Les MastersonDeputy Editor, Insurance
Les Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before covering insurance, Les was a news editor and reporter for Patch and Community Newspaper Company and also covered health care, mortgages, credit cards and personal loans for multiple websites.
Les Masterson
Les MastersonDeputy Editor, Insurance
Les Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, including auto, home, life and health. Before covering insurance, Les was a news editor and reporter for Patch and Community Newspaper Company and also covered health care, mortgages, credit cards and personal loans for multiple websites.
Deputy Editor, Insurance
Ashlee ValentineDeputy Editor, Insurance
Ashlee is an insurance editor, journalist and business professional with an MBA and more than 17 years of hands-on experience in both business and personal finance. She is passionate about empowering others to protect life's most important assets. When Ashlee isn't spreading insurance knowledge or solving television murder mysteries, she enjoys spending time with her family (including the furry and feathery ones) on their farm in Kentucky.
Fact Checked
Ashlee Valentine
Ashlee ValentineDeputy Editor, Insurance
Ashlee is an insurance editor, journalist and business professional with an MBA and more than 17 years of hands-on experience in both business and personal finance. She is passionate about empowering others to protect life's most important assets. When Ashlee isn't spreading insurance knowledge or solving television murder mysteries, she enjoys spending time with her family (including the furry and feathery ones) on their farm in Kentucky.
Deputy Editor, Insurance
Fact Checked
Updated: Jan 3, 2024, 5:56am
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Dental insurance plans often have waiting periods before you can make a claim for certain dental care after buying coverage.
Dental insurance with no waiting periods is harder to find, so it’s vital to read the fine print to know exactly your limitations. Here’s a look at finding the best dental insurance with no waiting period.
Dental Insurance Guides
- Best Dental Insurance
- Best for Braces
- Best for Dental Implants
- Best for Seniors
- Best Health Insurance
Show Summary
- Best Dental Insurance With No Waiting Period
- Ameritas
- Spirit Dental
- Summary: Best Dental Insurance With No Waiting Period Ratings
- What Is a Dental Insurance Waiting Period?
- How To Find a Dental Insurance Policy Without a Waiting Period
- What Happens If I Go to the Dentist During a Waiting Period?
- Why Choose a Dental Plan With No Waiting Period?
- How Long Is a Dental Insurance Waiting Period?
- Why do Some Dental Insurance Plans Have Waiting Periods?
- How Much Does a No Waiting Period Dental Insurance Plan Cost?
- Are Dental Insurance Plans with No Waiting Periods More Expensive?
- Are There Downsides to Dental Insurance with No Waiting Periods?
- How Do You Get Around a Waiting Period for Dental Insurance?
- Who Is Eligible for Dental Insurance Without Waiting Periods?
- Methodology
Best Dental Insurance With No Waiting Period
Ameritas
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top scoring plan
PrimeStar Total
Waiting periods for preventive, basic and major care
None
Dental network size
130,000 providers and 93,000 locations
PrimeStar Total
None
130,000 providers and 93,000 locations
Editor's Take
PrimeStar Total offers no waiting periods for preventive, basic and major care, as well as dentures and dental implants. The Ameritas PrimeStar Total plan offers basic care at a higher reimbursem*nt than other dental plans. The plan is a DPPO, which means you can get care outside of the provider network, which gives you more flexibility.
Pros & Cons
- Basic care is reimbursed by 80% in the first year and then increases to 90% in the second year, which is more generous to many dental plans.
- The PrimeStar Total plan is a dental preferred provider organization (DPPO), so you can get care within or outside of the Ameritas Classic PPO provider network. But if you get out-of-network care, you’ll likely pay more for care.
- No waiting period for preventive, basic major care, or for dentures and dental implants.
- Plan’s $2,000 per person maximum benefit in the first year increases to $2,500 for basic and major services combined after the first year.
- Plan pays only 20% for major care in the first year before, which increases to 50% in the second year. Other plans offer 50% reimbursem*nt from the start.
- Orthodontia is not covered.
- Teeth whitening isn’t covered
Spirit Dental
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top scoring plan
Pinnacle Network
Waiting periods for preventive, basic and major care
None
Dental network size
More than 111,000 providers
Pinnacle Network
None
More than 111,000 providers
Editor's Take
Spirit Dental’s Pinnacle Network plan has no waiting period for preventive, basic or major care. The dental plan also has a high $5,000 annual maximum, which is easily the most generous of dental insurance plans we reviewed.
Pros & Cons
- $5,000 annual maximum will go a long way to help pay for major dental care.
- $100 lifetime deductible means you don’t have to worry about an annual deductible each year.
- Covers implants and dentures and orthodontic care for dependent children under 19 with a $1,200 lifetime maximum per child.
- No waiting period for orthodontia, which is limited only to children.
- Basic care is reimbursed only 50% in the first year and then grows to 80% in the third year. Other dental plan options start at 80%.
- The Pinnacle Network plan pays 25% for major dental care in the first year, 30% in the second year and 50% after that, while other dental insurance companies offer 50% reimbursem*nt in the first year.
- The plan reimburses at 25% for implants and dentures in the first year before growing up to 50% in the third year. Some dental plans start at 50%, but those also have lower annual maximums.
Summary: Best Dental Insurance With No Waiting Period Ratings
| Company | Company - Logo | Forbes Advisor Rating | Forbes Advisor Rating | Featured plan | Monthly cost example | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | View More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ameritas |  | 4.0 |  | PrimeStar Total | $62.54 | Learn More | On Dental Insurance Guide's Website | |
| Spirit Dental |  | 4.0 | | Pinnacle Network | $54.69 | Learn More | On Healthcare Marketplace's Website | |
| Humana |  | 2.5 |  | Loyalty Plus | $46.99 | Learn More | On Healthcare Marketplace's Website | |
| Denali Dental |  | 2.0 |  | Ridge Plan 750/1500/2000/2500 | $68.55 |
Monthly costs are based on a 30-year-old female in California. Costs are for comparison only among plans; your own cost will likely be different.
Related: Best Dental Insurance Companies
What Is a Dental Insurance Waiting Period?
Dental insurance waiting periods are defined periods when you must wait for certain services after buying a dental insurance policy. Once the waiting period expires, you’re eligible for coverage for those dental services at the reimbursem*nt amount specified in the dental insurance plan.
Waiting periods can apply to different categories of dental insurance treatment, including:
- Preventive care: Most dental insurance plans don’t use a waiting period for preventive treatment. That means your plan should fully cover things like checkups, X-rays, cleanings and other preventive services without delay.
- Basic care: Some dental insurance plans have waiting periods for basic dental services, including restorations (fillings), space maintainers and non-surgical tooth extractions.
- Major dental care: More costly procedures like crowns, complex extractions and oral surgery may require a waiting period, such as six months or 12 months.
- Other dental work: Dentures, implants, braces and teeth whitening can have their own waiting periods, if the dental plan covers them.
How To Find a Dental Insurance Policy Without a Waiting Period
Finding a dental plan with no waiting period can be beneficial if you need immediate care or want to start receiving dental benefits without any delay. Start your search by:
- Review dental plan details. Look for information about waiting periods, as some dental plans may have no waiting period for some services, while others may have no waiting period for all types of care.
- Decide if you can wait for some types of care. Some dental plans have waiting periods for major care, such as root canals, but don’t require a wait for basic care. If you don’t need immediate major care, this type of plan might be OK.
- Compare coverage and costs. Once you narrow down the list of dental plans with no waiting period, you can compare each dental policy’s costs, deductibles, annual maximums and provider networks.
Dental Insurance Plans Without Waiting Periods
Finding a dental insurance policy without a waiting period for preventive care is fairly easy, but getting coverage without a waiting period for other types of dental care may be more challenging, though not impossible.
Of the 30 dental insurance policies we analyzed, we found that nearly all of them do not have a waiting period for preventive care. About half have no waiting period for basic care. Nine have no waiting periods for major care.
Dental insurance policies without waiting periods for basic care include:
- Ameritas PrimeStar Access, PrimeStar Total and PrimeStar Value
- Guardian Direct Diamond, Achiever, Core and Starter
- Humana Loyalty Plus
- Spirit Dental Core Network, Pinnacle Network, Secure Network and Secure Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Primary Dental, Primary Plus Dental and Primary Preferred
Dental insurance policies without waiting periods for major care include:
- Ameritas PrimeStar Access and PrimeStar Total
- Denali Dental Ridge Plan and Summit Plan
- Humana Loyalty Plus
- Spirit Dental Core Network, Pinnacle Network, Secure Network and Secure Choice
What Happens If I Go to the Dentist During a Waiting Period?
You can still go to the dentist during a waiting period, but your dental insurance policy won’t cover the parts of care with a waiting period.
For instance, preventive care, such as exams and cleanings, is often covered without a waiting period, so those services will likely be covered. But you will have to pick up the costs of other types of care if you’re within the waiting period for those services.
Why Choose a Dental Plan With No Waiting Period?
Getting dental insurance without a waiting period means you can get necessary care immediately. Waiting periods can be six months or even a year, depending on the dental policy and type of care.
It’s important to take waiting periods into account when choosing your dental insurance, but there are also many other factors to consider. Review what a policy covers, its costs, deductibles, annual coverage maximums and provider network.
How Long Is a Dental Insurance Waiting Period?
If a dental insurance plan has waiting periods, you may face one that’s three months to 12 months for basic dental services and six months to 12 months for major dental care.
Here are examples of waiting periods for multiple dental insurance policies.
| Type of dental care | Typical waiting periods |
|---|---|
Preventive care | Usually none, but some policies have three- or six-month waiting periods. |
Basic care | Some plans don’t have waiting periods for basic care, while others have three-, four- or six-month waiting periods. |
Major care | Dental insurance plans may have a waiting period for major care, including six or 12 months. |
Dental implant | Dental insurance policies covering dental implants may have six- or 12-month waiting periods. |
Dentures | Plans that cover dentures often have waiting periods of six or 12 months. |
Orthodontia | Many dental policies don’t cover braces or restrict who is covered, such as only a dependent child under 19. Plans that cover orthodontia may have a 12-month waiting period. |
Teeth whitening | Many dental plans don’t have teeth whitening. Those with that coverage may have a six-month waiting period. |
Why do Some Dental Insurance Plans Have Waiting Periods?
Dental insurance companies implement waiting periods to save money and not have a new member quickly rack up expensive dental costs.
Waiting periods are intended to discourage patients from getting expensive dental treatments and discontinuing dental insurance a short time later. Dropping coverage abruptly in this manner can lead to higher dental insurance premiums for all policyholders.
Insurance companies also usually don’t have waiting periods for preventive services in hopes that members take precautionary care, which may limit more costly major dental work later.
How Much Does a No Waiting Period Dental Insurance Plan Cost?
The best dental insurance with no waiting period costs between about $47 and $69 per month, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis.
You may be able to find cheaper dental insurance, but those policies often have waiting periods for most types of dental care. Two examples are:
- Humana’s Preventive Care is a low-cost option at $22 monthly on average. The policy doesn’t have waiting periods for preventive and basic care, but it doesn’t cover major care.
- UnitedHealthcare’s Essential Dental costs $24 monthly on average, but it has waiting periods for basic and major care. There is no waiting period for preventive care.
More: How Much Is Dental Insurance?
Are Dental Insurance Plans with No Waiting Periods More Expensive?
Dental insurance companies base rates on multiple factors, including the breadth of coverage. That coverage includes waiting periods for different types of coverage.
Weigh possible waiting periods with other dental insurance plan characteristics, including:
- Additional coverage, such as orthodontia, teeth whitening, dentures and dental implants
- Annual and lifetime maximums paid by the insurance company
- Deductible
- Percentage of dental bill paid by the insurance company
- Premiums
- Provider network
- Type of plan
Are There Downsides to Dental Insurance with No Waiting Periods?
There can be trade-offs with dental insurance with no waiting periods, such as higher costs.
For example, the insurance company may charge higher rates of coinsurance (your out-of-pocket costs after your deductible is paid) for various services. The insurer may institute graduated dental benefits, too, such as only covering basic treatment up to 25% in the first 12 months versus 50% in year number two.
Read the policy to make sure you understand the benefits and limitations.
How Do You Get Around a Waiting Period for Dental Insurance?
You may be able to sidestep a dental insurance waiting period. A dental insurance company may waive a waiting period if you:
- Switch dental insurance plans but stay with the same company.
- Change dental insurance companies without a lapse in your dental insurance coverage.
If you have a dental insurance policy with a waiting period, check with your insurance company to see if you qualify to skip the waiting period. It can save you hundreds on dental care if you qualify.
Who Is Eligible for Dental Insurance Without Waiting Periods?
Everyone is eligible to get dental insurance without waiting periods. The bigger challenge is finding a policy without a waiting period if you need major dental care.
Methodology
To find the best dental insurance with no waiting periods we identified the best dental insurance plans based on the metrics below and then selected only the plans with no waiting periods. We scored 30 stand-alone dental plans. Benefit details can vary by state, so check the plan brochure for details. Star ratings are based on the following criteria:
- Cost. We compared costs for a 30-year-old female in California. When California wasn’t available we used Texas: 30% of score.
- Annual maximum insurance payout: 10% of score.
- No waiting period for preventive care: 10% of score.
- Basic care payout level: 10% of score.
- Basic care waiting period: 10% of score.
- Major care coverage in the first year: 10% of score.
- Coverage for implants: 10% of score.
- Coverage for orthodontia: 10% of score.
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