Understanding Coverage
How does dental insurance work?
Having dental insurance makes you more likely to get the care you need — and it helps you manage costs. Most get coverage in two ways:
- A medical plan that includes dental benefits
- A standalone dental plan from an insurance company like Anthem
Standalone dental insurance plans offer more choices and benefits and can include routine preventive care to complex procedures like root canals. Protect your health and finances with dental insurance benefits from Anthem.
Benefits of Checkups
The value of regular dental cleanings
The American Dental Association recommends scheduling regular appointments every six months and most dental insurance plans provide coverage for preventive care.
Minimal short-term costs
Poor dental health and resulting issues can cost you more in the long run with procedures like tooth extractions, root canals, or dentures.
Save with preventive care
Regular checkups are easier and less expensive than tooth restoration. Many of our dental insurance plans cover diagnostic and preventive care at 100% with no waiting period.
Learn how an Anthem dental plan can help you manage dental cleaning costs and more by covering your preventive care.
Dental Discount Plans Versus Anthem's Full Coverage Dental Plans
Check out the facts on dental discount plans and compare them to the benefits of Anthem’s affordable, full coverage dental insurance plans.
The facts on competitor dental discount plans
You pay a monthly or annual payment for access to discounts from a network of dentists
The plan doesn’t pay for any portion of the cost of the services you receive
Fewer participating dentists than Dental PPO networks
If your dentist doesn’t participate in the discount programs, you pay the entire cost of the provider’s fees
Advantages of Anthem's full coverage dental plans
Plans pay part of the cost of any covered service from dentists who agree to offer discounts for covered services
Our dental PPO networks usually have more participating dentists than discount plans
Our full coverage dental plans offer benefits even with out-of-network dentists, though you may pay a little more in monthly premiums
You’ll benefit from the negotiated discounts even when your annual benefit maximum* is reached or during a waiting period
Anthem has a variety of affordable dental insurance plans with different price points and out-of-pocket costs. Most plans cover 100% for exams, cleanings, and X-rays, without a waiting period.
* Network data from Strenuus, November 2017
Explore Our Other Plan Options
Health Resources
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of: In Colorado: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc. In Connecticut: Anthem Health Plans, Inc. In Indiana: Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. In Georgia: Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. and AMGP Georgia Managed Care Company, Inc. In Kentucky: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. In Maine: Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. In Nevada: Community Care Health Plan of Nevada, Inc. and Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc., dba HMO Nevada. In New Hampshire: Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. HMO plans are administered by Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. and underwritten by either Matthew Thornton Health Plan, Inc. or Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. In 17 southeastern counties of New York: Anthem HealthChoice Assurance, Inc. and Anthem HealthChoice HMO, Inc. In these same counties Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HP is the trade name of Anthem HP, LLC. In Ohio: Community Insurance Company. In Virginia: Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and its affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc. trades as Anthem HealthKeepers providing HMO coverage, and their service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. In Wisconsin: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWI) underwrites or administers PPO and indemnity policies and underwrites the out-of-network benefits in POS policies offered by Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation. Compcare underwrites or administers HMO or POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.
CA: Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.
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