Most insurance companies will not sell you dental coverage unless you have also purchased medical coverage.  Best Source LLC is appointed with four companies that will sell stand-alone individual and family dental coverage.  But they do not all sell in all states.

For Missouri , stand-alone dental coverage is available through UnitedHealthOne /Golden Rule, through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri and through Ameritas Dental.  For Illinois , it is available through Ameritas Dental and through Aetna .  The discussion below pertains to Missouri .

If:

1. you need a complete plan covering all types of services (except orthodontics), and
2. you live in the state of Missouri , and
3. your dentist is in the UnitedHealthOne network,

Then, the best plan for you is probably UnitedHealthOne’s Value Plan. The monthly premiums for this plan, as of January 1, 2010 , are $20.35 for an adult or child, $40.29 for two, and $71.23 for three or more, regardless of the number of people in your family!!  To get an on-line quote and application:

1. Click on the red Free Health Quote circle in the gray area on the left of this page.
2. Click on the Continue button
3. Enter your zip code and click on the Get Quote Now button
4. on the next page,
1. fill in the genders and ages of each person to be covered,
2. leave Preferred in the risk rating box as it is doesn’t matter in a dental-only quote,
3. fill in the Dental Insurance radio button, and
4. click on the Get Quotes button
5. Put a check mark in the Value Plan box and then click on the red View Benefits button.
6. On this page, you can see a brief outline of the dental benefits, and find links to
1. look up dentists in the network, and see if your dentist is in the network,
2. view, and print if you wish, the full product brochure
3. view a product brochure for an optional vision rider to the dental policy, and add it to your application if you wish. (Again, this is a great deal for a family of four or more!), and, of course,
4. Apply on line.  It’s really pretty user-friendly

If:

1.      you need a complete plan covering all types of services (except orthodontics), and

2.      you live in the state of Missouri , and

3.      your dentist is not in either the UnitedHealthOne network, nor in the Anthem Essential 200 network,

Then, the best plan for you is probably UnitedHealthOne’s Premier Plan. The monthly premiums for this plan, as of January 1, 2010 , are $31.56 for an adult or child, $62.49 for two, and $110.47 for three or more. To get an on-line quote and application, follow the steps outlined above for the Value Plan, except instead of putting a check mark in the Value Plan box in step 5, choose the Premier Plan:

If:

1. you need nothing more than the twice-annual cleaning and exam and X-rays, plus a filling or two, and
2. you live in the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missoui service area, and
3. your dentist is in the Anthem Dental Blue 100 network,

Then, the best plan for you is probably Anthem’s Basic Blue 100. The monthly premiums for this plan, as of July 1, 2009 , are $15.00 for an adult, or $10 for a child.  Unfortunately, you cannot do an on-line quote and application.  You must use a hard copy application.  To obtain one go to Contact Us and use the e-mail to ask for one.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF YOUR DENTIST IS IN THE NETWORK.  It makes a world of difference in what you will be charged by the dentist.  To participate in a network, dentists agree to a set amount for each ADA procedure code,  This charge is then covered in full or in part by the insurance company, depending on the type of service and the particular plan, with you paying the rest of the agreed charges.  But the dentist cannot “balance bill” you above the charges he/she has agreed upon with the insurance company. Visit www.myuhcdental.com/goldenrule to view additional plan details
and a list of network dentists for the UnitedHealthOne plan.

IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THERE ARE WAITING PERIODS BEFORE BASIC AND MAJOR SERVICES ARE COVERED.  In the plans described above, there is no waiting period for preventive cleanings, exams and X-rays, but there are waiting periods for Basic (six months) and Major (twelve months) services.

LOOKING FOR A GOOD DENTIST?  My dentist is great and is in UnitedHealthOne and all the Anthem of Missouri networks.  Joe Grimaud, Watson Pointe Dental, 8537 Watson Road , St. Louis , MO 63119 .  (314) 963-2000.

Also, my wife’s dentist is great and is in UnitedHealthOne and Anthem of Missouri’s Dental Blue 200 network.  Herb Silva, Chesterfield Dental Associates, 16100 Chesterfield Parkway W., Ste 320 , Chesterfield , MO 63017   (636) 532-3208

O.K., I say they’re “great,” but what do I know?.  So you use them at your own peril.

Or, follow this link to find a dentist closer to you or see if your dentist is in the United Health Care network.  www.myuhcdental.com/goldenrule

You can also Nominate a Dentist to join the UnitedHealthOne network.