What is a dental discount plan?

Dental discount plans are annual membership programs. You pay 1 fee up front when you buy the plan, or split the annual fee into monthly installments, then pay out of pocket for the discounted dental services you get throughout the year.

Here’s how a discount dental plan typically works:

1. You shop plans based on your needs, like types of treatments covered, individual vs. family coverage, etc.
2. After you find the best plan for your needs, you purchase the plan by paying the annual fee (typically around $150).¹
3. Once your plan is active, you can schedule appointments with dentists in the plan’s network.
4. At your appointments, let them know you have a discount plan and they’ll charge you at the discounted rate.
5. Pay out of pocket for the discounted dental services.

With traditional dental insurance, preventive services like cleanings and exams are typically 100% covered. Other services like fillings, root canals and crowns are usually partially covered (20%–50%) depending on the plan you choose. A dental savings plan may offer discounts or pay a percentage for certain services, but it won’t cover 100% of the cost of any procedure.

Another good topic to compare is an annual benefit limit. Nearly all traditional dental insurance plans have annual limits—a cap on how much it’ll pay for your dental care in a year. Most dental discount plans don’t have annual limits, so you can get dental services all year long and pay the discounted rates every time.

If you fall into 1 of these categories, a dental discount plan could make sense for you:

• You need very little dental work. If your mouth is healthy and you only need routine cleanings twice a year, you may save money with a discount plan.
• You need more dental work than your insurance plan will cover. Most dental insurance plans have a limit they’ll pay for dental care for 1 year. If you plan on getting extra dental care, you could join a discount dental plan in addition to your dental insurance to help cover those extra costs.
• You have health issues that can be complicated by dental problems. People with certain health conditions may need to be especially careful with their dental care. For example, untreated gum disease can worsen health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. If you don’t have dental insurance, a discount plan may be better than no coverage at all.⁴
• You’re 65 or older. Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care.⁵ If you’re 65 or older and have Medicare but no dental insurance, a discount dental plan for seniors may be a good idea.

Note: If you need help making a decision, talk to a licensed insurance agent about which plan type would work best for your needs.