Pros Explained

• No 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:waiting periods on any plans: Unlike many competing PPO plans, Spirit’s don’t make you wait before getting any level of care (preventive, basic, or major). It’s not unusual to see plans with 12-month or even 18-month waiting periods for more expensive procedures, so this is a major plus.
• Low premium for sample plan: The average premium for Spirit’s sample plan in the two ZIP codes we researched is $19.21, the lowest among top insurers in our study.
• Operates in most states: Spirit sells dental insurance plans in 49 states and Washington D.C. The only state where the company doesn't operate is Washington state. However, you may not find all plans available in all states. 
• Lifetime deductible: Spirit has a one-time, $100 lifetime 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:deductible. Most competing plans make you pay a deductible every year. 

Cons Explained

• Customer satisfaction issues: Ameritas, the company that underwrites Spirit’s dental plans, is rated below average for overall customer satisfaction in 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction Study. Ameritas also receives more complaints than expected for its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (💝NAIC).
• Coverage challenges: In the sample plan we reviewed, coverage for more expensive procedures such as crowns and root canals—categorized as “major” care—is only 20% (most of our top-rated companies cover 50% of major care). In addition, some plans categorize simple fillings as major care; most insurers categorize fillings as basic or restorative care. That matters because basic care is usually covered at a higher percentage—50% in Spirit’s case.
• Low annual maximum benefit in the first year: Spirit’s sample plan has an annual maximum benefit of $750 during the first year, lower than many of its competitors. It increases to $1,000 in year two and beyond.

Types of Dental Insurance Offered by Spirit 

Spirit sells 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:dental insurance in every U.S. state besides Washington. It also operates in Washingt♎on D.C.&🐈nbsp;

The company offers four PPO plans that include coverage for basic or major dental care without a waiting period. With a PPO, you can see any dentist, in or out of network. If you choose a provider from the Ameritas Dental Network, you’ll✨ be charged 25% to 50% less than their regular rates. 

🐠 Spirit also offers two “Flex” PPO-style plans, which reimꦫburse out-of-network providers at a higher rate.

All Spirit Dental plans feature a one-time, $100 deductible and coverage for preventive, basic, and major dental services🌸 that’s available as soon as you meet your deductible.

Spirit’s sample dental plan provides the least amount of coverage but charges the lowest p🥀rem🉐ium. All plans offer limited coverage in the first year, with higher coverage limits in years two and three.

Some plans also offer higher annual maximum coverage—up to $5,000 in the third year. They also offer more robust coverage for major dental services, including crowns, implants, and dentures.  

For example, the Spirit Core PPO co♐vers major care up to 50%, features an annual maximum of up to $2,000, and covers child orthodontia. Spirit Pinnacle PPO also covers child orthodontia; both plans have a $ 1,200 lifetime maximum, with the most coverage in year three atꦺ 50%.

One plan is just for older adults—the Spirit Senior Preferred PPO, which comes with vision and hearing benefits🗹. 

Other Types of Insurance Offered by Spirit 

Through Spirit, you can bundle vision insurance with some dental plans. If you get a Senior Preferred🍬 PPO plan, you can also bundle in hearing coverage. 

Spirit Dental Plans

How Much Does Spirit Dental Insurance Cost?

S💝pirit has🍎 some of the most affordable dental insurance premiums of the 17 providers we researched. Its average sample plan premium for the two ZIP codes we studied is $19.21 per month, which is much cheaper than the study average of $37.66. 

The cost of Spirit’s sample dental plan varies depending on your location. Below, you can see the premium for Spirit’s Preventive Plu♈s PPO Plan in the 10 most populated states where the plan is available.

How Does Spiri🌼t Co☂mpare to Other Dental Insurance Companies?

Spirit has much lower premiums than other popular dental insurance companies. It has a higher deductible than many other 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:dental insurance companies we reviewed, but you only have to pay $100 once for the duration you keep the p🗹lan. Most of the top-rated companies we studied have a $50 deductible🍷, and you must pay this every year. 

Spirit’s annual maximum cover🦩age limit is $750 for the first year, much lower than some other insurers. So, if your costs add up to thousands of dollars for the year, you’ll pay most of those costs out of pocket. 

The table below shows how Spirit compares tꦡo Delta Dental and Physicians Mutual. The sample plans we reviewed are the lowest-priced PPO plans that cover preventive, basic, and major de👍ntal care.

Customer Service

To contact a Spirit insurance agent, you can call the company, send an email, or use the live chat feature on the website. Members can also access their policy through an online customer p🤪ortal.

Customer Satisfaction

Ameritas, the company that underwrites Spirit’s dental insurance, received more complaints than are proportional to its size over a three-year period, according to the NAIC Complaint Index. In addition, Ameritas is ranked below average for overall customer satisfaction by J.D. Power. In J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Dental Plan Satisfaction Study, Ameritas scored last in the study of nine providers.

The Bottom Line

Spirit can be a good dental in♔surance provider for some people, especially if you want a cheap dental insurance plan. Spirit’s sample plan has one of the lowest premiums of the sample plans we reviewed. Additionally, it’s one of the only insurers with no waiting peri💮ods at all for any level of care coverage. 

However, Spirit has several drawbacks. While there are no waiting periods, the first-year coverage for dental care can be lꦯimited with some plans. You must also pay a $100 deductible before your plan covers cleanings and other preventive services. And Spirit has poor customer satisfaction ratings and a recent history of complaints.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Ameritas Own Spirit Dental?

Yes, Spirit Dental insurance is a dental product offered and 🌊underwritten by Ameritas. Spirit Dental custo𒀰mers get access to Ameritas’ dental network, and Ameritas handles all Spirit Dental claims. 

What Is the Most That Dental෴ Insuranc๊e Will Cover?

Almost every dental insurance plan has an annual maximum benefit, which is the most the plan will cover for all dental services during the year. If your dental care exceeds y🎀our plan’s annual maximum, you pay the difference out of pocket. The first-year annual max caps that we saw range from $500 to $3,000. For individual procedures, the most your dental insurance will provide is limited by whether there is a waiting period before you get any kind of coverage, and what percentage of costs is covered (e.g., 50% coverage for major care) when coverage does begin.

Who Accepts Spirit Dental Insurance?

Spirit Dental insurance members can choose their own dentist or use Amerꦿitas’ dental network, which includes 132,000 dental providers across the U.S. Staying within the network offers g꧅reater savings. 

Is Dental Insurance From Spirit Worth It?

Like most plans, Spirit’s Preventive Plus PPO Plan may or may not be a good value if you mainly use your benefits for preventive care. If you only get two annual cleanings (at $98/each), you pay $196 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:without dental insurance. 

Spirit’s average sample plan premium is $231 per year, and you wou🦄ld have to pay the $100 deductible before your plan would start covering your dental care. In short, you’d pay $331 out of pocket in the first year—more than 𒁃the cost of two cleanings. 

If you get more care, Spirit insurance might be worth itജ. Let’s say you also get two exams ($55/each) and a set of bitewings ($70) your first year. That’s a total of $376 out of pocket if you don’t have insurance—more than the cost of insurance. So you’d potentially save $45 that year if you did have the Spirit plan. 

To 🐻cover basic or major care down the road, some of Spirit’s more expensive dental insurance plans might be worth it. Compare the plan’s out-of-pocket costs to the costs cited by an Ameritas-network dentist, particularly in years one and two. Ensure it will actually help you save money. 

How Do You Cancel Spirit Dental Insurance?

To cancel a Spirit Dental insurance plan, you should contact the company. Your plan will end on the last day of the month you cancel. If you cancel within the first 30 days of purchasing the plan, you can get a full refund on premiums paid ꦇif you haven’t used your benefit🐼s.

How We Chose the Best Dental I🐷nsurance Companies

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 17 key companies offering dental coverage to individuals, regardless of whether their health 𓄧insurance was purchased through state or federal marketplaces or independently.

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 35 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:

• State Availability: 5%
• Customer Satisfaction: 15%
• Cost: 36%
• Coverage: 42%
• Customer Service: 2%

To learn more about our process for finding the best dental insurance companies, read our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:full methodology.