choices, you may see your benefits listed as a list of three numbers. These numbers describe what percent of your dental care costs your insurance company will pay for after you reach your deductible. Most companies list these percentages in order of preventive-regular-major. For example, if you have a “100-80-50” plan, it means that your dental insurance provider will cover 100% of the costs of preventive care, 80% of the cost of regular services and 50% of the cost of major services. 

What Does Dental Insurance not Cover? 

Whether you buy the most affordable plan you can find or the best dental insurance in your area, your plan won’t cover everything. Keep an eye out for these common exclusions when you choose an insurance provider.

• Cosmetic services: No matter how expensive your dental insurance plan is, it won’t cover treatments that your dentist deems non-medically necessary. If you’re looking forward to whitening your teeth or getting veneers with your insurance benefits, know that these services won’t be covered.  
• Orthodontia: Braces and retainers usually aren’t solely cosmetic treatments. For example, you might need orthodontics to correct your overbite and to make chewing easier. Unfortunately, most dental insurance plans exclude orthodontics from treatment — whether they’re medically necessary or not.
• Select denied services: Dental insurance providers aren’t under the same restrictions as health insurance providers. There isn’t a set list of essential benefits that your dental insurance must include coverage for. This means that your insurance provider might exclude coverage. For example, many dental insurance plans don’t include coverage for sealants, despite the fact that they’re an effective form of preventive care against cavities. Make sure your read your plan’s inclusions and conditions before you sign on the dotted line. 

Average Cost of Dental Insurance in Maryland

You know firsthand just how expensive taking care of your health can be if you’ve ever had to shop for an independent health insurance plan. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised to learn that dental insurance is much more affordable than health insurance. As a resident of Maryland, expect to pay between $30 and $45 per month for your coverage. 

What to Look for in a Dental Insurance Provider

Every dental insurance plan isn’t equally as affordable or effective at preserving your dental health. Before you select a plan, make sure you look at these key factors.

• Your plan’s deductible is the amount of money you need to spend on your dental care before your plan will start paying out. For example, let’s say your insurance plan has a $500 deductible. This means that you can’t use your benefits until you spend $500 of your own money on treatment. Look for a plan with a low deductible that you can reasonably afford.
• The plan’s included services can cover your own individual list of included services and benefits. It’s possible to find 10 different insurance companies with 10 different “basic plans” and 10 different benefit lists. Read through each plan’s list of inclusions and exclusions to avoid an expensive surprise.
• Your annual benefit limit includes how much money you can claim in services. If you hit your maximum for the year, you’ll be responsible for 100% of your dental insurance costs after that point. Look for a plan with a high annual maximum — dental bills can be expensive. 

Great Dental Insurance Doesn’t have to be Hard to Find

Comparing dental insurance plans can be annoying. You might even be tempted to choose the first plan you see and throw caution to the wind. However, the best way to make sure that your family has the best balance of affordability and coverage is to make sure you get at least a few quotes from different companies.

It’s never been easier to get a quote for dental insurance — you can typically see your options in under a minute. Be sure to compare at least 5 dental insurance options before you make your final decision. Your teeth will thank you! 

Frequently Asked Questions