Can I have 2 dental insurance plans?

Dual dental coverage is when you’re covered under 2 dental plans. This can happen when you have 2 benefit-eligible jobs or you and your spouse both have employer-sponsored coverage. Dual coverage only applies to group plans, not individual plans.

Dual dental coverage can also be used as supplemental dental coverage. Supplemental coverage can help pay for treatment after you reach your primary plan’s spending limit, or help pay for dental treatments your primary plan doesn’t cover.

When you have 2 dental plans, they divide the costs of approved dental procedures. Typically, your primary dental plan pays first and covers a larger portion of the bill and the secondary plan pays the remaining balance.

When 2 plans work together, it’s called a Coordination of Benefits (COB). Both plans coordinate to figure out how much each will pay to avoid overpayment or a duplication of benefits.

Primary vs. secondary insurance coverage can be confusing. Let’s take a quick look to see the difference:

• Primary dental carrier—Your primary dental insurance is the plan that covers you as a member. If you have 2 jobs where you’re covered as a member, your first (or oldest) dental carrier is usually your primary plan.
• Secondary dental carrier—Your secondary dental insurance is the plan that covers you as a dependent. Generally, your secondary dental policy will not accept a claim until the primary plan has covered its end.

The benefits of dual dental insurance depends on your personal needs. If you only need routine checkups each year, 2 policies may not be an advantage. If you predict needing other dental work like tooth fillings or dental crowns, 2 policies could help you save on out-of-pocket expenses.

At Humana, we understand you may have more questions about dental insurance. To learn about dental plans, dental care and dental procedures, check out our library of dental articles.