• Helpful Websites

  • Colorado Division of Insurance - The regulatory commission that oversees the Colorado health insurance industry.
  • Colorado for Health Care - Join the movement for quality, affordable health care for everyone.
  • Colorado Health Insurance Insider - The place to get the most up to date information and discussion on the Colorado Health Insurance industry.
  • Cover Colorado - the Colorado State guarantee issue risk pool for those who don’t qualify for individual health insurance.
  • Health Care for All Colorado - Colorado volunteer based, nonprofit organization, working for universal health care utilizing a single-payer (improved Medicare for All) financing for all people in Colorado.

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Dental Insurance

How to find the best coverage in Colorado for your dental needs

Finding dental insurance as an individual, family, or business group of 5 or less in Colorado is a tough task.  The reason is that it is a limited benefit service.  Dental insurance isn’t catastrophic, and even the best policies have limits from $500 to $1,500/year.  So dental insurance doesn’t meet the true definition of insurance.  Instead, you’re basically just trying to figure out how to pay a little bit in premium and get the insurance company to pay more in benefits.  The problem with that thinking is that the insurance companies know what they’re doing.  They have to, or they go out of business.

With a business group plan of 5 or more, there are going to be people paying for the dental coverage but not using it.  So the people who are using it can come out ahead.  But for individuals, families, and groups with fewer than 5 people, the insurance company has figured out how to make a profit by having people spend more in premium than they get in benefits.  The main thing is a waiting period on non-routine benefits so you’ve paid in a good amount before you can start getting back for the big claims.

Here are the different types of insurance:

• A typical PPO policy (this one is through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield) – this has regular benefits (and waiting periods) just like policies you may have had at your job.  They cost a little more, but people feel better having them there just in case.
• Discount dental plans – very inexpensive, and no waiting periods.  But instead of actual benefits, you get a discount at a network of dental providers.  This is the best way to come out ahead, especially if you already have a dental problem.
• Indemnity dental plans – no network of dentists, but you have waiting periods and a premium similar to a PPO.

Read more details about your different options for dental insurance coverage in Colorado.