5 Tips to Get Affordable Dental Insurance in 2025

Finding affordable dental insurance can be a crucial step in helping to ensure your oral health is protected without hurting your finances. Even if you primarily receive routine care, which might cost less than some dental policy premiums, having insurance can still be beneficial.  

You may even ask yourself, “Is dental insurance worth it?” After all, routine care at some dentists may cost less than some dental policy premiums. However, even those with excellent dental health can face unexpected issues. Dental insurance can help you prepare for these scenarios and getting coverage that fits your budget can make creating this security blanket easier. 

To help, this article discusses five ways you can find affordable dental insurance. 

1. Decide the right plan type

There are several types of dental insurance plans. Each offers various levels of features, flexibility, and cost:1,2 

• Dental Paid Provider Organization (DPPO): These typically don’t require referrals for specialists and may partially reimburse out-of-network coverage. However, premiums can be higher. Therefore, these make sense if you need more frequent dental care. 

• Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO): Premiums can be lower than DPPOs, but you may only get partial coverage within the network. You also generally need a referral for specialist care. Thus, these can balance affordability with coverage needs. 

• Dental discount plan: This is not technically insurance but a simple annual membership plan that lets you access discounted services for a yearly fee. 

The key is balancing features with cost. If you need frequent dental care, a DPPO’s extra coverage and flexibility could help save you much more than the higher premiums. 

On the other hand, if you only get routine care and want to save as much as possible, a dental discount plan may fit better. 

2. Check with your employer

Many employers usually offer dental insurance as a workplace benefit. These plans may cost less than private plans for similar coverage levels. They can also be easier to manage since premiums come directly from your paycheck. 

However, you’ll need to ensure your group dental insurance options meet your dental care needs. 

Employers aren’t the only organizations that offer dental insurance. Some alumni associations, for instance, may offer members affordable plans.3 

3. Shop around for providers

Dental insurance providers may calculate patient risk differently and must compete for business. This can cause insurers to offer different rates for similar policies and coverage amounts.  

Therefore, shopping around is beneficial to helping find the most affordable dental insurance. 

This is easiest when done online. Shopping online helps you review policies side-by-side so you can compare premiums, coverage amounts, waiting periods, and other policy terms in one place. 

4. Bundle with other policies if available

Some insurers may combine dental insurance with other supplemental policies for a bundle discount. 

For instance, an insurer may bundle dental and vision insurance into one plan. Getting a bundled plan may cost less in overall premiums than if you had purchased each policy separately. 

5. Look into government plans

State governments, independently and in cooperation with the federal government, offer several dental insurance programs for residents with specific dental needs. These are often designed to help families pay for their children’s dental costs. 

For example, Medicaid helps families below certain income thresholds get affordable dental coverage for their children’s dental care and procedures.4 

Another example is the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This program is designed for children whose families fall outside Medicaid requirements but cannot insure their child.4 

Your state will have more information about eligibility and available coverage. 

Save on your dental coverage 

Dental coverage is a type of supplemental insurance that can come with low premiums.5 However, there are ways to drive your costs even lower. 

First, identify what plan type works best for you, and then see if your employer offers coverage that meets your needs. 

If not, or if you need additional coverage, shop with multiple insurers and see if you can bundle policies for a discount. Consider government-assisted dental programs as well if you qualify. 

Following these simple steps can help you save on dental insurance and make it easier than ever to maintain a healthy smile. 

Sources: 

1 American Dental Association – Types of Dental Plans. https://www.ada.org/resources/practice/dental-insurance/dental-plan-overview. Accessed March 28, 2025. 

2 Investopedia – Dental Insurance HMO vs. PPO: What’s the Difference? Updated February 26, 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/dental-insurance-hmo-vs-ppo-whats-the-difference-8553452. Accessed March 28, 2025. 

3 AMBA – Enroll in Affordable Dental and Vision Plans. https://alumnidentalvision.com/. Accessed March 28, 2025. 

4 Medicaid – Dental Care. https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/dental-care. Accessed March 28, 2025. 

5 HealthMarkets – Top 4 Things to Know About Supplemental Dental Insurance. Updated January 22, 2024. https://www.healthmarkets.com/resources/supplemental-health-insurance/top-3-things-about-supplemental-dental-insurance/. Accessed March 28, 2025. 

Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.   

Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.  

Dental: In Delaware, Policies A82100R–A82400R. In Idaho, Policies A82100RID–A82400RID. In Oklahoma, Policies A82100ROK–A82400ROK.  In Virginia, A82100RVA–A82400RVA.  

Dental, Vision, and Hearing coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (NAIC 92908). 

Dental, Vision and Hearing: In Delaware, Policy T80000. In Idaho, Policy T80000ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T80000OK. Dental claims are administered by SKYGEN USA, LLC. Vision claims are administered by EyeMed Vision Care, LLC.  Hearing claims are administered by Nations Hearing. NOTICE: The coverage offered is not a qualified health plan (QHP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is not required to satisfy essential health benefits mandates of the ACA. The coverage provides limited benefits. 

Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions.  

Aflac WWHQ | Tier One Insurance Company | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999   

Z2500144                                  EXP 3/26 

Contact Information:
Senior PR & Corporate Communications
Contact: Angie Blackmar, 706-392-2097 or [email protected]