Best AZ Dental Plans
Choosing the right dental insurance plan comes down to finding one that includes your preferred dentist and the best benefits for the cost. If your employer offers dental insurance, it is likely your best option. However, for Arizona seniors who are retired or self-employed, one of the below dental plans may be your best option. (Note that the below pricing is for an individual only. For couples pricing, family pricing, and other details, click the plan links.) These dental plans are available in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Scottsdale, Flagstaff, and all of Arizona.
Delta Dental
Network – The Delta network is very large and includes over 3,000 Arizona dentists. Search the Delta Dental network here.
Cost – Plans range from about $20-$65 per month for an individual.
Waiting Periods – Most Delta Dental insurance plans (Mesquite, Saguaro, Agave) have 6-9 month waiting periods for major care. However, this waiting period is waived if you have previous dental coverage.
The “Incentive” plans (Copper and Turquoise) are the ones with no waiting periods. If you need major treatment right away, these might be your best option. On these, your max benefit and overall coverage get better in year 2 and 3. Otherwise, the Mesquite, Saguaro, Agave are better options.
Plans & Pricing – View details and enroll in Delta Dental plans.
Recommendations – If you are on a very tight budget and have good dental health, the Cholla plan is cheapest ($18.94/mo), but will only cover basic cleanings and some preventative care. The Saguaro Plan offers much better coverage at $43.11/mo. If you think you may need major work (after the 6-9 month waiting period), then the Mesquite Plan (65.40/mo) is best for you.
Available add-on: Vision – Delta allows you to add good vision benefits for an additional $5.57/mo. The vision plan gives you $10 annual exams and $130 towards frames/contacts. It uses the EyeMed Advantage network. This PDF has more details about the vision plan.
Physicians Mutual Dental
Network – The Physicians Mutual Dental Insurance is a true PPO, so you can see any dentist in the nation without restrictions. However, you will get better coverage if you use an in-network provider, which includes the Ameritas network of 750,000-800,000 providers. You can search the network here: dentalnetworkpartners.ameritas.com In addition, there are in-network dentists in Mexico.
Cost – Plans range from about $31 – $57 per month for an individual.
Waiting Periods – Get insurance coverage right away for preventative and basic care. There is a 12 month waiting period for major services. However, you can still get discount of 36% on these services from day one.
Plans & Pricing
- No annual max benefit
- No deductible
- 100% preventive care from day 1 (if you use provider in the Ameritas network)
- Out of network: Physicians Mutual pays 100% of “in-network fee schedule.” (Varies based on zip code.)
Recommendations – If you have good dental health, the Standard Plan offers the most bang-for-your-buck, at $38.75/mo. If you think you may need moderate to major work (after the 12 month waiting period), then the Premier Plan (56.50/mo) is best for you. In fact, if you think you may need major work done as soon as tomorrrow, your best option would be to get any of these plans, and be sure to visit a provider in the Ameritas network. That way, you could still get a 36% discount on services.
Available add-on: Vision/Hearing – Physicians Mutual offers a vision/hearing indemnity plan as an add-on to their dental plans above for an additional $8.95/mo.
- The Vision plan reimburses you up to $100 for annual exams and up to $150 allowance for glasses/ contacts per year after 3 month wait. There is no network, so you can go anywhere.
- The Hearing plan will reimburse you up to $75 for an exam. It also reimburses you up to $500 per hearing aid per ear, after a 12 month waiting period.
NCD Dental by MetLife
Network – The NCD Dental Insurance by MetLife has a good-sized network in Arizona. View the preferred providers for NCD Dental.
Cost – Plans range from about $28-$83 per month for an individual.
Waiting Periods – Most NCD Dental insurance plans have no waiting periods, with the exception of the Value plan, which has a 12-month waiting period for only major services. However, coverage after the first and second year improves with almost all plans.
Plans & Pricing
- Annual max benefit varies from $750-$10,000
- Deductible varies from $50-$100
Co-pays depend on your zipcode, plan, and service. Check the below PDFs for Co-pay Schedules.
Recommendations – Unless you think you will need major services within the first year, the Core Complete plan offers the best coverage by far, followed by the Elite 3000. If you need major services within the first year, the Smile plans offer co-pays during year 1, and you can look up the amount you will pay on the Co-pay Schedule PDFs above, and decide if one of those plans will save you money.
Available add-on: Vision – NCD offers a vision indemnity plan as a stand-alone or add-on to their dental plans above for $22/mo. (Unless you frequently need new glasses, you probably don’t need a vision plan.)
- The Vision plan (VSP Preferred Plan) costs $22/mo and gives you a $20 exam co-pay every 12 months. You get lenses every 12 months for a $25-50 co-pay, and $200-220 allowance for frames every 24 months. If you get contacts instead of glasses, they offer $150 towards contacts and contact lens exams every 12mo. View the in-network list of providers for VSP Vision Preferred Plan.
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