Types of dental insurance

Whether you get dental coverage through your employer or on your own, it’s important to know how each plan works. Some common dental plans to help pay for dental care include:

PPO plans have a large network of dentists under contract that you can choose from. If you use a dentist in their network, you can usually keep your costs lower. However, you’re allowed to use your benefits at any dentist. PPO plans have higher monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs than HMO plans.

HMO plans only allow you to use dentists in their smaller network. If you get treatment outside of the network, you can’t use your insurance at all. The only exceptions may be for an emergency or if you’re referred to a specialist. HMO plans typically cost less than other dental insurance plans, with lower monthly premiums and fewer out-of-pocket costs.

To learn more about the benefits and differences of HMOs and PPOs, check out HMO vs. PPO insurance plans.

EPOs are like a mix of PPOs and HMOs. You have the flexibility to choose your own dentist from a large, preapproved network, like a PPO. But if you get treatment outside of the network, you must pay 100% of the costs, like an HMO.

POS plans, like EPOs, share the same network rules as PPOs and HMOs. What makes POS plans different is they require you to get a referral from your primary care doctor to visit a specialist. Once you get a referral, a POS plan will help pay for the specialist treatment, even if it’s out-of-network.

Dental discount plans aren’t actually dental insurance plans. Instead, they’re more like a membership plan at a grocery store or wholesale club. You pay an annual fee and in return get discounted prices on preventive, basic and major dental services. For more information, explore how dental discount plans work.

If you’re interested in saving money on dental care, Humana can help. We offer a variety of dental plans, many with affordable monthly premiums. To explore plans and prices in your area, check out our Humana dental insurance page.