Dental insurance for the self-employed

Self-employed individuals have 2 ways to buy dental insurance.

1. Health plans that include dental insurance—Most health insurance companies that offer medical plans also offer other types of insurance, including dental and vision. You’ll likely only have to pay 1 monthly premium and you may get a discount for bundling plans. 
2. Stand-alone dental insurance plan—If your health insurance doesn’t include dental, or you want a different type of coverage than what’s offered, you can choose a stand-alone plan. Your premium for the dental plan will be paid separately from your health premium.

Some important factors to consider in selecting a dental plan include:

• Large network—The more dentists in the network, the better chance you will find 1 close to home and save money on services.
• Multiple plan types—There are several options available to fit different needs, including plans with coverage and discounts for teeth whitening, orthodontics, braces and dentures.
• Affordable plans—Low-cost options, with low premiums and reasonable copays for common preventive services, are available for every budget. All plans include certain preventive services at no added cost to you.
• Easy online tools—Search for plans, get quotes and find dentists near you.
• Free information—Expert agents and educational articles help you better understand how dental insurance works and how to select the best plan for your needs.

Types of dental insurance coverage for the self-employed

Just like medical insurance, dental insurance plans offer a variety of features that may affect your cost and your coverage. Look for a plan that offers the right balance of preventive, basic and major coverage to suit your needs. Here are a few common types of dental plans to consider. 

• Dental HMO insurance plans. With a dental HMO, you must choose a dentist from the plan’s network to receive care, but your premiums will generally be lower.  
• Dental PPO insurance plans. With a dental PPO, you can visit any dentist in or out of your plan’s network. You’ll have more choices, but you’ll likely pay more to see an out-of-network dentist. PPO premiums tend to be higher, as well. 
• Dental discount plans. Dental discount plans are not insurance. They are annual membership programs, like Sam’s Club or Costco. You pay 1 annual fee, or pay monthly installments, then you pay a discounted fee for dental services you get from network providers throughout the year.

Humana offers affordable dental insurance options for the self-employed 

If you’re self-employed and need dental insurance, Humana can help. We offer a broad range of dental plans with varying levels of coverage, many with affordable monthly premiums. To see plans and prices in your area, check out our Humana dental insurance page.