Patients who have dental insurance with no waiting period can receive treatment without having to wait. If there is no waiting period, you can sign up for insurance and begin receiving treatment the day it begins.
There are numerous insurance companies that provide no-waiting-period dental insurance, but some of them charge high monthly premiums and have low annual coverage limits.
We’re here to help you find the best dental insurance with no waiting period for your budget and oral health requirements. Check out this article.
What is a waiting period for dental insurance?
Waiting periods are exactly what they sound like: they are the amount of time you must wait before your insurance will cover a specific treatment.
Basic dental services, such as cleanings, are typically exempt from the waiting period, which means that as soon as your insurance coverage begins, it will help cover the costs of those treatments.
Waiting periods are most commonly associated with larger, more expensive treatments, such as restorative services like root canals or dental implants. Insurance companies do this in order to maximize profits.
They don’t make as much money when they have to provide coverage for expensive treatments, so they want to make sure that when people sign up for insurance, they won’t just use it to cover the costs of expensive dental treatment and then cancel it once the treatment is completed. This is one of the reasons why finding full coverage dental insurance can be difficult.
How to Compare Dental Insurance providers for Implants
Are you looking for dental insurance that includes coverage for dental implants? Be aware that some insurance plans exclude or limit implant coverage.
When comparing dental insurance companies and the best dental insurance for implants, it’s important to take into account several factors that determine whether or not dental implants are covered. Here are some questions to ask when looking for dental insurance for implants:
- Are there any waiting periods for dental implants?
- How much does the dental plan reimburse for dental implants?
- Are there any pre-existing conditions that may disqualify you from coverage, such as a “missing tooth clause” that will not cover the implant if the tooth it is replacing was extracted before your dental plan was in place?
- How much does the dental plan reimburse for different types of care, such as basic and major?
- What are the plan’s deductible and coverage maximums, and are they annual or lifetime?
- Can you get out-of-network care, and how much more will you have to pay?
- Does the plan cover dentures, and are there any waiting periods?
7 Best dental insurance that covers implants with no waiting period
- Delta Dental
- Spirit Dental
- Ameritas
- Denali Dental
- UnitedHealthcare
- MetLife
- Humana
#1. DeltaCare
DeltaCare USA is a low-cost plan, so Delta Dental is our choice for the best low-cost coverage. Copays for up to two cleanings per year are just $20, and exams and X-rays are free.
Delta Dental is one of the country’s largest dental providers, serving more than 80 million people and employing more than 364,000 dentists. Delta Dental is able to offer lower prices than many of its competitors because it focuses solely on dental insurance. There are numerous plans available for both individuals and businesses.
Pros
- No deductibles or annual maximums with an HMO plan.
- Procedure-based copays (HMO plan)
- Relatively low premiums
Cons
- Only one plan with no waiting period on anything
- Premiums must be paid for the entire year in advance (HMO plan)
- It doesn’t cover some procedures like implants
#2. UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is the best for basic coverage, with several affordable options that cover all of your basic dental needs, as well as the majority of UnitedHealthcare’s dental insurance policies impose no waiting period for these basic services, followed by low coinsurance rates that decrease every year you stay with the provider. UnitedHealthcare provides a diverse range of dental policies.
Many provide major services, but only after a six-month wait. Only one plan, however, covers orthodontics, and coverage does not begin until 12 months after the policy’s start date.
Pros
- Reasonable monthly premiums
- Low coinsurance fees for basic services
- There is no waiting period for preventive care, and it is oftenly basic.
Cons
- Some plans have a six-month wait period for major services.
- There is only one plan that covers orthodontics
There is totally inadequate coverage for major services.
#3. Spirit Dental
Spirit Dental is our top choice for major coverage because it provides eight policies with no waiting period and competitive coinsurance rates for major services.
With a wide range of coverage options, you can strike the right balance between monthly premiums, annual maximums, and also out-of-network flexibility. Spirit Dental is one of the few dental insurance companies that does not impose a waiting period on any of its policies for major services.
Spirit’s website allows you to quickly obtain a quote to determine your premiums. Each plan has a single lifetime deductible of $100 per person, and plans are differentiated by annual maximums ranging from $750 to $5,000. You have the option of choosing between in-network and out-of-network coverage, with the latter resulting in higher monthly premiums.
Pros
- There are no waiting periods for any covered procedures.
- $100 one-time deductible
- Yearly limits of up to $5,000
Cons
- High out-of-pocket orthodontic costs
- Pricey monthly premiums
- Unfavorable terms in the first year
#4. Denali Dental
The company covers more preventive care services than any other provider, so you can get your teeth cleaned up to four times per calendar year from one policy, making Denali Dental the best insurer in our review for preventive care.
More than any other provider, Denali Dental offers no-wait plans that include four cleanings annually if you like to keep up with preventive care for your teeth. The cost of the two plans, Ridge and Summit, varies depending on where you live and is determined by a geographic area. On the website for Denali Dental, you can request a quote.
Pros
- Low lifetime deductible
- two exams and four cleanings are provided annually
- Up to $6,000 per year at most
Cons
- High premiums
- initially high coinsurance rates
- absence of coverage for orthodontics under cheaper Ridge plans
#5. Ameritas
Ameritas has the best orthodontic terms with no waiting periods and coinsurance rates that start at 85% but drop to 50% after one year, making this company the best for orthodontia in this our review.
Ameritas policies have a $50 annual deductible and a $750 or $2,500 annual maximum, depending on the plan. The first half restricts you to in-network providers, while the second allows you to choose any dentist—though it’s worth noting that Ameritas operates one of the largest dental provider networks in the United States.
Pros
- No waiting for any services, including orthodontics, on many plans
- All plans include orthodontic coverage
- High coverage rates after one year
Cons
- Lower-cost plans limited to in-network providers
#6. MetLife
MetLife’s VADIP dental insurance plans are the best for veterans, and if you’re receiving VA health benefits, they have no waiting periods (apart from for orthodontics) and other benefits for veterans.
MetLife, an insurance provider, imposes waiting periods for the majority of its policies, but the Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Program exempts retired service members from them (VADIP).
These dental policies are open to all veterans enrolled in the VA health care program and come in two levels of coverage: Basic and High. A single veteran will pay between $28.89 and $33.80 per month for the basic plan. A single veteran will pay between $61.14 and $71.53 per month for the high plan.
Pros
- Reasonably priced coverage for veterans and their dependents
- 500,000 provider network access points
- Annual maximums of up to $3,500
Cons
- Must be enrolled in the VA health care program to be eligible for the veteran’s dental plan.
- A 24-month waiting period for orthodontics
- Only two policy options are available
#7. Humana
Humana has the most comprehensive dental insurance options available, with no waiting period and three different plan types to choose from. When you combine that with low premiums, low deductibles, and a large network of providers, this insurer easily wins the award for best overall option in our review.
Humana’s four dental plans have no waiting periods, and the options and benefits available are among the best in the industry. Those looking for immediate coverage can choose from a PPO plan, an HMO, or a dental discount plan with some of the lowest premiums we could find from any provider.
Pros
- There is no waiting period for all covered services on some plans
- select from three different plan types
- 270,000 in-network dentists
Cons
- There is Poor coverage for orthodontics
- Higher coinsurance compared to some competitors
Conclusion
There are numerous options for dental insurance plans with no waiting period. Whether you require emergency dental insurance on short notice or simply want to take advantage of your insurance coverage as soon as possible, these plans all make it simple to access benefits from the moment you sign up.