Dental Insurance Through USAA

Getting dental insurance can be confusing. With so many options and differences in coverage, it’s hard to know which plan is right for you. One popular insurance provider, USAA, offers dental insurance policies that provide comprehensive coverage options.

But is their dental insurance worth it? We should be able to answer by the end of this post.

What is USAA?

USAA, short for United Services Automobile Association, is a financial services group that focuses on providing insurance and banking solutions to military members and their families. They offer a wide range of products, including property insurance, life insurance, banking and investment services, and more.

While you need to have a military connection to become a USAA member, their products and services consistently receive high ratings for quality and value.

Dental Insurance Through Usaa

USAA partners with insurance carriers Cigna and Ameritas to provide dental insurance options. The available USAA dental insurance plans are:

Cigna Dental Preventive
Cigna Dental 1000
Cigna Dental 1500
Ameritas Classic and Value Plans

These plans allow you to visit any licensed dentist, but you’ll pay less out-of-pocket when you choose an in-network provider. With USAA dental insurance, you’ll have access to two large national networks – Ameritas Classic and Cigna DPPO.

The exact coverage, limitations, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs differ between each plan. But in general, the policies cover preventive, basic, and major dental services. Some even include adult orthodontia.

Pros of USAA Dental Insurance

There are several advantages to getting dental insurance from USAA:

Comprehensive Coverage

Their dental plans offer thorough coverage options, including 100% coverage on preventive services with some policies. This can help lower your out-of-pocket dental costs throughout the year.

Large Provider Networks

With access to the Cigna DPPO and Ameritas Classic networks, you’ll have over 400,000 dental access points nationwide. This makes it easy and convenient to find an in-network dentist.

Low Cost for Coverage

Compared to buying dental insurance elsewhere, the premiums are very affordable. For individuals, you can find plans starting around $30 per month. For families, rates start around $65 per month.

Good Customer Service Reputation

Current and prospective members often praise USAA for providing fast, helpful customer service. Issues like claims or billing problems are typically handled promptly.

No Waiting Periods

You don’t need to wait before using your USAA dental benefits for preventive or basic services. However, some plans require a 12-month waiting period before covering major treatments. Still, this is less than some other insurance companies.

Cons of USAA Dental Insurance

While their dental plans offer nice perks, there are a few downsides to consider too:

Limited Plan Options

USAA only offers dental insurance through Cigna and Ameritas. So there are less plan options to pick from vs companies with 10+ insurance carriers.

However, the Cigna and Ameritas plan selection is very comprehensive. Unless you have exceptional dental needs, they should still provide what you need.

Mostly PPO Dental Plans

Nearly all of their dental insurance options are PPO plans. These policies allow you to visit any dentist but charge higher coinsurance rates for out-of-network providers. Most PPOs don’t have waiting periods, deductibles, or yearly maximum limits on coverage either.

So, PPO limitations aren’t too restrictive. But it would still be nice to see HMO or other alternatives too.

Limited Orthodontia Coverage

Some USAA dental plans include adult ortho. When covered, you’ll have a lifetime policy max ranging from $1,000-$1,500. For traditional metal braces or clear aligners, this would cover around 1⁄3 of total treatment costs. Better than nothing but still leaves a large expense.

For the best orthodontia coverage, you may need to look at non-USAA insurance companies.

Best Dental Insurance Through USAA

The Cigna Dental 1500 plan is often considered the best dental insurance option through USAA. Here’s why:

$1,500 per person annual benefit maximum
Covers preventive, basic, and major services
Includes adult orthodontia coverage up to $ 1,000-lifetime max
Access to the Cigna DPPO network with over 90,000 dentists nationwide
100% coverage on preventive services like exams, x-rays, and cleanings
Around $50 monthly premium for individuals

For the most comprehensive coverage at reasonable rates, Cigna Dental 1500 is a top choice. The higher annual maximum and inclusion of ortho benefits make this a plan that can accommodate more complex dental treatment needs.

Cheap Dental Insurance Through USAA

If affordability is your top priority, the cheapest dental insurance plan from USAA is the Cigna Dental Preventive option.

Key details include:

$0 deductible
Around $30 monthly premium for an individual
Covers preventive services only (exams, x-rays, cleanings)
2 cleanings included per year
Does not cover basic or major dental services
No waiting periods

While Cigna Dental Preventive doesn’t cover extensive treatment, the policy maximum focuses spending on routine preventive care to maintain oral health. At only $30 monthly, this can be a cost-effective way to budget for exams and cleanings throughout the year.

USAA Dental Insurance Providers

As mentioned previously, USAA partners with just two dental insurance carriers – Cigna and Ameritas.

Cigna offers 3 PPO dental plans focused on preventive, basic, or comprehensive coverage tiers. Ameritas provides 2-3 dental plan options depending on location, structured as Basic and Enhanced PPOs.

Both companies allow you to visit any dentist while paying less to stay in-network. Combined, over 400,000 dental access points across the U.S. are covered. So despite having only two carriers, the provider network access itself is still extensive.

Is USAA Dental Insurance Good?

USAA provides high-quality dental insurance options for military members and their families. Here is an overview of USAA dental insurance and why it stands out as a top choice:

Plans Offered

USAA offers a range of group PPO and HMO dental plans including:

Basic/Major Services Plans
Preventive Plans
Orthodontic Coverage

They partner with leading carriers like United Concordia and Delta Dental networks to provide access to quality affordable dentists.

Benefits & Coverage

Key benefits of USAA dental plans include:

$0 deductibles for preventive services
Covers exams, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns
Up to $2,000 or more in annual benefits per person
Orthodontic options for children & adults

Coverage levels meet or beat other leading military providers like MetLife.

Cost of Premiums

USAA dental insurance is very affordable, often only $30-60 per month for robust preventive and major services benefits tailored to individuals or families. Retirees also get access to exclusive low-cost plans.

Reputation

USAA earns glowing reviews for member satisfaction and claims satisfaction through their dental plans with ratings averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars.

USAA offers top-tier group dental insurance plans exclusively for military members, veterans, and their families. The plans earn praise for affordable premiums paired with strong coverage through reputable dental networks. For those who qualify, USAA dental insurance is hard to beat.

Conclusion

USAA dental insurance provides military families and individuals with affordable and comprehensive coverage options.

Key benefits include low premiums, large provider networks, no waiting periods, and thorough preventive, basic, and some major dental services. Minor drawbacks like limited carriers and mostly PPO plans exist.

But in all, their dental insurance matches or exceeds competitors for value and quality. For those eligible for USAA membership, their dental plans are worth strong consideration.