Whether you’re a small business owner looking to offer dental coverage or an individual interested in stand-alone dental insurance, eHealth has you covered. Here’s a breakdown of the different dental plan options; why small businesses should consider offering dental benefits; and how to find dental coverage that fits your needs.

Why do you need dental insurance?

If you don’t get dental insurance through an employer, you may be wondering if it’s worth buying on your own. If you have generally healthy teeth, you may feel like you don’t want to pay for the coverage.

The fact is that dental insurance is a key part of preventing oral disease, as well as other, more serious conditions. Most dental plans cover preventive services, such as routine exams and cleanings, that keep your teeth (and ultimately your overall health) intact.

According to the American Dental Association:

• 50% of adults over 30 have some form of gum disease.
• Almost 1 in 4 kids under five have cavities.
• 125 conditions are tied to oral health, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and more.
• People with diabetes are twice as likely to have gum disease as those without diabetes.

Many employers cover dental coverage or subsidize the cost. If your work doesn’t cover dental insurance, it’s worth noting that many Marketplace plans give you the option to add dental coverage. You can also buy dental coverage separately.

If you need help finding health plans with this coverage, an eHealth licensed insurance agent can walk you through your options. Or, you can browse plan options in your Florida location by entering your zip code into the plan finder tool on this page.

Why Florida small businesses should offer dental insurance

If you are a small business owner in Florida with fifty or fewer employees, you’re most likely not required to offer Florida dental insurance. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t many benefits to doing so. A few advantages to making the best dental insurance in Florida available to your employees include:

• Tax deductions: if you paid for part of your employees’ dental insurance, you could itemize the cost of those premiums towards medical and dental deductions on your taxes.
• Attracting talent: being a competitive employer and bringing in the best talent will require offering a strong benefits package. Providing the best dental insurance in Florida might motivate the talent to come to your small business.
• Retaining talent: fostering a sense of support within your small business by providing dental insurance may keep employees motivated. Employees who know they work for an organization that supports them and has their well-being in mind will be more likely to stay in the long term.

Dental plans in Florida: HMO vs. PPO plans

Whether you’re an employer or looking to buy Florida dental coverage for yourself, there are typically a few different types of dental plans. HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) and PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans are two of the most popular types.

An HMO or a DHMO (Dental Health Maintenance Organization)

An HMO may be a more affordable Florida dental insurance option. With this plan, generally you pay less on premiums, but have to use dental professionals in the plan’s provider network.

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan

This option might be pricier, but it usually offers a lot more flexibility. Employees usually have the option to pick a dentist that they want, including a dentist outside of the plan’s network (although out-of-pocket costs might be higher with an out-of-network dentist). Unlike an HMO plan, if you need to see a specialist, you don’t need to see your primary dentist first for a referral.

Small businesses: what type of Florida dental coverage should I offer?

Employers who want their workers to have a variety of choices may opt to offer both an HMO and PPO dental option. That way, employees can decide for themselves the type of coverage that best fits their needs. At eHealth, we offer a wide variety of plan types for small businesses; feel free to contact us today to learn more about dental options.

Understand that while looking for the best dental insurance in Florida, you should consider the differences in cost and quality. If you are seeing a plan with a very high premium with low deductibles, this might be good to offer for employees that need a lot of dental care and will benefit from the low out-of-pocket costs for each visit or procedure. Florida dental insurance could also have low premiums, which might also mean high deductibles. Factors like costs and employee’s needs might make “the best dental insurance in Florida” different for every small business. Make sure you check out group dental plan quotes available on eHealth, so you can see what you’re getting for different prices from great insurance carriers in Florida.

Individual and family dental plans: what coverage is right for me?

If you’re looking to buy stand-alone dental coverage for yourself or your family, you may be wondering whether an HMO or PPO plan would better fit your needs. Although no one can make that decision for you, the right choice for you may come down to your specific preferences, needs, and budget.

If being able to access a specific dentist is a high priority, and your dentist isn’t included in most provider networks, you may want to go with a PPO. You’ll be able to see whichever licensed dentist you like, although your out-of-pocket costs may also be higher.

If, however, you’re generally healthy and don’t mind having more limited provider options, an HMO is generally less expensive. You’ll be able to get a wide range of routine and preventive dental services with lower cost sharing. Keep in mind if you’re looking for family dental coverage, some dental plans may require a separate deductible for every family member and child. Always check the cost sharing and benefits details for any plan you’re considering, and check out dental insurance plans on eHealth to find the best option for you.

Best dental insurance: Florida

The best-selling plans for Florida dental insurance at eHealth in 2018 are as follows:

• Multiflex Dental Classic 2000
  Provider: Nationwide Life Insurance Company
• Dental Premier Elite ^SM
  Provider: Golden Rule Insurance Company
• Dental for Everyone Platinum Plan
  Provider: Delta Dental Insurance Company
• Loyalty Plus
  Provider: Humana
• Master Plan
  Provider: Argus

eHealth has a variety of carriers from which we offer quality dental insurance:

• Delta Dental Insurance Company
• Argus
• Renaissance Dental
• Golden Rule Insurance Company
• Nationwide Life Insurance Company
• Humana
• Independence American Insurance Company
• Starmount

Finding dental coverage in Florida

As you might guess, there is a variety of opinions out there for ranking the best dental insurance in Florida. A great way to shop for Florida dental insurance and find the best plan for your business is to compare costs (like premiums, copayments, and deductibles) and perks of various plans. For individuals looking to buy stand-alone dental plans, eHealth also offers a wide variety of dental plan options, including HMO and PPO plans at different budgets. You can also browse and compare individual and family health plans with eHealth if you’d like to find a health insurance plan that includes dental insurance.

Navigating options for the best dental insurance in Florida can be both stressful and confusing. eHealth has licensed insurance agents available by phone and online who can help you see what fits your budget and the coverage needs of your employees or for yourself. Feel free to get started at your own convenience by entering your zip code into the plan finder tool. Or, if you need help along the way, give us a call and a trusted licensed insurance agent can assist you.