Dental Insurance Plans

Who it's for

• Anyone whose health plan doesn't include adult dental coverage
• Families who want to confirm or add children's dental coverage
• People who want routine cleanings and checkups covered
• People planning dental work who want to understand waiting periods first
• Anyone who wants to bundle dental with vision coverage

How it works

You pay a monthly premium, and the plan pays a share of covered dental services. Most plans pay the most for preventive care, a smaller share for basic work like fillings, and less again for major work like crowns. Many plans also have a yearly deductible and a yearly maximum benefit.

What it covers

Most dental plans group services into categories, often covered at different levels:

• Preventive: cleanings, exams, and X-rays, often covered at the highest level
• Basic: fillings, simple extractions, and some other routine treatment
• Major: crowns, bridges, dentures, and similar work, often covered at a lower level
• Orthodontics: included on some plans, often with age limits or separate maximums

Carriers you can quote online

For individual dental, you can compare UnitedHealthcare, Pivot Health, Allstate, and Ameritas. UnitedHealthcare dental is administered by Dental Benefit Providers on the UnitedHealthcare national dentist network, and some plans skip waiting periods for preventive, basic, and most major services. Pivot Health offers plans such as Brilliant Dental on the Renaissance PPO network and Ameritas PrimeStar. Allstate Health Solutions lists several benefit levels, with no waiting period for preventive care on most plans. Ameritas also offers individual dental plans you can quote and enroll in online. Every carrier's plans vary by state.

What affects the cost

Prices aren't one-size-fits-all. These factors usually make the biggest difference:

• The plan type (PPO, DHMO, or indemnity)
• How many people are covered
• Where you live
• The annual maximum and coverage percentages
• Waiting periods and whether orthodontics are included

A plan with a slightly higher premium but no waiting period on basic care can be a better value if you need work done soon.

When you can enroll

Stand-alone dental plans from carriers can often be bought year-round. Dental plans purchased through the Marketplace generally follow Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment Periods. For 2027 coverage, Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Choose a plan by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1; plans chosen December 16 through January 15 generally start February 1.

Key things to know

Why dental coverage matters

Regular cleanings and exams can catch problems early, when they're often simpler and less costly to treat. Many plans cover preventive care at a high level to encourage those visits.

Adult vs. child dental under the ACA

Pediatric dental coverage is an essential health benefit under the ACA, so it's built into some Marketplace health plans or offered as a stand-alone dental plan. Adult dental usually isn't included in medical plans and is bought separately, through the Marketplace or directly from a carrier.

Dental PPO

Lets you see any dentist, but you'll usually pay less with dentists in the plan's network. A popular choice if you want flexibility.

Dental HMO / DHMO

You choose a primary dentist from the network and generally need referrals for specialists. Premiums are often lower, with less flexibility.

Indemnity (fee-for-service)

Lets you see any dentist and reimburses a set amount or percentage. These offer the most freedom but can involve more paperwork.

Coverage levels

Plans often pay a higher share for preventive care and a lower share for basic and major work. Checking these percentages helps you estimate what you'd pay for the care you expect.

Waiting periods

Many plans have waiting periods before basic or major services are covered. If you need work done soon, this is one of the most important details to check.

Annual maximums

Most adult dental plans cap what they'll pay in a year. Once you reach the cap, you pay the rest, so larger treatment plans are worth mapping out.

Dental discount plans aren't insurance

Discount programs offer reduced rates at participating dentists but don't pay claims. They can be useful, but it's important to know the difference.

Pairing dental and vision

Many people pick up dental and vision coverage together, since neither is typically part of adult medical coverage. Hollen can quote both at the same time.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying a plan right before major work without checking waiting periods
• Not confirming your dentist is in network
• Overlooking the annual maximum on a large treatment plan
• Confusing a discount plan with insurance

How Hollen helps

Hollen compares dental plans by your dentist, your expected care, and the waiting periods that matter for your timing, and she can quote dental and vision together.

Frequently asked questions

Related coverage

Vision · Family Health Insurance Plans · Individual / Private Health Insurance · Affordable Care Act (ACA) Plans

Hollen is licensed in 14 states. See coverage details for South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Florida, or all licensed states.

This page is general educational information, not a guarantee of coverage, eligibility, or cost. Benefits, availability, and rules vary by plan, carrier, and state. Contact Hollen for details on specific plans.