Delta Dental, which is short for Delta Dental Plans Association, is one of the most well-known dental insurance companies in the United States. Delta is a non-profit group that helps companies all over the U.S. find the right dental plan for them. Their 39 member companies run dental benefit plans that make sure everyone can get dental care and make it better. Today, Delta Dental employees help more than 46 million people get dental care through more than 80,000 employers and agencies.
Delta Dental insurance has three main plan types to meet a wide range of needs. The costs and benefits of each plan are different, as are the benefits and costs.
Delta Dental Premier (formerly DeltaPremierUSA)
Delta Dental Premier is a traditional insurance plan where you pay for each service. If you have Delta Dental Premier, you can go to any dentist you want, no matter if they are in their network or not. Delta Dental is billed directly by the dentist. Delta Dental pays their part of the bill, which is usually a set amount, and then sends you an explanation of your part of the bill, which you pay to the dentist.
Ex. Delta Dental pays $45 for a filling. A filling at your dentist costs $60. You give $15 to the dentist.
Delta Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Option)
Delta Dental PPO pays a fee for each service, just like the Premier plan. You can also go to any dentist you want, but if they are part of Delta's Preferred Provider network, you will pay less. All of the paperwork and claim forms are taken care of by the dentist. Delta usually pays a percentage of the cost of the procedure instead of a set amount.
Example: Delta Dental covers 70% of the cost of an extraction. For an extraction, your dentist wants $210. You pay $63 to the dentist.
DeltaCare HMO
DeltaCare focuses on your dental health and how to keep it in good shape. When you sign up for DeltaCare, you choose a dentist who will be in charge of your dental care. If you need orthodontics or oral surgery, for example, your general dentist will have to send you to a specialist. You pay a low co-payment or nothing at all for any dental care.
Ex. Depending on your plan, you may have to pay a $10 co-payment for office visits, no matter what the procedure is.
How much each option costs and whether or not you can get it depends on the company you sign up with. As the largest dental insurance provider in the country, the costs are much lower than most other plans.
