Anthem dental plans for individuals and families

Anthem's pages describe stand-alone dental plans, mainly PPO plans, including Essential Choice PPO and Dental Family PPO. You can buy a stand-alone plan at any time of the year. Availability varies by state, so check that Anthem sells dental coverage where you live before you compare plans.

On the plans Anthem describes, diagnostic and preventive care in network carries no waiting period, and the Essential Choice PPO has no deductible for those services in network. Anthem says most of its plans cover exams, cleanings and X-rays at the highest level with no waiting period. Confirm this on the specific plan.

Some plans have them. Anthem says its Essential Choice PPO has shorter waiting periods than traditional plans for basic, complex and major services, which means they still exist. Some Dental Family PPO plans have no waiting periods. Check the specific plan and ask what happens to work started early.

It describes a common coinsurance structure. Anthem says PPO plans typically pay at the highest level for preventive care, a middle level for basic procedures such as fillings and the lowest level for major procedures such as crowns and dentures. Your own plan sets the actual percentages, and your deductible and annual maximum still apply.

Anthem says its family plans cover pediatric essential health benefits for children up to age 18, with age 20 in Kentucky and age 26 in Connecticut. Depending on the plan, benefits may include no waiting periods and no annual limits for pediatric-age children. Check what your state and plan provide.

Anthem says full coverage dental plans may include them, depending on the plan, and that some plans cover braces and orthodontic treatment. Full coverage does not mean everything is paid in full. Ask for the schedule of benefits, the annual maximum and any waiting period for each service.

Anthem says discount plans are not insurance, you pay for the entire cost of care and the plan pays no part of it. Its PPO plans pay part of the cost of covered services. That is Anthem's own comparison, and discount plans can still suit some people, so compare the terms of each.

No. Anthem's dental cost estimator uses your ZIP code to give an estimate, which is not a binding figure. Use it to prepare questions, then ask the dental office for a written estimate and ask Anthem for a pretreatment determination before major work.

Anthem says stand-alone or separate dental plans can be bought any time of the year, and that availability varies by state. That is different from many medical plans, which have enrollment periods. Check the start date of coverage and any waiting period, so the benefit is in place before you need it.

No. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is a trade name used by different companies in different states, and Anthem's page lists them. Plan names, networks, rules and benefits vary by state and by plan. Use the plan documents you actually hold, not a general description.

Anthem lists 24/7 teledentistry, an option to email a dental hygienist for personalized advice, a dental cost estimator that uses your ZIP code and a dental health assessment. Treat the estimator as a prompt for questions, and ask the dental office for a written estimate before larger treatment.

Yes. Its coverage page says most dental plans cover preventive care, that some also cover certain basic services at a higher out-of-pocket cost, and that full coverage plans do not pay the whole cost of care but cover a broader range of basic and major procedures. Compare the schedule of benefits for the level you are considering.