How Much Is Dental Insurance? (2024)
The average cost of dental insurance in the United States is $30 per month, but factors like coverage, location, family size, age and additional out-of-pocket costs can influence prices.
BK
By Brenna Kelly
BK
Licensed Health Insurance Agent
Brenna Kelly, the former Health Insurance Content Manager at MoneyGeek, is a licensed health insurance agent and real estate associate. She is qualified to provide expert insight and advice on medical insurance, disability, long-term care, critical illness, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans. Kelly has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Central Florida. She uses her content production experience and health insurance expertise to deliver informative articles.
KP
Edited by Katherine Kurtz, PhD
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Katherine Kurtz, PhD
Katherine Kurtz, Ph.D., is the Managing Editor at MoneyGeek, with 15 years of experience in academic and content editing. She holds a doctorate in philosophy from Villanova University, where she also worked as an adjunct professor and the managing editor of *Hypatia*, a peer-reviewed feminist philosophy journal. Kurtz believes in "education as a practice of freedom" (bell hooks) and seeks to empower herself and others by openly sharing financial knowledge and resources.
BK
By Brenna Kelly
BK
Licensed Health Insurance Agent
Brenna Kelly, the former Health Insurance Content Manager at MoneyGeek, is a licensed health insurance agent and real estate associate. She is qualified to provide expert insight and advice on medical insurance, disability, long-term care, critical illness, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans. Kelly has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Central Florida. She uses her content production experience and health insurance expertise to deliver informative articles.
KP
Edited by Katherine Kurtz, PhD
KP
Katherine Kurtz, PhD
Katherine Kurtz, Ph.D., is the Managing Editor at MoneyGeek, with 15 years of experience in academic and content editing. She holds a doctorate in philosophy from Villanova University, where she also worked as an adjunct professor and the managing editor of *Hypatia*, a peer-reviewed feminist philosophy journal. Kurtz believes in "education as a practice of freedom" (bell hooks) and seeks to empower herself and others by openly sharing financial knowledge and resources.
Updated: May 22, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
On average, people spend between $20 and $50 per month on dental insurance premiums, with annual estimates ranging from $240 to $600. However, dental insurance costs also include co-insurance, copayments for specific treatments, annual maximums (the coverage limit per year) and deductibles. Your marketplace dental plan may have a maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) cost limit, but this usually only applies to children.
The average cost of dental insurance can range from $8 to $100 per month, depending on factors such as plan type, benefits and location.
Dental insurance policies often have coverage limitations and exclusions, such as waiting periods, deductibles, copayments and annual maximums.
If you don't have dental insurance or want additional options, alternatives include dental discount plans, self-pay options, community clinics and government programs like Medicaid.
MethodologyWhy trust MoneyGeek? We collected dental insurance data directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) exchange data to find average dental insurance costs.
Marketplace plan data was updated and released in October for the 2023 enrollment period.
Dental insurance costs vary significantly based on location, with factors like regional health care expenses and market dynamics influencing rates. We found that Alaska has the highest dental insurance rates, with an average monthly cost of $50, while West Virginia has the lowest average at $18 per month. These averages can fluctuate depending on the type of coverage — such as preventative versus full coverage — and factors like individual versus family plans.
Marketplace dental insurance plans typically fall into one of the following plan types: Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Point of Service (POS), Indemnity and Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO).
Dental insurance plans may also be categorized by metal level, similar to health insurance plans. Precious metal plans (such as Gold or Platinum) generally have more expensive premiums but offer more comprehensive coverage with lower deductibles and MOOP costs. Lower metal-tier plans (such as Bronze or Silver) have cheaper premiums but higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
If you don't want dental insurance, you can simply pay out of pocket for any services you receive. The following average costs of common dental procedures can help you estimate what you'll pay without insurance:
MoneyGeek found affordable average dental insurance premiums from the following providers:
Remember that premiums are just one part of your dental insurance expenses. Look at the deductible, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximum to get a fuller picture of a plan's total cost.
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your health insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
