Dental health is considered top priority because it affects your overall wellbeing. The state of your dental health as an individual can greatly impact your self-esteem and overall confidence. However, dental insurance does not usually come cheap or readily available like general health insurance so getting the right dental insurance package for your needs is very important.
Maintaining a good dental health requires regular visits to the dentist. Humana, a well-established provider in the health insurance industry, offers a variety of dental insurance plans designed to meet diverse needs.
Humana Inc. was founded in 1961 and is one of the largest health insurance providers in the United States. The company offers a wide range of insurance products, including medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage. Humana is known for its commitment to providing affordable and comprehensive health insurance options to individuals, families, and employers.
Humana provides a variety of dental insurance plans catering to different needs and budgets. These plans are designed to cover a range of dental services, from preventive care to major dental procedures.
Types of Humana Dental Insurance Plans
Humana offers several types of dental insurance plans to accommodate various needs. Here are the main categories:
- Humana Preventive Plus: This plan focuses on preventive care, covering routine exams, cleanings, and X-rays at 100%. It includes basic procedures such as fillings and extractions at a lower coinsurance rate and the annual maximum typically ranges from $1,000 to $1,500. The deductibles are usually low, making it affordable for routine care.
- Humana Loyalty Plus: This unique plan rewards members for staying enrolled over time with increasing benefits. Coverage levels for preventive, basic, and major services improve each year up to a certain limit. Annual maximum increases each year up to a specified limit, providing more extensive coverage over time and deductibles are pretty moderate with no waiting periods for preventive services.
- Humana Complete Dental: A comprehensive plan covering a wide range of dental services, ideal for individuals and families needing extensive dental care. It includes preventive, basic, and major services with high coverage percentages and its annual maximum is higher than other plans, typically ranging from $1,500 to $2,000. The deductibles vary by state, but is generally moderate.
- Humana Dental Savings Plus: This is a discount plan, not traditional insurance. It provides discounts on various dental services and members pay the discounted rate for dental services provided by network dentists. It does not have a maximum limit and deductibles due to the reduced rate the members pay directly to the dentist.
- Humana Medicare Advantage Plans with Dental Benefit: Some Humana Medicare Advantage plans include dental coverage as part of their benefits package. The coverage varies by plan but often includes preventive, basic, and major dental services and the annual maximum depends on the specific Medicare Advantage plan. Deductibles also vary by plan, often with low or no deductibles for preventive care.
General Coverage Details For Humana Dental
- Preventive Services includes routine exams with twice-yearly visits typically included, cleanings are covered at 100% for two cleanings per year. Routine X-rays are also included preventive coverage.
- Basic Services like fillings are covered at a percentage between 70% to 80%. Simple extractions are often covered at similar rates to fillings and coverage for emergency dental care varies by plan but is generally included.
- Major Services like crowns get coverage from a lower percentage, increasing over time in plans like Humana Loyalty Plus. Bridges and Dentures are included in major services, with coverage percentages increasing over time or higher coverage levels in comprehensive plans. Root canals are covered as a major service, with varying coverage levels depending on the plan.
- Adult and child orthodontic services are covered in some plans, although this is less common and usually includes a lifetime maximum benefit.
Costs and Premiums
- Monthly Premiums varies by plan, coverage levels and geographic location. Average costs also varies with preventive plans having lower premiums, while comprehensive plans like Humana Complete Dental have higher premiums due to more extensive coverage.
- Deductibles vary based on the plan; Preventive Plus has low deductibles around $50 per person annually. Loyalty Plus has moderate deductibles, varying by state. Complete Dental plan has varying deductibles vary but are generally moderate and based on the level of coverage.
- Coinsurance and Copayments: for preventive services, there are no coinsurance or copayments as they are typically covered at 100%. The coinsurance for basic services usually ranges from 20% to 30% while major services come with higher coinsurance, often starting at 50% and increasing over time in loyalty plans.
- Annual maximum benefits varies by plan, it could be between $1,000 to $2,000, with loyalty plans increasing the maximum benefit over time.
- Humana’s dental network of providers is very extensive and makes it easier for members to find in-network dentists. The company also offers an online tool to help members locate in-network dentists based on their location and specific needs.
- Out-of-Network coverage options also exist although it would usually result in higher out-of-pocket costs for members and may have reduced coverage percentages compared to in-network services.
Choosing the Right Humana Dental Plan for your needs
- First and foremost you have to carefully assess your personal needs, If you primarily need preventive care, a plan like Humana Preventive Plus may be sufficient. On the other hand, for those anticipating major dental work, Humana Complete Dental or Humana Loyalty Plus might be better options.
- Try to compare the cost of the monthly premiums against the level of coverage provided. Consider deductibles, coinsurance, and annual maximums to estimate potential out-of-pocket expenses.
- Ensure there are adequate in-network providers in your area to minimize costs and check if your preferred dentists are included in Humana’s network.
- Evaluate additional benefits like orthodontic coverage and the absence of waiting periods for preventive services.
- Consider the enrollment process and the availability of customer support. Humana’s website provides an easy-to-use platform for enrolling in dental plans and potential members can also enroll by simply calling Humana’s customer service. Licensed insurance brokers and agents can assist with plan selection and enrollment. Humana offers 24/7 customer support to address any questions or concerns and their website includes extensive resources, FAQs, and tools to help members manage their plans.