Best Dental Insurance for Braces

Delta Dental is one of the largest and most recognized names in dental coverage and more than twice the size of the next largest insurer. With Delta Dental, you can choose between the following:

• DeltaCare USA plan
• Delta Dental PPO plan
• Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier plan
• Delta Dental Premier plan
• Delta Dental Patient Direct plan

Depending on your location, you may be able to sign up for Delta Dental on your state’s health insurance exchange or healthcare.gov. Whichever plan you sign up for will have at least a portion of your orthodontic treatment covered.

Coverage varies based on your specific plan, but most DeltaCare USA plans include pre-orthodontic treatment, planning, x-rays, orthodontic treatment, and retainers. In either case, you can work with your orthodontist to get an estimate of the total treatment cost before getting started, including all discounts and coverage from Delta Dental.

Based on quotes for a family of four in Southern California, DeltaCare USA costs $28.83 per month. PPO plans were $106.66 per month for the Basic Plan or $213.34 per month for the Premium Plan. All plans require a $10 initial fee, and DeltaCare USA is available with no waiting period.

The most expensive PPO plan has a $50 per person deductible and a $1,500 annual maximum per person. A 50% coinsurance for orthodontics is also available under that plan.

Aetna is a major health and dental insurance company that CVS acquired in November 2018. CVS, a nationwide drug store chain, maintains Aetna under the CVS Health subsidiary. It holds an A rating from AM Best, signifying a strong financial footing and the ability to pay for customer claims. Aetna earned a score of 777 out of 1,000 for customer satisfaction from J.D. Power, putting it slightly below average in a study of California regional health insurers.

Aetna dental plans sometimes include orthodontics coverage. Whether you get a plan from work or on your own, it’s important to review your specific orthodontic treatment coverage in addition to regular dental coverage. Current customers can also call the number on their ID cards to find out what orthodontic needs their plans cover.

Through Aetna, individuals can buy dental insurance plans or a dental discount card. A test quote for a family of four led to two dental plans, but neither had orthodontics coverage, so read the details thoroughly before signing up. While not available in all areas, the Aetna DMO plan includes coverage for in-network orthodontists with no referral required.

A Dental Discount card is available starting at $7.99 per month, with discounts for dental services (including braces) up to 50% off, depending on where you live. Invisalign may not have the same discounts as traditional braces, however.

DentalPlans.com is a marketplace where you can compare multiple insurance and discount plan providers in one place. It features savings plans from top insurers and companies, including Aetna, Humana, and Delta Dental. Because it isn’t an insurance company in its own right, DentalPlans.com doesn’t have financial strength ratings.

Comparing discount plans for Southern California families resulted in eight different insurance and savings plans. Savings plans were available for $125 to $155 per year. Insurance was available from $29 per month to $65 per month. Each plan has its own coverage levels and limits. Three of the discount plans included orthodontic coverage.

The lowest-cost savings plans with orthodontic coverage are Aetna Vital Dental Savings ($139.95 per year for individuals), Aetna Vital Dental Savings Plus Rx ($154.95 per year), and iDental Discount Plan by United Concordia ($124.95 per year).

According to DentalPlans.com, many plans offer orthodontic savings of up to 60% of the treatment cost. Coverage can begin in as little as 72 hours with no lifetime cap on coverage.

When you shop around using DentalPlans.com, you can find the right-priced plan that often has more coverage than when shopping directly. However, you will have to do a second level of research to make sure you choose a plan with orthodontic coverage. Even if you already have dental insurance, you may want to add an additional discount plan for savings on braces, retainers, and other orthodontic needs.

Cigna is a major health and dental insurer operating in all states and holds an A rating from AM Best. Its dental health plans earn above average ratings for customer satisfaction from J.D. Power.

Cigna offers three different dental plans for a Southern California family when seeking a quote. Only the highest level, Cigna Dental 1500, includes orthodontist coverage. The premium for a family of four came out to $151 per month. The other two plans don’t include orthodontic treatment coverage.

According to Cigna, the average user who chooses an in-network provider will spend about $3,155 for orthodontic treatment, compared to $6,435 for someone without coverage. Cigna Dental 1500 has a $50 individual deductible and a $150 family deductible per calendar year for dental treatment.

Orthodontic treatment has a $50 lifetime deductible and a $1,000 lifetime maximum benefit for both in- and out-of-network providers. This coverage has a 12-month waiting period. In-network, you pay 50% of the contracted fee. Even after using up the maximum lifetime benefit, you’ll still save thanks to the lower price of contracted fees compared to a treatment’s list price.

American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, or Aflac, offers dental insurance supplements with an optional rider for orthodontics. Supplemental coverage is designed to work alongside another insurance policy. In this case, health insurance. Aflac holds an A+ rating from AM Best.

Policies and pricing are not available completely online. It takes an online form or a call to Aflac to get a quote. When comparing quotes, they were only available by phone, which is not ideal for many shoppers.

Because Aflac offers dental insurance as a supplement and orthodontic coverage as a rider, you can build a somewhat a la carte insurance policy to help meet your orthodontic needs. Like with other insurers, monthly costs and coverage vary by the level of coverage you choose.

Policies we reviewed require a 24-month waiting period for initial orthodontic treatment. Aflac will pay up to $500 for initial treatment and up to $50 for recurring visits related to specific procedures outlined in the rider. The lifetime maximum is $1,400 per person, and there is a $2,400 to $2,600 annual payout limit per policy.

Humana is an insurer based in Louisville, Kentucky. It earns an A- financial strength rating from AM Best. Dental insurance plans from Humana don’t generally cover orthodontic treatment but do come with discounts for orthodontics.

In the plans we reviewed, orthodontic coverage was limited to a discount plan. Payments for orthodontic coverage are specifically excluded. This means you won’t receive insurance payments toward braces or similar treatment regardless of your deductible or annual maximum—all coverage is in the form of a discount.

In a quote for a family of four, there were four possible dental insurance plans available. Two of the plans included orthodontics discounts: Loyalty Plus PPO and Complete Dental PPO. These were available for $131.96 and $150.99 per month, respectively.

Because orthodontics coverage under these plans comes as a discount, not a covered service like dental work, deductibles and limits don’t apply for orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic discounts are available right away. The Loyalty Plus PPO plan has a $35 enrollment fee.

USAA is a top-rated bank and insurance company for active-duty military, veterans, and their families. Like many other insurance products offered by USAA, it scores top marks for customer service with its dental plans. USAA issues dental insurance in partnership with Cigna and IHC.

While USAA Dental Insurance requires working with a third-party insurance provider, the policies offer great coverage for orthodontics from a reputable and trusted partner.