Why Do I Need Dental Insurance?
Dental insurance is an important tool in protecting your overall health and the health of your family. Brushing and flossing regularly will help you keep a cleaner mouth, but only a dentist and dental hygienists have the tools and ability to fully clean your teeth.
Without regular cleanings, bacteria built up in your mouth can lead to decay, cavities, and eventually tooth loss! Regular visits to the dentist are essential to not only prevent these problems, but also catch any problems that do exist before they cost you your smile.
Even a simple trip to the dentist costs money, however, and with a family or more serious issues, the costs can quickly multiply. That’s where dental insurance comes into play. A dental insurance plan from Guardian can help cover the cost of basic dental services as well as most costly procedures.
UCF Alumni Dental Plans
Your teeth deserve the best dental insurance possible!
Choose a Guardian PPO or DHMO plan and gain access to one of the largest dental networks nationwide. If you are in the market for a new dentist, it’s easy to find one near your home or office. Select between a PPO and DHMO Plan:
PPO Plan: With over 114,000 dentists in over 319,000 locations**, chances are your dentist is in our network.
DHMO Plan: You and each family member select a dentist in our network of over 11,000 dentists in over 15,000 locations.
You’ll also enjoy the cost savings. Good dental coverage should save you money. After all, isn’t that the point of having insurance? Depending on the plan you choose, preventive care such as check-ups and cleanings may cost you little or nothing. At the same time, you’ll also save on more costly and unexpected treatments like root canals and crowns.
See how you can save money when you see a dentist in Guardian’s network.
**Guardian, 2015 Netminder Report.
The average cost of a root canal, associated dental work, and crown:
*Source for cost of root canal/crown: 2014 Guardian Reporting; this is an estimate only and prices differ based on location and dentist.
Cost with No Dental Insurance
Cost with Guardian Dental Insurance
Estimated Savings with In-Network Dentist
Choice of plan options
In some states, you may be able to choose between a PPO and DHMO plan. With a PPO plan, you can see any dentist, but you will save more if you visit a dentist in your network. A DHMO plan typically costs less, but you need to see the dentist you selected from the network.
DHMO
- Cost: Lower monthly costs
- Choice of dentists: Must see selected in-network dentist for benefits to apply
- Payment for care: You pay a set co-pay at each visit, so you know exactly what it will cost
- Referrals for specialists: Are needed
- Annual maximum: No annual maximum
PPO
- Cost: Higher monthly costs
- Choice of dentists: Freedom to visit any dentist, but save more with in-network dentists
- Payment for care: Pay an annual deductible and the plan pays a percentage of your costs once it’s met
- Referrals for specialists: Not needed
- Annual maximum: Limited to how much the plan will cover each year
Managed DentalGuard
Family DHMO Plan
Eligibility: All Ages
- A DHMO copay plan.
- Includes pediatric essential health benefits
- A comprehensive adult and child plan.
- Covers standard or medically necessity orthodontic coverage.
Family Essentials
Dental PPO Plan
Eligibility: All Ages
- A comprehensive family plan, including adults and children.
- You are responsible for a percent of the total billed (coinsurance).
- You can go to any provider you choose.
- Out-of-Network benefits are based on a covered fee schedule.