How Much Is Dental Insurance? (2024)

On average, people spend between $20 and $50 per month on dental insurance premiums, with annual estimates ranging from $240 to $600. However, dental insurance costs also include co-insurance, copayments for specific treatments, annual maximums (the coverage limit per year) and deductibles. Your marketplace dental plan may have a maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) cost limit, but this usually only applies to children.

Dental insurance costs vary significantly based on location, with factors like regional health care expenses and market dynamics influencing rates. We found that Alaska has the highest dental insurance rates, with an average monthly cost of $50, while West Virginia has the lowest average at $18 per month. These averages can fluctuate depending on the type of coverage — such as preventative versus full coverage — and factors like individual versus family plans.

Marketplace dental insurance plans typically fall into one of the following plan types: Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Point of Service (POS), Indemnity and Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO).

• PPO plans feature a wider network of dentists and offer flexibility in choosing providers both in and out of the network. They usually have higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs.
• HMO plans require you to choose a primary dentist from inside the plan's network and often have lower premiums. Referrals are necessary for seeing specialists, and out-of-network coverage is either limited or not included.
• POS plans combine aspects of both HMO and PPO plans, allowing individuals to choose between in-network and out-of-network care. Referrals are typically required for specialists. However, no POS dental insurance plans were available in the 2023 marketplace.
• Indemnity plans offer the greatest freedom in choosing dentists and have no network restrictions. They reimburse a percentage of dental treatment costs, but premiums can be pricier.
• EPO plans limit coverage to in-network providers only, offering lower premiums than PPO plans but without the option to see out-of-network dentists.

Dental insurance plans may also be categorized by metal level, similar to health insurance plans. Precious metal plans (such as Gold or Platinum) generally have more expensive premiums but offer more comprehensive coverage with lower deductibles and MOOP costs. Lower metal-tier plans (such as Bronze or Silver) have cheaper premiums but higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.

MoneyGeek found affordable average dental insurance premiums from the following providers:

• Solstice Benefits: $16 per month
• DentaQuest: $16 per month
• MetLife: $17 per month
• EMI Health: $18 per month

Remember that premiums are just one part of your dental insurance expenses. Look at the deductible, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximum to get a fuller picture of a plan's total cost.

Dental insurance providers use a fee schedule to determine the costs of various dental procedures and out-of-pocket expenses such as co-insurance, copayments, deductibles and annual maximums. These UCR ("usual, customary and reasonable") fees are adjusted based on the expected cost of services in a particular area.

An area's cost of living, average prices at other dental offices, materials used, laboratory fees, number of appointments required and the treatment category all factor into the "usual" cost of services. The dentist determines the "reasonable" rate, while the dental insurance company decides the "customary" amount. These rates must align to ensure that your dental insurance policy adequately covers your required treatment.

We answered common questions about the cost of dental insurance to help you make informed decisions about your oral health coverage.