| Our dental plan recommendations After years of research and customer feedback, the two dental plans that we recommend are the Blue Cross Individual Dental PPO and the PacifiCare Dental 160 HMO. ( Seniors... click here for the senior dental plans! ) We believe these two plans are the best in their categories (one dental PPO and one dental HMO). Both are true dental insurance plans that are offered by major insurance companies in California, as opposed to dental discount cards. Here is a side-by-side comparison so you can make your own decision.
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| Feature | Blue Cross Individual Dental PPO | PacifiCare Dental 160 Plan |
| Plan Type: | Dental PPO | Dental HMO |
| Cost: | Moderate to High | Low |
| Network: | Excellent. Many dentists that accept dental insurance are in the Blue Cross PPO dental network. Therefore you probably won't have to change dentists with this plan. | There are participating dentists in most parts of California, however there is a good chance you will have to change your dentist. Check the available dentists in your surrounding area before applying for this plan. |
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Out of network availability: |
Any dentist may be used since this is a PPO, but out-of-network dentists will increase your out of pocket costs, as Blue Cross pays a smaller percentage for services performed with dentists that are "out of network." | Since this is an HMO, you must go to a dentist in the HMO network, otherwise there is no coverage for any services, including preventative care. |
| Preventative Services: | Basic cleanings and x-rays are included at no charge for "in-network" dentists. | Basic cleanings and x-rays are included at no charge. |
| Annual Deductible: | $50 | None |
| Annual Cap on Coverage: | $1000 | Unlimited |
| Who is the plan for: | This plan is for people that have a dentist they like and do not want to change. Also, it is best for people that do not need any immediate dental services as this plan has a 3 month waiting period for basic services and a 12 month waiting period for major services. There is no waiting period on preventative services (cleanings, x-rays, etc.). This plan has higher monthly premiums than an HMO dental plan, however the out of pocket costs will be lower than with an HMO for services rendered. | This plan is for people who are not too concerned about switching dentists in order to stay within the PacifiCare HMO dental network. Also, if you need immediate services, this plan does not have any waiting periods. And last but not least this plan is less expensive in terms of monthly premiums, but requires you to pay service-based copays that vary depending on the type of service performed. |
| Pricing: | Click here for Blue Cross Individual PPO dental pricing. | Click here for the PacifiCare Dental 160 plan pricing. |
| Additional Information: | Click here for additional information on the Blue Cross Individual PPO dental plan. | Click here for additional information on the PacifiCare Dental 160 plan. |
| Apply now: | Download a Blue Cross Dental application here. Simply print it, fill it out and mail or fax it back to us. | Download a PacifiCare application here. Simply print it, fill it out and mail or fax it back to us. |
As we mentioned, the two plans above are
the best two options available,
however, if you want to see more dental plans...
Click here