US 2028 Dental Savings vs Insurance
2028 dental: insurance ~$30-50/mo with $1,500/yr max + waiting periods. Savings plan $100-$200/yr with 10-60% discounts + no max + no waiting. Math by usage.
| Insurance total OOP | — |
| Savings plan total OOP | — |
| Winner | — |
| Total savings | — |
Dental savings plans (Aetna Vital Savings, Cigna Dental Savings) provide 10-60% discounts at member dentists for $100-$200/year. No claims, no annual max, no waiting periods. Traditional dental insurance: $30-$50/mo with $1,000-$1,500 annual max + waiting periods on major work. Math: low usage = plan wins, major work = insurance wins.
Why Plans Win Low Usage
Cleanings 2x/year + occasional filling = $400-$800 total. Insurance premium $600 + $0-$200 OOP = ~$800. Plan $150 + $300 (40% discount) = $450. Plan saves $350/year.
Why Insurance Wins Major Work
Crown + root canal = $3,000-$5,000. Insurance: $1,500 max benefit + premium $600 = $4,100 out-of-pocket (your $2,500-$3,500 cost). Plan: $150 + $1,800-$3,000 (40% off) = $1,950-$3,150. Insurance wins when major work pushes you near $1,500 max.
Annual Max Limitation
Insurance annual max ~$1,500 hasn't moved since 1970s — significant erosion vs medical inflation. Major dental work always exceeds. Plans have no max — better for big procedures even with lower discount %.
Last updated May 2026. Sources: ADA.