Can I get insurance fast during COVID-19?

If you don’t have dental insurance, you’re not alone. About 74 million Americans have no dental coverage, according to the National Association of Dental Plans. That's around 23% of the population, or more than double the percentage that lacks health insurance.¹

The health of your mouth and your teeth can impact your overall health. If you don’t take good care of your mouth and your teeth, you could be putting your overall health at risk.² This may be due to the fact that people without dental benefits are more likely to have extractions and dentures and less likely to have restorative care or receive treatment for gum disease.³

Can I get insurance today?

If you enroll in individual or family dental insurance online, you can get coverage by the first of the next month. There are usually no waiting periods for preventive care, such as cleanings, exams, and X-rays. Basic services such as fillings and simple extractions may have a waiting period of six months or less, depending on your state. Major dental work, such as root canals, crowns, implants, and kids’ braces may have a waiting period of 12 to 18 months, depending on your state.

There are many reasons why you might be in a hurry to buy dental insurance today, including:

Maintaining your oral health

If it has been awhile since you had your teeth cleaned, you might want to buy dental insurance so that you can get your teeth cleaned and polished to help prevent health problems in the future. There are usually no waiting periods for preventive care, such as cleanings, exams and X-rays. Professionally cleaned teeth can help make a better first impression if you’re going to be performing on camera, teaching in front of a class, starting a new job, or getting married.

Taking your child to their first teeth cleaning

Children can develop cavities as soon as they have teeth, which is why the American Dental Association recommends that children should visit the dentist after their first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday to help prevent cavities.⁴ There are usually no waiting periods for preventive care and it’s often covered at 100% through most dental insurance plans.

Getting cavities treated before they get worse

If you know that you have cavities that need to be taken care of, dental insurance can help you cover the costs of care so that you can get them fixed before they damage your entire tooth. Although fillings and simple extractions may have a waiting period of six months or less, depending on your state, getting the clock started on your waiting period now can help you receive treatment before you require major dental work. 

Types of dental plans

There are two main types of dental insurance: Dental Preferred Provider Organization (DPPO) and Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO). From co-pays to annual maximums to your network of dentists, each plan offers its own unique advantages and disadvantages.

A PPO has a wider network of dentists you can visit and is also more likely to offer reimbursement for services from an out-of-network dentist. In a DHMO, you must choose one in-network dentist from the smaller DHMO network who will serve as your primary care dentist. However, there are no waiting periods in many DHMO plans. PPO plans often have no waiting periods for preventive care, such as cleanings, exams, and X-rays. Basic services, such as fillings and simple extractions, and major dental work, such as root canals, crowns, implants, and kids’ braces, may have waiting periods of six to 12 months, depending on your state.

How to get dental insurance today

If you need insurance today, you can get a comprehensive plan from Guardian Direct that can save you up to 35% when you see one of our 114,000 in-network dentists for care. Enrollments are instantly approved so you can obtain a policy today that begins on the first of the month. 

To purchase dental insurance from Guardian Direct, you will need to know the zip code of your primary residence, how much you are willing to pay each month, the ages and birth dates of each party who needs to be insured and your payment information. Once you have that information, it’s a fast, easy and secure process to purchase dental insurance online. 

Guardian accepts multiple payment methods, such as a credit/debit card, ACH, or check and payment schedules, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on what fits your budget. When you purchase from Guardian Direct, you can feel confident that our secure website guards your security just like banking sites do.

Enroll in dental insurance today

If you’re ready to invest in your health and get the dental care that you’ve been putting off you can get dental insurance today. If you have questions, you can find out more about what dental insurance covers or more about the cost of dental insurance. When you’re ready, just enter your zip code to get started.

Links to external sites are provided for your convenience in locating related information and services. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees expressly disclaim any responsibility for and do not maintain, control, recommend, or endorse third-party sites, organizations, products, or services and make no representation as to the completeness, suitability, or quality thereof.

Brought to you by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. Material discussed is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only and it is not to be construed as tax, legal, investment or medical advice. It is not dental care advice and should not be substituted for regular consultation with your dentist. If you have any concerns about your dental health, please contact your dentist's office.