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By
Elizabeth Rivelli
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Full Bio
Elizabeth Rivelli is an insurance writer passionate about helping people navigate the complex world of insurance to help them make empowered choices.
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Updated February 24, 2024
Reviewed byEric Estevez
Fact checked by
Bobby L. Hickman, FLMI CLU
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Fact checked byBobby L. Hickman, FLMI CLU
Full Bio
Bobby L. Hickman is a longtime business and financial journalist who brings decades of experience in insurance and financial services to his editor role at Investopedia. He has worked with insurance and financial services companies, such as AFLAC, Allstate, Confederation Life, Farm Bureau, SunLife, and others. His editorial clients include the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Advisors magazine.
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MetLife has the best dental insurance plans with no annual maximum benefit. Our research found it offers the lowest premiums and the best coverage for major dental care. Finding dental insurance without an annual maximum can be challenging, but there are a few companies that offer good benefits. We researched six dental insurance plans that have no annual maximum and cover preventive care (annual cleanings, for example), basic care (such as fillings and extractions), and major care (including crowns and implants). We made our picks based on criteria that fall into categories including plan cost, coverage, and customer satisfaction ratings. Best Dental Insurance Companies With No Annual Maximum Best Dental Insurance Companies With No Annual Maximum Our Expert Pick Compare Providers What Is an Annual Maximum Benefit? How to Choose Cost of Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Methodology Investopedia's Rating 4.8 Why We Chose It MetLife is our top pick for dental insurance with no annual maximum. In terms of cost, MetLife has the best premium out of the six insurers we reviewed in the two locations where we gathered quotes (Los Angeles and El Paso, Texas). The company offers two health maintenance organization (HMO) plans with no annual maximum benefit in those locations. As with most HMOs and no-annual-max plans, you don’t pay an annual or lifetime deductible, but you will make a copay for each service you use. One MetLife no-annual-max plan has a lower premium and higher copays than the other. However, MetLife categorizes many services as preventive and qualifying for a $0 copay, including oral exams, bitewing and full-mouth X-rays, and fluoride treatments. Cleanings require only a $20 copay. Finally, we found that MetLife’s lowest-cost HMO plan (DHMO - Low) is the best for major dental care. Sample pricing online still shows required copays, but prices range from $350 for a crown to $525 for a complete denture—about one-third to one-fourth of the average cost without insurance. However, basic care, such as fillings, has higher prices compared to many other insurers we reviewed. Your copay for basic services ranges from $15 (amalgam filling) to $225 (root canal), for example. Also note that the DHMO - Low plan is only available to individuals in four states: California, Florida, New York, and Texas. Check your state for available plans there. Pros & Cons Pros Most affordable premium Best coverage for major dental services Solid preventive coverage Cons Higher basic coverage copays Limited state availability of sample plan Overview MetLife sells a variety of individual and group insurance products. The company began selling life insurance in 1868 and is currently the largest life insurance provider in North America. It also conducts business in more than 40 countries. You may have a hard time finding the DHMO - Low plan outside of California, Florida, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. But MetLife sells several dental insurance plans, including HMO andpreferred physician organization (PPO) plans and a discount dental insurance program, through its website, agents, and the NCD by MetLife program. MetLife’s dental network for all plans consists of 146,000 providers, although HMOs typically have more restricted networks. Ensure there’s a provider nearby if you choose an HMO plan. You can learn more about MetLife’s dental insurance plans by visiting its website. You can contact the dental insurance department by calling 1-800-942-0854. MetLife members also have access to an online portal and mobile app. Dental Plans Overview The cost of dental insurance depends on several factors, including your location and age. To help you understand what you might pay for dental insurance with no annual maximum, we got quotes for a 30-year-old female in Los Angeles County (90011 ZIP code). Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar. Investopedia's Rating 4.3 Why We Chose It Humana has the best combination of customer satisfaction ratings out of the six dental insurance providers we reviewed. In the 2023 U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction Study from J.D. Power, Humana earned a score of 809 (out of 1,000), ranking second out of nine companies and higher than any other provider on this list. The company’s average National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index over the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 is 0.63, which is below the benchmark index of 1.0. That means Humana has about one-third fewer complaints than expected for its size. This is better than everyone else on this list except for Delta Dental. Humana offers two plans with no annual maximum in the ZIP codes we surveyed: one HMO and one PPO. The PPO plan (Preventive Value) has higher premiums and doesn’t offer any coverage for major procedures. There is absolutely no coverage for oral surgery, root canals, crowns, or dentures. Humana’s HMO plan (Dental Value) covers preventive, basic, and major care. There is no charge for preventive exams, cleanings, and most X-rays. The in-network copay for basic services ranges from $0 to $205, with $30 to $45 for an amalgam filling. For major services, copay pricing is a little higher than MetLife’s. A crown copay is $410, while a complete denture costs $550. Pros & Cons Pros Highest J.D. Power rating Two plans with no annual maximum in the ZIP codes we checked Cons Limited availability More expensive HMO premium than competitors Overview Humana was established in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. The company sells individual health and dental insurance plans, as well as Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans. We found six dental insurance plans available in Texas, and about half have no waiting period before you can use your benefits. The Dental Value plan we gathered quotes for is only available in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas, so you’ll need to try another option if you live outside those states. Humana has 117,000 dentists and providers in its dental network. To contact Humana about individual dental insurance plans, you can call 1-877-877-1051 during business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Humana plan members can access their policies through an online portal and mobile app. Dental Plans Overview To give you an idea of the types of plans Humana offers and their features, we collected quotes for a 30-year-old female applicant living in Florida and rounded prices to the nearest dollar. Note that because Humana does not offer these plans in California, these quotes don’t provide an apples-to-apples cost comparison to other providers for which we collected quotes in Los Angeles. Also, you may find other plans in your state. Investopedia's Rating 3.7 Why We Chose It Delta Dental has the best coverage for no annual maximum plans when you need basic dental services, such as fillings and simple extractions. For the lowest-cost plan, known as DeltaCare USA, the copay for basic, restorative dental care ranges from $15 to $120, which is much lower than the copays for all the other plans we reviewed. The in-network copays for preventive care range from $0 to $85 (the highest in our study). The outlier in Delta Dental’s preventive care is for a space maintainer at $85. But most procedures are no-cost, and a cleaning will run you just $5. For in-network major dental work, your copay could go as high as $700. A ceramic crown copay is $375, which is on the higher end. Pros & Cons Pros Best plan for basic services Few complaints for its size Cons Higher copays for some preventive and major dental care Overview Delta Dental began in 1954 and its national headquarters is in Oakbrook, Illinois. The company sells a wide variety of dental insurance plans in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico through its network of 39 independent Delta Dental companies. More than 80 million Americans have insurance coverage from Delta Dental. The DeltaCare USA plan is available in California, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington D.C. In other states, plans without an annual maximum may go by other names or be offered as PPOs. For example, the Clear or Clear Plus PPO dental plans are available in Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The plans typically offer no annual maximum, no waiting periods, and flat copays. Delta Dental also has excellent customer satisfaction, with the best NAIC complaint index in our study. It was not rated in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Dental Insurance Study. To get in touch with the company, find the Delta Dental organization in your state or region. Current plan members can also access their policy through an online customer portal and mobile app. Dental Plans Overview The quote below is based on a 30-year-old female applicant living in Los Angeles County (90011 ZIP code) and is rounded to the nearest dollar. This is just a sample plan, and you may find different ones in your state. Investopedia's Rating 4.8 Why We Chose It If you’re looking for a PPO plan with no annual maximum, you may want to consider Physicians Mutual. A PPO plan typically has a larger network than an HMO and offers more flexibility to choose a provider, but has more expensive premiums. There also tend to be fewer PPO plans that offer coverage with no annual maximum. Physicians Mutual’s in-network preventive care, which includes a broad array of services such as cleanings, fluoride, and space maintainers, is covered at 100%. The company’s lowest-priced no-annual-max plan in the ZIP codes we surveyed is known as Economy. This plan (and two others) don’t pay percentages or ask you for a flat copay. Instead, Physician Mutual pays a fixed dollar amount toward your costs, based on the procedure. For basic services, Physicians Mutual’s economy plan covers between $8 (sealant) and $110 (removal of a benign lesion) worth of services. For major services, Physicians Mutual covers between $23 (periodontal scaling and root planing—one to three teeth per quadrant) and $350 (an implant). So, it may be a little challenging to figure out how much of the dental bill you’ll potentially pay as a result. Other Physician Mutual plans pay more toward your costs, but they will have annual caps. Read exclusions carefully. Pros & Cons Pros Best no-annual maximum preventive coverage in a PPO Best no-annual maximum major coverage in a PPO Cons Higher premiums than other no-annual-max PPOs and HMOs Higher out-of-pocket costs Worse customer complaint record than expected for its size Overview Physicians Mutual was founded in 1902 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska. The company began by selling health insurance to doctors and surgeons across the U.S. Over time, it expanded into other areas, including life insurance and Medicare Supplement plans. Physicians Mutual sells four dental insurance plans with no deductible or annual maximum in the ZIP code we researched, but it may have a different offering in your state. You can get a quote online or by contacting the company. You can call Physicians Mutual at 1-800-228-9100, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Members also get access to an online portal and mobile app where they can find dentists, file claims, make payments, and more. Dental Plans Overview Below are quotes for an applicant living in Los Angeles, rounded to the nearest dollar. You may find other plans in your state. Most dental insurance plans have an annual maximum. If you spend more on dental care than your plan’s annual maximum during the policy period, you have to pay the difference out of pocket. For people who need frequent dental care, a plan with an annual maximum may not offer suitable coverage. “I would prefer that my patients did not have to deal with low annual maximums,” said Mark Vitale, a dentist at Edison Dental Arts in Edison, New Jersey, and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association (ADA). “When patients have a plan with an annual maximum, they’re often concerned about the cost of treatment, and it can prevent them from getting the treatment they need when they need it.” For that reason, choosing a dental insurance plan with no annual maximum can help you reduce your out-of-pocket spending on dental care. These plans are especially beneficial if you need or anticipate needing major dental care such as dentures or surgical extractions, which often have high treatment costs. Overall, MetLife has the best dental insurance plans with no annual maximum. MetLife also has the best premiums and the best coverage for major dental services. However, other insurers scored better in specific categories. For example, Delta Dental has the best coverage for basic dental services and Physicians Mutual has the best PPO plan with no annual maximum. Before choosing a dental insurance plan, it's important to consider cost. Below are the average monthly premiums and annual deductibles for our top-rated plan, MetLife’s DHMO - Low, in four states. An annual maximum benefit is the most money your insurance company will pay for covered dental services during the year. It’s a cap on your coverage. You might also see it referred to as a coverage limit. If the cost of your dental care exceeds the annual maximum benefit at any point during the year, you must pay the rest of your dental treatment out of pocket until the next policy period starts. Preventative care, such as cleanings and routine X-rays, may not count toward the annual maximum benefit, but check your plan details to be sure. Before choosing a dental insurance plan with no annual maximum, there are a few things to keep in mind. The cost of dental insurance with no annual maximum ranges from $7 to $16 per month for PPOs and $22 to $31 per month for HMOs, according to the quotes we got. However, your dental insurance premium depends on several factors, including your age, location, and insurance company. Dental insurance plans with no annual maximum typically cost less than plans with an annual maximum. This is because most no-annual-maximum plans are HMOs, which require you to select an in-network provider who offers all dental services to you. You can’t get out-of-network care covered. Investopedia collected more than 595 key data points from 17 dental insurance companies to identify the most important factors for readers choosing a dental insurance company and plan. We used this data to review each company for premiums, waiting periods, and other features to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews to ensure our readers make the right decision for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999 and has been helping readers find the best dental insurance companies since 2020. If you need significant dental care and want help with costs, a dental insurance plan with no annual maximum could potentially help you save money if you’re mindful of copays. A no-annual-max plan may also be worth it for the extensive preventive benefits offered, typically at low to $0 copays. However, you may need to work within the limited provider offerings of an HMO to get a no-annual-max plan. A plan with no annual maximum may still lead to significant out-of-pocket costs. For example, if you needed deep gum cleaning at $70 per quadrant, you’d still need to pay $280 out of pocket for that procedure, in addition to your premium. If you’ve put off dental work for years and have a mouthful of issues to address, the costs can still add up. So research plans carefully regarding copays. Most plans without an annual maximum are HMO plans, although there are a few PPO plans as well. However, PPO plans may not cover procedures at all, or may not cover them in the same manner as an HMO. Dental savings plans usually don’t have an annual maximum, either. You can use your savings plan to get discounted dental services with no maximum limit for the year. Most no annual maximum plans are HMO plans, which restrict you to specific dentists for all services, with narrower networks of dentists available. As of 2020, dental HMOs (DHMOs) only made up 4% of the dental benefits market, according to the American Dental Association.PPO plans are far more popular with consumers because you can choose your dentist. These are the companies we reviewed to find the best dental plans with no annual maximum: To determine which dental insurance companies to review, we tapped into both market data and public sentiment. We used business and industry databases to get insights into market share, and user-generated data from Google to understand trends and public interest in stand-alone dental plans. This analysis narrowed our focus to five key companies offering dental plans with no annual maximum for preventive, basic, and major care to individuals. While most of these plans are HMOs, two are PPOs, and we included one on this list for people who prefer to have a wider network of dentists. We collected data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a standard-setting and regulatory support organization that maintains a database of customer complaints. We also gathered data directly from companies via websites, media contacts, and existing partnerships. The data collection process took place between Oct. 9, 2023, and Dec. 23, 2023. We then developed a quantitative model that scored each dental insurance provider based on eight criteria that fall into five major categories and are crucial in evaluating the company’s offerings and benefits. We weighted the five categories as follows for this article: To learn more about our process for finding the best dental insurance companies, read our full methodology. Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy. American Dental Association. “2020 Survey of Dental Fees.” J.D. Power. "Dental Plan Satisfaction Rising as Communications and Plan Coverage Increase, J.D. Power Finds." Humana. “Dental HMO vs. PPO Insurance Plans: What’s the Difference?” American Dental Association. “Dental Benefits: An Introduction." Investopedia is part of the Dotdash Meredithpublishingfamily. Please review our updatedTerms of Service.Best Dental Insurance Companies With No Annual Maximum of 2024
Best Overall and Best for Premiums and Major Coverage : MetLife
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Plan Monthly Premium Basic Coverage Copay Major Coverage Copay DHMO-Low $8 You pay $15-$225 You pay up to $525 DHMO-High $11 You pay $0-$110 You pay up to $400 Best Customer Satisfaction : Humana
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Plan Monthly Premium Annual Deductible Basic Coverage Major Coverage Dental Value (HMO) $11 $0 You pay $0-$205 copay You pay up to $550 Preventive Value (PPO) $22 $50 Humana pays 50% after deductible (in-network); 30% after deductible (out-of-network) Not offered Best Basic Coverage : Delta Dental
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Plan Monthly Premium Annual Deductible Basic Coverage Major Coverage DeltaCare USA $9 $0 You pay $25-$120 copay You pay up to $700 copay Best PPO : Physicians Mutual
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Plan Monthly Premium Annual Deductible Basic Coverage Major Coverage Economy $31 $0 Insurer pays 25% Insurer pays 25% Standard $39 $0 Insurer pays 40% Insurer pays 40% Preferred $47 $0 Insurer pays 55% Insurer pays 55% Premier $57 $0 Insurer pays 70% Insurer pays 70% Our Expert Pick for Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum in Any State
State (ZIP Code) MetLife DHMO - Low New York (10001) $5.10 monthly premium
$0 annual deductibleFlorida (34787) $8.20 monthly premium
$0 annual deductibleTexas (79936) $7.03 monthly premium
$0 annual deductibleCalifornia (90011) $7.50 monthly premium
$0 annual deductible Compare the Best Dental Insurance Companies With No Annual Maximum
Company Monthly Premium Preventive Coverage Basic Coverage Major Coverage MetLife Best Overall and Best for Premiums and Major Coverage $7 You pay $0-$70 copay You pay $15-$225 copay You pay up to $525 Humana Best for Customer Satisfaction $11 You pay $0-$70 copay You pay $0-$205 copay You pay up to $550 Delta Dental Best for Basic Coverage $9 You pay $0-$85 copay You pay $25-$120 copay You pay up to $700 Physicians Mutual Best PPO $31 Insurer pays 100% in-network only Insurer pays 25% Insurer pays 25% What Is an Annual Maximum Benefit?
How to Choose Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum
How Much Does Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum Cost?
Does Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum Cost More?
Why You Should Trust Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum Worth It?
What’s the Downside of Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum?
What Kinds of Dental Plans Have No Annual Maximum?
Why Is Dental Insurance With No Annual Maximum Hard to Find?
Companies We Reviewed
How We Chose the Best Dental Insurance Companies With No Annual Maximum
Guide to Dental Insurance
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