Few subjects are more boring to talk about than dental insurance policies.
That said, there are a few cases where insurance related info at least reach the level of being mildly interesting. Here are a few examples you may not be familiar with…
Head and Shoulders insured former NFL star Troy Polamalu’s long, flowing black hair for $1 million.
Victoria Secret model Heidi Klum had her legs insured for $2.2 million (for some weird reason the right one is insured for $1.2 million while the left only for $1 million).
And, somewhat dental related, Ugly Betty TV star America Ferrara had her smile insured by Aquafresh for $10 million.
But, by and large, insurance is about as interesting as watching paint dry.
Especially dental insurance.
It’s far down the list of types of insurance people pay attention to behind health, auto, homeowners and life insurance.
Even so, dental insurance is still an important subject that we can’t totally ignore.
And if you’re looking to pick up dental insurance you probably have a number of questions. One of the most common questions or topics that comes up about it is its cost.
How Much is Dental Insurance?
With our standard disclaimer that the cost of things depends on a number of factors, let’s take a look at some average costs for dental insurance.
For dental insurance, employee and group policies can range from $225 – $450 a year, on average.
If you don’t have access to a plan through an employer or other group, an individual dental insurance policy averages around $350 per year.
What Typical Dental Insurance Plans Cover
The price is one side of the equation. What you get in return is another.
Again, the answer here depends on the coverage you have. But here are some generalities when it comes to what dental insurance covers…
Basic prevention and diagnostics are usually covered fully. This includes 2 exams/cleanings a year, X-rays and fluoride treatments (if needed).
You are also covered for unexpected (and usually more expensive) procedures. Things like fillings for cavities, root canals or crowns.
These kinds of procedures can potentially set you back up to a few thousand dollars. Having insurance coverage to pick up some or all of the cost can save you from having to go digging for spare change under the couch cushions.
Limits of Dental Insurance Coverage
Though dental insurance plans do have their limits. Many will have a cap of $1000 – $1500 per year. Any costs above that are totally on you.
If you’re looking for dental coverage to pick up the costs of cosmetic procedures like Smile Makeovers, Dental Implants or Veneers, you’re probably out of luck.
Most dental insurance policies do not include coverage for cosmetic procedures.
That is certainly true for procedures that are totally just for looks. Things like tooth whitening or closing an unsightly gap between teeth.
However, if there is an underlying medical reason why you need to have a common cosmetic procedure like veneers, implants, etc., then there’s at least a chance dental insurance may cover at least part of the cost.
That covers the basics of what dental insurance typically costs and what it covers for the money.
To get an exact figure on what dental insurance will cost you, we recommend contacting your employer or an independent dental insurance provider to get a quote.