Dental Discount
Plans VS Dental
Insurance
Compare the options side-by-side
and see what saves you more
Many people think dental insurance is the best way—the only way—to make dental care more affordable. But there’s another option: a dental discount plan like DentalSave, which negotiates reduced fees from participating dentists and passes them on to members.
For many people, DentalSave turns out to be the better deal . Keep reading to learn more about how dental discount and insurance plans stack up.
Insurance and discount plans defined
Dental insurance and dental discount plans work in completely different ways.
Dental insurance follows a familiar model that resembles health insurance—to a point. Discount dental plans are more like warehouse clubs, where joining up provides access to members-only savings:
The combination of premiums and low annual benefit caps make dental insurance look more like pre-payment plans than traditional insurance. It’s not always a great deal.
Similarities between insurance and discount plans
Though they operate on different models, dental insurance and
dental discount plans are alike in some ways:

Both involve participating dentist networks
With DentalSave, you pay discounted rates directly to your dentist rather than having them routed through an insurance company. That’s one reason dentists like discount plans—they get paid right away with no paperwork.

Both set prices for their members
Whether you have insurance or a discount plan, participating dentists will probably charge you a lower fee than they’d charge anyone who walked in and paid out-of-pocket without a plan.

Both require annual renewals
Both kinds of plans need to be renewed annually. Insurance premiums, especially, may change every year as insurers seek to clear more in premiums than they pay out in claims.
Differences between insurance and discount plans
Though they operate on different models, dental insurance and
dental discount plans are alike in some ways:

Discount plan members pay dentists directly
With DentalSave, you pay discounted rates directly to your dentist rather than having them routed through an insurance company. That’s one reason dentists like discount plans—they get paid right away with no paperwork.

Discount plan members pay for exactly what they use
With dental insurance, it’s not uncommon to pay more in premiums than you get back—most people just don’t get that much dental care in any given year. Discount plan members pay directly for the services they receive rather than paying premiums to an insurance company.

Discount plans apply to all dental care
All procedures are included under dental discount plans – from root canals to braces. No exclusions for cosmetic procedures or specialty care. And there’s no annual cap with discount plans—you save on your first dollar all the way through to your last.

Both require annual renewals
Every DentalSave membership also entitles you to discounts on vision care, hearing care, and prescription drugs.
Consider this comparison of features:
Feature | DentalSave | Insurance |
---|---|---|
Open to anyone | Yes | No |
Immediate activation | Yes | No |
No annual cap | Yes | No |
Pay for what you use | Yes | No |
No paperwork | Yes | No |
Savings on every dental service | Yes | No |
Savings on vision, hearing, and prescription services | Yes | No |
Annual fee/premiums (individual) | $99 | $1,200 |
Choosing insurance, a discount plan, or both
So, how do you decide which option is right for you? Here are some things to consider:
Side-by-side savings might surprise you. In a typical year, you could pay significantly less with DentalSave than you pay for insurance, even when the insurance company pays the full bill for your dental services:
DentalSave | Insurance | |
---|---|---|
Annual fee/premiums (individual) | $99 | $1,200 |
Two annual exams | $57 | $0 |
Two annual cleanings | $102 | $0 |
One filling | $181 | $0 |
Total | $439 | $1,200 |
Choosing insurance, a discount plan, or both
Only you can decide which route makes sense for you. Do a little research, crunch the numbers, and don’t take it from us: See these Nerdwallet and Lifehacker posts about dental discount plans vs dental insurance.
Once you decide on DentalSave, it takes only a minute to become a member and never pay full price at the dentist again. The savings start right away—all you do is show your card.