No Waiting Period Dental Insurance: How It Works

Dental insurance with no waiting period covers crowns, root canals and implants from day one. Here is how it works and what to look for.

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What is a dental waiting period?

A waiting period is the time after you enroll before a plan pays for certain services. Many individual dental plans make you wait 6 months for basic work like fillings and 12 months or more for major work like crowns, root canals, dentures and implants.

How no-waiting-period plans are different

Ameritas PrimeStar plans have no waiting periods on preventive, basic or major services. Coverage can start as soon as the day after you enroll, so a cracked tooth or a crown you already need can be covered right away. In exchange, coverage percentages and annual maximums start a little lower in year one and increase after your first year.

What to check before you enroll

Compare the annual maximum (up to $3,500 on Complete after year one), the coverage percentage for major work, whether implants are included (Boost and Complete), and whether your dentist is in network. Network dentists charge 25–50% less, which stretches your benefits further.

Coverage levels and maximums increase after year one. Plans, costs and availability vary by state.