Delta Dental of California, Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and affiliates
Delta Dental of California, Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and affiliates
Keep dental coverage with Delta Dental Insurance
Individual dental plans: questions to consider
Many people need to get their own plan after their employer coverage ends or if they don't qualify for coverage. Plans purchased on your own directly from an insurance provider are called individual dental plans. Your enrollment in an individual plan doesn’t depend on your employment status.
Benefits & coverage
Are you looking for plans that focus on exams and routine cleanings, or do you need coverage for major procedures like root canals or implants?
Have you checked to see if your health insurance plan has any dental benefits included?
Budget
Do you prioritize lower premiums or lower out-of-pocket costs for care?
What is the budget you're looking to spend for dental coverage for you or your family?
Flexibility
Do you want more choice when it comes to selecting a dentist?
Are you willing to choose from a smaller network of dentists so you can get fixed costs when you get care?
Moving from an employer plan
What’s different
- Enrollment periods. There’s no specific enrollment period. Pick from a range of start dates in advance so you don’t have a gap in your coverage. Enroll in a Delta Dental plan anytime online in a few steps.
- Waiting periods. Many individual dental plans have waiting periods — a set amount of time for certain services to be covered. But most plans have routine cleanings, exams and X-rays covered right away.
- Direct pay. Pay premiums directly to Delta Dental instead of having them come out of your paycheck.
What stays the same
- Savings. Delta Dental has negotiated rates with network dentists so you can save even more compared to having no insurance.
- Keep your current dentist. Do you have a Delta Dental plan with your employer? If you move to an individual plan with the same or similar plan type, you might not have to find another dentist.
- Online account. Keep the same online account to manage your care.
Find the plan that’s right for you
What Delta Dental offers
With these options you can enroll anytime. Plan options and premiums will vary by state and ZIP code. These plans may have waiting periods for certain services even if you were previously covered.
-
AARP® Dental Insurance Plan administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company
- Exclusive Delta Dental insurance plan offerings made for AARP members and their families. Not an AARP member? Join while enrolling in a dental plan.
- Plans are offered in all 50 states including Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Questions about dental plans exclusively for AARP members? Call Delta Dental at 866-583-2085 (available M-F, 7 am-11 pm ET, Saturday 9 am-5 pm ET).
-
Delta Dental
Individual & Family™ plans- Anyone can enroll. With a range of dental plan options to fit your family’s needs and budget, choose a Delta Dental Individual and Family dental plan and enroll any time of year.
- Plans are offered in AL, CA, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, MT, NV, NY, PA, TX, UT, WV and DC.
Questions about Individual and Family plan options?
Call 844-847-9516 (available M-F, 8 am- 9 pm ET).
Other options
There are other ways to get dental coverage. These options have limits as to who can purchase coverage and when.
Health Care Exchange plans
Federal and state exchanges through the Affordable Care Act allow you to select dental plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace.- You must enroll during open enrollment or after a qualifying life event.
- In many states, you must enroll in a health plan to enroll in dental.
Medicare plans
If you’re 65 and older, many Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans offer dental benefits. Many Medicare Advantage health plans offer dental benefits through Delta Dental. Review the plans available in your area.- Not all Medicare Advantage plans include dental.
- Medicare Advantage plans have age requirements, and many require you to use an in-network provider for dental care.
COBRA
COBRA lets you continue your existing dental insurance coverage for a limited period — typically 18 months — after your final day of employment.- You must pay for the entire premium, including any portion that your employer may have paid in the past. This means your payment is often more expensive than what you paid as an employee.
- There are limitations on the adjustments you can make to your coverage.
Learn more at healthcare.gov or speak with your company’s benefits administrator.
Questions about your dental coverage options? We have answers.
- For retirees
- General
In most cases, original Medicare doesn't cover dental services like routine cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions or items like dentures. Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans offer enhanced coverage that complements Medicare benefits, often including dental, pharmacy or other benefits. Not all Medicare Advantage plans include dental, so check plan details before enrolling.
Enroll anytime. If you know the date you plan to retire, you can set the start date of your new individual plan in the future. Plans you can purchase directly from Delta Dental have multiple start date options. Note that the other dental coverage options have special enrollment timeframes.
Dental care can be expensive, especially as you age and may need more complex dental procedures, such as a crown or root canal. Dental insurance can help offset the cost of care with access to negotiated rates by visiting an in-network dentist.
For PPO members, we have a cost estimator tool and pre-authorizations to help you understand your cost responsibilities and plan for care.
Active AARP members and their spouse or domestic partner, partner in a civil union and unmarried dependent children and grandchildren under age 26 are eligible for enrollment. Not an AARP member? Purchase the AARP membership while you enroll in a dental plan.
While you can’t add your parents as dependents on an individual plan, you can help them enroll in their own individual plan. Consider their oral health needs and budget, then choose the dental plan that will best meet those needs.
When enrolling, you may need personal information such as their birth date and Social Security number. Once enrolled, complete a HIPAA authorization form to help manage or access your parent's account.
It depends on which individual plan type you choose. Always review your dental policy for a complete description of plan benefits, limitations and exclusions.
If you choose a Delta Dental individual plan, you can usually keep your current dentist. PPO plan members can visit any licensed dentist in the country. While you have flexibility in choosing a dentist with this plan, you may maximize your benefits by visiting a participating Delta Dental PPO™ network dentist. Delta Dental PPO dentists agree to provide treatment at reduced fees, which means your share of the bill will likely be lower when you see a dentist in the Delta Dental PPO network.
With the DeltaCare® USA plan, you may continue to see your current dentist if they participate in the DeltaCare USA network. You must select your contract dentist from this network when you enroll. After enrollment, you may change to a different contract dentist as long as they're in the DeltaCare USA network. You must receive treatment from your contract dentist; otherwise, any dental services you receive will not be covered.
Sometimes, your current dentist may be in our Premier network instead of the PPO network. With our individual plan options, you might pay more out of pocket if you visit a Premier network dentist.
Find a dentist.
No. An individual dental insurance plan is not paid by your employer. It’s a direct relationship between you and your insurance provider.
It depends on the plan type and insurance provider. For example, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which begins three months before you turn 65. For Delta Dental individual plan options, anyone age 18 or older can enroll anytime, year-round. Your spouse and dependents up to age 26 can typically be added to these plans.
Plan eligibility requirements vary by state. For eligibility requirements related to your state and plan, refer to your plan’s Policy and Benefit Details document.
When you enroll in an individual dental insurance plan, you typically pay your premium directly to Delta Dental. Delta Dental accepts the following payment methods: bank account debit (ACH), credit card and check. You can also set up autopay with your bank or credit card.
It depends on which plan you choose and from whom. Always review your dental policy for a complete description of plan benefits, limitations and exclusions. With a Delta Dental plan, you can add your spouse, as well as dependents up to age 26, to your plan. Plan eligibility requirements vary by state. For eligibility requirements related to your state and plan, refer to the plan Policy and Benefit Details document.
It depends on which plan you choose and from whom. Always review your dental policy for a complete description of plan benefits, limitations and exclusions.
Many Delta Dental individual PPO plans have waiting periods for basic (e.g., fillings) and major (e.g., root canals, crowns) services. However, diagnostic and preventive care services (e.g., exams, X-rays, cleanings) do not require waiting periods on any plans. DeltaCare USA DHMO-type individual plans do not have waiting periods. If you’re in California, Delta Dental can review your previous dental coverage and consider waiving the waiting period, if applicable.
Beginning January 1, 2025 in California, there are no waiting periods for AARP® Dental Insurance plans, administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company.
COBRA continuation coverage plans are the same plans offered by your company during your employment. They’re likely available to you for a limited time at the full-cost rate for the coverage. However, you can’t choose new coverage or switch to a different plan from the one you held before your change in employment.
Individual plans aren’t a continuation of benefits. These plans are considered new coverage and are available to you whenever you wish to enroll. You can choose an individual dental insurance plan that fits your budget and needs.
In some cases, it may cost less to enroll in a new, individual insurance policy than pay the premium and fees to keep your prior coverage under COBRA. Weigh your options before deciding what makes the most sense for you and your family.
Refer to your plan documents or talk to your plan administrator for more information.
¹ Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier® form the largest dentist network nationwide based on total unique dentists, as of June 2024, according to Zelis Network360.
Individual plans are considered new coverage and not a continuation of any plan you may currently have. Please see the plan policy for a complete description of plan benefits, limitations and exclusions.
Delta Dental PPO plans are underwritten by Delta Dental Insurance Company in AL, DC (Policy IENT-P-CORE-DC-R24), FL, GA, LA, MS, MT, NV and UT and by not-for-profit dental service companies in these states: CA — Delta Dental of California; PA, MD — Delta Dental of Pennsylvania; NY — Delta Dental of New York, Inc.; DE — Delta Dental of Delaware, Inc.; WV — Delta Dental of West Virginia, Inc. In Texas, Delta Dental Insurance Company provides a dental provider organization (DPO) plan.
DeltaCare USA plans are underwritten in these states by these entities: CA — Delta Dental of California; DC (Policy I-P-DC-dc-24) and FL — Delta Dental Insurance Company; MD and TX — Alpha Dental Programs, Inc.; UT — Alpha Dental of Utah, Inc.; NY — Delta Dental of New York, Inc.; NV — Alpha Dental of Nevada, Inc.; PA — Delta Dental of Pennsylvania. Delta Dental Insurance Company acts as the DeltaCare USA administrator in all these states. These companies are financially responsible for their own products.
Delta Dental is a registered mark of Delta Dental Plans Association.
You may view the Delta Dental of West Virginia Network Access Plan, as required by the Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act, online at deltadentalins.com. You may also contact us by calling 800-932-0783 to request a copy.
Find a dentist: www1.deltadentalins.com/individuals-and-families/find-a-dentist
For a list of providers, visit deltadentalins.com/aarp/find-a dentist. Must be an AARP member to enroll.
Where offered, the AARP® Dental Insurance Plan is insured by Delta Dental Insurance Company in AK, AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, MT, NV, NY, PA, PR, TN, TX, UT, VI and WV, by Dentegra Insurance Company in AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, VA, VT, WA, WI and WY, and by Dentegra Insurance Company of New England in MA. For Texas residents, your Master Policy Form number is TX-AMD-MC-DPO-D-DC(DELTAUSA1-2005). For Idaho residents, your Certificate of Coverage Form Number is COC-DIC-ID-AARP-24.
You may view the DDIC Network Access Plan, as required by the Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act, online at deltadentalins.com. You may also contact us by calling 800-422-4234 to request a copy.
AARP endorses the AARP Dental Insurance Plan, administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company. Delta Dental Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers.
Where offered, the DeltaCare® USA plan is underwritten by Alpha Dental of Arizona, Inc. in AZ, by Alpha Dental of New Mexico, Inc. in NM, by Alpha Dental Programs, Inc. in IL, KY, MD, MO, OH and TX, by Delta Dental Insurance Company in DC, FL, GA, TN and WV, by Delta Dental of California in CA, by Delta Dental of New York, Inc. in NY, by Delta Dental of Pennsylvania in PA, and by Dentegra Insurance Company in CO. In Florida, Delta Dental Insurance Company provides DeltaCare USA Plan benefits as a Prepaid Limited Health Service Organization as described in Chapter 636 of the Florida Statutes.
You may view the DeltaCare USA Network Access Plan, as required by the Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act, online at deltadentalins.com. You may also contact us by calling 800-422-4234 to request a copy.
The plans are administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company. These companies are financially responsible for their own products. Delta Dental is a registered mark of Delta Dental Plans Association.
In VA, this is an excepted benefits policy. It provides coverage only for the limited benefits or services specified in the policy.
90-I-A-2501-001
© Delta Dental Insurance Company