Dental Insurance Maryland Plans for Individuals and Families

If you're a Maryland resident looking for dental insurance, you're in luck. There are many plans available for individuals and families that can help you save money on dental care.

Some of the most popular dental insurance plans in Maryland include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental, and Cigna. These plans offer a range of coverage options, from basic to comprehensive.

You can expect to pay around $40-$60 per month for an individual plan, while family plans can range from $100-$200 per month. These costs are subject to change, so it's essential to shop around and compare prices.

In Maryland, dental insurance plans are regulated by the Maryland Insurance Administration, which ensures that all plans meet minimum standards for coverage and benefits.

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Dental insurance in Maryland can be surprisingly affordable, with premiums ranging from $8 to $50 per month for adults who purchase their own coverage through the exchange.

You can expect to pay between $30 and $45 per month for your coverage as a resident of Maryland.

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Some dental insurance plans in Maryland can cost upwards of $50 to $100 per month or more, especially if they offer extensive coverage with a high annual maximum and low deductibles.

However, dental savings plans provide a more affordable option, with some plans starting at just $9.95 a month.

These plans offer great savings at the dentist and can be used immediately, with no waiting period or annual limits.

As a MetLife member, you can take advantage of negotiated fees that are typically 35 - 50% less than the average dental costs.

Dental insurance will pay for dentures, but it's essential to ask your dental office how much coverage you have and reach out to your carrier for additional assistance.

By choosing a dental savings plan, you can get immediate savings on dental services, including eye exams, glasses, and contacts, with many plans including vision coverage.

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In Maryland, you have several types of dental insurance plans to choose from. One type is a DHMO, or dental health maintenance organization, which requires you to pick a primary service provider from a list of in-network dentists.

DHMOs can be a more affordable option if you're tight on cash, but make sure your dentist is in your network. On the other hand, PPOs, or preferred provider organizations, offer more freedom at an increased cost. You can save on your treatment or premium if you see an in-network dentist and use your plan at any provider.

PPOs might be right for you if you already have a dentist you want to keep seeing and don't mind paying a little extra for your care. Discount or benefit plans are the cheapest type of plan offered by dental insurance companies, but they're not actually insurance. They give you access to percentage discounts on each service listed if you see a particular dentist.

Here are the main types of dental insurance plans you'll usually see:

Stand-alone pediatric dental plans sold via the Maryland Health Connection must comply with the ACA's rules for children's dental coverage. This means they have out-of-pocket costs that won't exceed $400 per child in 2024, or $800 for all children on a family's plan.

These plans also don't have a cap on medically necessary pediatric dental benefits. For 2025, the out-of-pocket maximums will increase to $425 and $850, respectively.

If you purchase a stand-alone dental plan, it's because your child doesn't have health coverage through Maryland Health Connection. You can still get the coverage you need for your child's dental care.

All available medical plans on Maryland Health Connection include embedded pediatric dental benefits, which means there's no limit on how much the plan will pay for pediatric dental care.

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If you're looking to buy dental insurance outside of Maryland's exchange, you have options.

You can purchase stand-alone dental plans directly from insurers, which are not subject to the ACA's essential health benefit rules for pediatric dental coverage.

These plans are regulated by the Maryland Insurance Administration.

You can ask a dentist for recommendations on non-ACA qualified dental plans or search online to find one that suits your needs.

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Dental insurance plans cover a range of services, including preventive care, regular services, and major services.

Preventive care is a class of treatment intended to help you avoid oral health problems. This can include biannual dental checkups, which are 100% covered by some plans, like the Federal Dental Plan (FEDVIP) and MetLife TakeAlong Dental.

Regular services help correct common dental health issues, such as simple tooth extractions and cavity fillings. These services are usually covered at a percentage of the cost, depending on the plan, with some plans covering 80% of the cost, like the "100-80-50" plan mentioned in Example 3.

Major services are rare and often invasive treatments that correct very large dental health issues, such as bridges and crowns. These services are usually covered at a lower percentage of the cost, such as 50% in the "100-80-50" plan.

Here's a breakdown of the typical types of dental services and their corresponding coverage percentages:

Keep in mind that these percentages may vary depending on your specific plan, so it's essential to review your coverage details carefully.

Guardian Direct offers a convenient dental search tool that allows you to see a list of dentists in your area by entering your ZIP code, as well as which Guardian Direct insurance plans they accept.

You can sign up for dental insurance from just $21 a month and choose a new dentist's office from the comfort of your home in as little as 15 minutes.

The plan with Guardian Direct is a great option if you're looking for a hassle-free experience, as finding a new dentist is not a concern with their plan.

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PPO plans offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing your dentist. You can save on your treatment or premium if you see an in-network dentist and use your plan at any provider.

PPO plans are a good option if you already have a dentist you want to keep seeing and you don't mind paying a little extra for your care. This type of plan typically offers a large network of dentists and oral care specialists to choose from.

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You can usually save on your premium if you stick with an in-network dentist, but you can still use your plan at any provider if you need to see someone out of network. This flexibility comes at an increased cost, but it may be worth it if you value having options.

Here are the main benefits of PPO plans: