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Choosing the right dental insurance plan can be a daunting task, especially with numerous providers offering a variety of plans. This article provides an unbiased comparison of dental savings plans and insurance offered by Aetna Dental and Delta Dental, focusing on coverage, costs, and network size. Both providers offer comprehensive dental insurance options, but the best choice is the plan that fits your individual needs and location. This article can help you understand your options.
Overview of Aetna Dental Plans
Aetna Dental offers a broad range of plan types, including PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), and dental savings plans (also known as discount dental plans). These plans cover various dental services:
- Preventive Care: Includes routine check-ups, cleanings, and X-rays.
- Basic Procedures: Covers fillings, simple extractions, and emergency pain relief.
- Major Procedures: Includes root canals, crowns, bridges, and dentures. Some plans may limit coverage for orthodontics.
Coverage varies by plan, check plan details to ensure the procedures you need/anticipate needing are included in the plan you’re considering.
Average costs for an Aetna Dental insurance plan
Sample plan: Aetna Dental® Direct Preferred PPO
- Premiums: Starting at around $25.05 per month.
- Deductibles: $50 per person or $150 per family.
- Coverage: Varies by service, with preventive care covered at 100%, basic procedures at 80%, and major services are covered at 50% with in-network dentist and after deductible.
Annual spending limit: $1,250 per person in-network or $1,000 to $1,250 out of network, depending on state.
Waiting Period: 6 months for basic services; 12 months for major services (waived with prior dental insurance)
Network size: more than 420,000 dentist locations in the U.S,
Average costs for dental savings plans from Aetna Dental
Sample Plan: Aetna Vital Savings℠
- Monthly cost: Starting at $11.07/month.
- Deductibles: No deductible.
- Discounted rates: Average discounts of 15-50%.
Waiting period: No waiting period
Spending limit: No spending limit
Network Size: More than 161,000 dental practices nationwide
Overview of Delta Dental Plans
Delta Dental also offers a variety of plan types, including PPO, HMO, and indemnity dental insurance plans as well as a dental savings plan. Coverage for insurance includes:
- Preventive Care: Covers cleanings, X-rays, and exams at 100% with no waiting period.
- Basic Procedures: Basic plan includes fillings and extractions.
- Major Procedures: Covers crowns, bridges, and dentures with a waiting period and typically 50% coverage. Delta Dental PPO™ Individual Premium Plan includes restorative care.
- Orthodontics: Available in some plans with a waiting period.
- Network Size: Delta Dental has a large dental network across the U.S.
Average costs for Delta Dental insurance plans
Sample plan: Delta Dental PPO™ Individual Basic Plan
- Premiums: Starting at $20.70 for Delta Dental PPO™ Individual Basic Plan.
- Deductibles: Typically $50 per person or $150 per family..
- Co-pays: Vary by service, with preventive care covered at 100%, basic at 80% and restorative at 50%, in network and after deductible.
Waiting Periods: 6 months for basic services; 12 months for major services
Annual spending limit: $1,000
Network size: Over 112,000 dentists across the nation.
Main differences between dental insurance plans by Aetna and Delta Dental
For the basic sample plans discussed here, the difference is between price, size of network and amount of annual spending limit. Aetna has a bigger network; Delta has a slightly lower annual spending limit. Aetna’s basic plan is priced at almost half of the Delta basic plan. Neither plan includes orthodontics.
Average costs Dental Savings Plans from Delta Dental
- Monthly cost: Starting at $8.00/month for Patient Direct discount card
- Deductibles: No deductible
- Discounted rates: Average discounts of 20%.
Waiting period: No waiting period
Dental Savings Plans: Aetna vs. Delta Dental
Dental savings plans, also known as dental discount plans, are not traditional insurance but rather programs that offer discounted rates on dental services through a network of participating dentists. Both Aetna and Delta Dental offer such plans, providing an alternative to traditional dental insurance for those seeking cost-effective dental care. Here’s a comparison of their dental savings plans:
Aetna Dental Savings Plan
Sample plan: Aetna Vital Savings
Discount Range: Offers savings of 15% to 50% on various dental procedures, including cleanings, crowns, root canals, dentures, orthodontics, and cosmetic services.
Network Size: More than 161,000 dental practice locations nationwide.
No Annual Spending Limits: Dental insurance typically caps spending at $1,000-$1,500 annually.
No Waiting Periods
Orthodontic and cosmetic care is included.
Additional Benefits: Includes vision and hearing care discounts, and virtual dental care for basic procedures.
Cost: $11.07/month
Delta Dental Savings Plan (Patient Direct)
Discount Range: A minimum of 20% off dental services and treatments with participating dentists.
Network Size: Varies by state, check details when reviewing a plan
No Waiting Periods: Immediate access to discounts without waiting periods.
No Annual Spending Limits: Dental insurance typically caps spending at $1,000-$1,500 annually.
Additional Benefits: Includes discounts on eye exams, eyeglasses, contacts, LASIK, and potentially other health services.
Cost: Enrollment is $8 per month for individuals and $12 per month for families/households, billed annually. Costs may vary across states.
Comparison
Discount Range: Aetna offers a broader range of discounts (15% to 50%) compared to Delta Dental’s minimum 20% discount.
Network Size: Aetna’s dental savings plan network is significantly larger, with over 285,583 locations nationwide. Delta does not offer Patient Direct nationwide, states where it is offered include Arizona, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Additional Benefits: Aetna provides a wider array of additional discounts, including vision, hearing, and prescription savings.
Cost: Both plans have similar monthly costs.
In summary, Aetna’s Vital Savings plan offers a broader network and more comprehensive discounts across various services, while Delta Dental’s Patient Direct provides a straightforward 20% discount in the states where it is offered. The choice between these plans depends on individual needs, location, and the specific services required.
Which is Best for Emergency Dental Care – Aetna Dental or Delta Dental?
Both providers offer some level of emergency coverage, but there are differences in how they handle out-of-network care and specific emergency situations.
Aetna Dental Emergency Coverage
- In-Network Emergency Care: Aetna covers emergency services provided by participating dentists. If you need emergency care outside of your network, you must contact Member Services for approval. Approved out-of-network emergency services are covered up to $100.
- 24/7 Coverage: Emergency palliative treatment is covered 24/7, but services may be reviewed to verify appropriateness.
- Out-of-Area Care: Out-of-area emergency care may be reviewed by dental consultants to ensure it meets coverage guidelines.
Delta Dental Emergency Coverage
- In-Network Emergency Care: Delta Dental PPO and Premier plans have waiting periods of no longer than 24 hours for emergencies. Members can visit any licensed dentist in emergencies but save more with in-network providers.
- Emergency Reimbursement: If you are more than 35 miles from your primary dentist or cannot see them within 24 hours, you can visit any dentist and be reimbursed up to $50 once per year for emergency treatment.
- 24/7 Triage: DeltaCare plans require a primary dentist but offer 24/7 triage for severe emergencies.
Comparison
- Flexibility: Delta Dental offers more flexibility in emergency situations, allowing visits to any dentist under certain conditions, while Aetna requires pre-approval for out-of-network care.
- Reimbursement: Delta Dental provides a specific reimbursement amount for out-of-network emergency care ($50 once per year), whereas Aetna covers up to $100 with approval.
- Network Utilization: Both providers encourage using in-network dentists for cost savings, but Delta Dental’s larger network may offer more convenience.
In summary, Delta Dental might offer better flexibility and convenience for emergency dental care due to its larger network and more flexible out-of-network policies, but both providers require careful plan review to understand specific emergency coverage details.
How to Choose Between Aetna Dental and Delta Dental
When deciding between Aetna Dental and Delta Dental, consider the following factors:
- Network Coverage: Check if your local dentists are part of the provider’s network to ensure convenience and cost savings.
- Coverage Needs: Ensure the plan covers the specific dental procedures you require, including preventive, basic, and major services.
- Cost Considerations: Compare premiums, deductibles, and co-pays to find the most cost-effective option for your budget.
- Plan Availability: Verify that the provider offers plans in your state and that the coverage meets your needs.
Conclusion
Aetna Dental and Delta Dental both offer comprehensive dental insurance options, but the best choice depends on individual needs and location. Aetna provides a range of plans with flexible coverage options, while Delta Dental boasts an extensive network and customizable plans. When selecting a provider, consider network coverage, coverage needs, cost considerations, and plan availability. Always check the providers’ websites for the most up-to-date information to ensure you find the plan that best suits your dental care requirements.
Disclaimer: Savings may vary by provider, location, and plan. All cost averages obtained from DentalPlans.com procedure search tool, and independent research.
