Best Dental Insurance Companies in Florida
DentaQuest has the best dental insurance in Florida for most people. Its plans are cheap, at an average of $11 per month, and cover basic and major dental care for adults and children.
Find Cheap Health and Dental Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Best Dental Insurance in Florida
To pick the best dental insurance companies in Florida, ValuePenguin reviewed each company's average rate, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum limits. Our experts also reviewed each company's coverage for different levels of dental care, like routine and major care, as well as coverage for orthodontia.
Read our full methodology.
Best dental insurance companies in Florida
DentaQuest is the best dental insurance company for most people in Florida.
The company has cheap rates, plus its plans have good coverage. But if you're looking for the best customer service with your dental insurance plan, Humana is a better option. And if you or your child needs braces, retainers or other orthodontic treatment, Delta Dental is the best choice.
Find Cheap Health and Dental Insurance Quotes in Your Area
In Florida, you can compare different dental insurance companies on HealthCare.gov. Some health insurance plans have dental coverage. Or, if you just need dental coverage, you can buy a stand-alone dental plan.
Cheapest dental insurance companies in Florida
Best dental insurance in Florida for most people: DentaQuest
Pros:
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Cheap rates
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Good customer service
Cons:
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Plans don't usually cover orthodontia
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No out-of-network coverage
DentaQuest has cheap plans that still give you good coverage. The company sells three plans in Florida: two options for adults or families and one that's just for kids.
If you just need coverage for yourself, you can choose between DentaQuest's high- or low-coverage plans. The high-coverage plan costs $13 per month, while the low-coverage plan costs $9 per month.
With both plans, DentaQuest pays for the entire cost of things like your twice-yearly dental exam and cleanings, which are considered preventive care.
With the high-coverage plan, you have to pay a $50 deductible and then between 20% to 50% of the cost for major dental work or restorative care, like crowns and root canals.
With the low-coverage plan, you'll have to pay more after you hit the $50 deductible. After that, you'll pay 60% of the cost for dental care if you're under 19, and half if you're over 19.
DentaQuest's plans don't usually cover orthodontics like braces. You might have coverage for orthodontic care that is medically necessary, but only if you're under 19. If you or your child needs braces, consider a plan from Delta Dental instead.
Best dental insurance customer service in Florida: Humana
Pros:
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Great customer service
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Lets you go to out-of-network dentists
Cons:
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Rates aren't cheaper than average
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Plans don't cover orthodontia for adults
Humana has great customer service for its dental plans. If you need a lot of dental care or need dental care frequently, choosing a company with good service can be a good idea. Because you're filing more claims, you may need to talk to your company more often to coordinate your insurance coverage.
Humana sells three dental plans in Florida: a high-coverage option, a low-coverage option and what it calls a "Lite" plan. All the plans cover the full cost of preventive care if you stay in the plan's network.
- Lite plan: $12/month, on average
- Low-coverage plan: $19/month, on average
- High-coverage plan: $28/month, on average
With the low-coverage plan, you have to pay 40% of the bills for things like fillings and tooth extractions after you meet your deductible, and you need to have the policy for six months before you have coverage.
With the high-coverage plan, you only pay 30% of bills for the same care, although you still need to have the plan for six months first. You'll also have coverage for major dental work, like root canals and crowns. You'll pay 60% for the cost after you've met your deductible, but you have to have your plan for a year before you have coverage.
The Lite plan only covers preventive and diagnostic care for adults; you have to pay for any restorative or major dental work yourself. It's only a good idea if you don't need much dental care.
All of Humana's dental plans in Florida let you use any dentist and still have some coverage. That's because the plans are PPOs. With a PPO, you'll pay lower rates if you use in-network dentists, but you can still go to an out-of-network dentist and have some coverage. PPOs usually cost more than other plan types.
None of Humana's dental plans in Florida cover orthodontia for adults. Orthodontia is only covered for kids if it's needed to repair a cleft palate or damage caused by a cleft palate. This is because children under age 19 have limited coverage for "medically necessary" treatment, but you'll have to pay half the cost no matter what plan you have.
Delta Dental is a better option for orthodontic coverage. And while Humana's rates are about average, they're still higher than rates from some companies, like DentaQuest.
Best dental insurance for orthodontics: Delta Dental
Cost: $21/month
Delta Dental sells plans that cover braces and other orthodontic care for adults and children.
Pros:
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Covers orthodontia for adults and kids
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Has plans that let you see any dentist
Cons:
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Rates are average
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Orthodontia plans don't pay for out-of-network dentists
Delta Dental sells two plans that cover orthodontia for adults and kids. The Basic plan costs $11 per month, on average, and the Preferred plan costs an average of $23 per month.
With both plans, you'll pay $350 toward the cost of orthodontic treatment for kids and $3,250 toward the cost of treatment for adults.
Neither plan has a deductible for dental care, which means your coverage at the dentist starts right away. You'll pay more each month for the Preferred plan, but less when you get dental care. For example, you'll pay $5 for an office visit with the Preferred plan but $20 with the Basic plan.
While Delta Dental does sell PPO plans, the two plans that cover orthodontic care are HMOs. That means you have to use in-network dentists and orthodontists to have coverage. If you go outside the network, you have to pay the full cost for dental care.
It's important to check with the dentist and orthodontist you use or want to use before you buy a plan, to make sure they're in the network. If you shop on HealthCare.gov, you can filter your search by plans that cover your dental offices.
Find Cheap Health and Dental Insurance Quotes in Your Area
How much is dental insurance in Florida?
Dental insurance in Florida costs between $8 and $51 per month.
The average rate is $21 per month. Your rates can change based on a few things:
- The company you choose. Different companies charge different rates, which is why it's so important to shop around and compare coverage.
- How many people are on your plan. You'll pay less if you buy a plan that just covers you. If you need to add a spouse or children, your rates will be higher.
- The coverage level you pick. You can buy high- or low-coverage plans on HealthCare.gov. High-coverage plans cost more each month but let you pay less when you get dental care. Low-coverage plans are cheaper but require you to pay more of your dental bills yourself.
- The plan type you pick. Like health insurance plans, dental plans have provider networks. HMO plans are usually the cheapest because they limit where you can get dental care. PPO plans cost more because they allow you to see any dentist and still have some coverage.
What does Florida dental insurance cover?
Dental insurance plans almost always cover preventive care, and they sometimes cover major dental work, too.
Companies usually break dental coverage down into different categories. The names of the categories can change depending on the company.
- Routine, preventive and diagnostic care: Nearly all dental plans cover things like annual cleanings and X-rays, but the amount you have to pay for that kind of care will vary by plan. Most plans also cover diagnostic care, like your dentist checking for gum disease.
- Basic dental care: This includes things like fillings and sometimes tooth extractions. Repairs to existing crowns and bridges might also be included. Many plans cover this type of care, but be sure to check. Some plans, especially low-cost ones, only cover routine care.
- Complex or major dental care: Usually, this means more intense procedures like root canals, tooth replacement and dental surgery. If you think you'll need this kind of care, check your dental plan closely. Sometimes, only high-coverage plans cover these procedures. You might have some coverage on low-coverage plans, but you could have to pay for a lot of the bill yourself.
- Orthodontic care: This includes braces, retainers and other devices designed to move your teeth to correct your bite. Some plans cover orthodontics for adults, but it's not common. Because the Affordable Care Act (ACA) considers dental care an essential coverage for children, most plans cover some level of orthodontics for kids. Usually, though, this is limited to medically necessary care and doesn't include coverage for things like braces.
It's important to review your plan or a plan you're thinking about buying closely, so you understand what it covers. Buying a plan that fits your needs can help you avoid high dental bills.
How to get dental insurance in Florida
If you need to buy dental insurance in Florida, your best option is to shop on HealthCare.gov. You can compare plans from different companies to find the best coverage and rate for your needs.
Plan ahead. You can review the plans in your area at any time, but you usually have to buy a plan between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15 every year, during what's called open enrollment. You might be able to get a plan at another time of year if you have experienced a life change like a move, getting married or having a baby. This is called a "special enrollment period."
Decide what you need. Think about the kind of dental care you need. Do you have generally good oral health and only need a few cleanings per year? Or do you need more intensive care, like root canals and extractions? Do you need braces? Once you know what you want covered, you can more easily find a plan that meets your needs.
Compare plans. You can shop for and compare dental plans from different companies on HealthCare.gov. Pay attention to the monthly rate, deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. It's also a good idea to make sure the dentists and orthodontists you want to go to are in the plan's network. You can do this by adding your providers to the filters. Once you find a plan you like, you can fill out an application and buy coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best dental insurance in Florida?
DentaQuest has the best dental insurance plans for most people in Florida. Its plans are cheap, at just $11 per month, on average, and it has good coverage. DentaQuest's customer service isn't quite as good as Humana's though. And if you or your child needs braces or other orthodontic care, Delta Dental is a better choice.
How much is dental insurance a month in Florida?
Dental insurance costs $21 per month, on average, in Florida. Rates range from $8 to $51 per month, depending on the company and plan you buy. Older people pay slightly more each month compared to younger people, but the difference is small.
How do I get dental insurance in Florida?
If you don't get dental insurance from your job, you can shop on HealthCare.gov for a stand-alone dental plan or for health insurance that includes dental coverage. You can buy plans directly from dental insurance companies, but shopping on HealthCare.gov lets you compare all the plans in your area to find the best option for you.
Methodology
The costs for dental insurance in Florida come from HealthCare.gov public use files and are averages for both high- and low-coverage plans. ValuePenguin's experts reviewed each plan's coverage for basic, routine, major and orthodontic care for adults and children, as well as coverage for dental checkups for children. All rates are for a 40-year-old single person with no children, unless otherwise noted.
Data about customer service is from the 2023 J.D. Power Dental Plan Satisfaction Study.
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.