Small business dental insurance plans
Most health insurance plans generally don’t cover the cost of regular dental checkups and services for employees and their families. Dental insurance contributes to their overall well-being by helping them manage expenses for routine cleanings, fillings, crowns, and other needed dental procedures. The fact is, 83% of US adults say that oral health is important to them.1 Dental insurance is a valuable benefit offering that not only supports employees’ oral health but also helps attract and retain top talent.
Consider offering a plan that contributes to oral health and physical wellness
Look for a dental plan from an insurance company that helps keep members healthier by lowering the cost of important oral health care procedures — as well as the treatments people want. For example, Guardian helps members access urgent dental care via teledentistry. Our plans can also cover oral cancer screenings, enhanced periodontal treatments, dental implants, and additional cleanings for certain medical conditions after the annual maximum is met.
Dental insurance matters, because so many health conditions are linked to poor oral health, including:
Diabetes | Dementia | Osteoporosis |
Suppressed immune system2 | Rheumatoid arthritis | Stroke3 |
Kidney disease | Cardiovascular disease | Liver disease |
Pregnancy complications | Pneumonia | Endocarditis4,5 |
Getting the right plan
Every business is different, and no "standard" plan can be right for every business' needs. That's why it’s important to work with a provider who can customize dental care options to meet the needs of all kinds of businesses — even for those with very few employees. To help further control costs, you may choose to pay all or a portion of the premiums, opt for employee-paid (voluntary) benefits, or you even choose Administrative Services Only (ASO) option, depending on the carrier.6
Here's what your dental benefits can cover
Even a basic dental plan will cover regular checkups at little or no cost, and more comprehensive plans can help your employees pay for major services that might otherwise cost thousands. Your insurance professional can explain the plan options and how different types of services may be covered under your company's plan:
Preventive care | Checkups, cleanings, routine x-rays, and fluoride treatments |
Basic restorative care | Fillings and extractions |
Major restorative care | More complex treatments such as root canals, crowns, bridges, and dentures |
Orthodontic treatment | Braces and other types of teeth aligners |
What will it cost my employees, and my business?
That’s an important question — and it may cost less than you think. For one, group dental benefit premiums can be employer-paid or voluntary (i.e., employee-paid), with easy automatic monthly deductions. Either way, they're typically more affordable than they would be for an individual plan with the same level of benefits.
Again, when you or your employees visit the dentist, there’s typically little or no cost for checkups and basic preventive care. But for other procedures and treatments there can be other costs, depending on the plan.
Deductibles | The yearly amount you have to pay before the insurance carrier starts to cover services (but typically, plans cover preventive care without a deductible) |
Coinsurance | The percentage of costs you owe for services once you've met your deductible |
Copay | Fees charged for specific services or treatments |
Annual maximums | The most the insurance carrier will pay for dental services in a given year; you are responsible for all charges over the maximum |
Choose between Dental PPO and Dental HMO plans, or offer both: the Dual Choice option
1. Dental PPO: More Dentist Choice
Similar to PPO health plans, these dental insurance plans typically have an extensive network of providers, but also let you see out-of-network dentists. But when employees stay in network, they pay less and don't need to submit claims.
2. Dental HMO: Lower overall costs
These dental plans tend to offer lower premiums, but there's also less flexibility with a limited network of providers. Like HMO health care plans, you choose a Primary Dentist and have to go through him or her for all your care, including specialist referrals. Many DHMO dental plans have no deductibles or maximums — and while there are copayments for most non-preventive treatments, your overall costs will likely be lower.
Could an Administrative Services Only (ASO) dental insurance plan be right for your business?
With an ASO plan, your company funds the plan, and the insurance company provides all the administrative services, including claims processing, access to network providers, and more. It’s an option that could make great sense if your company has 25 or more employees. Benefits of Guardian’s ASO Dental offering can include:
13% – 17% cost savings, on average (savings vary by company)
Better cash flow
No ACA taxes
Fewer state regulations