Most people have real trouble shopping for individual dental insurance, because they're not totally sure what they should be looking for. They tend to look at premium costs - and nothing else. While costs are important, they're not the only thing that makes up a good dental insurance policy.
If you need individual dental insurance, you should be looking for these 3 things:
1. Conveniences that are individual to your particular state
Depending on where you live, you may need a slightly different individual dental insurance policy.
For example, because so many people live in the Golden State, dental insurance in California has to be setup a little differently. In order to compensate for the huge amount of population, you'll need a dental plan that comes with a long list of approved providers. That way, it won't be difficult to get an appointment. Plus, dental insurance in California needs to be even more affordable than most states - simply because the cost of living is so high there. A good insurance company will understand these nuances, so that you get the very best coverage.
2. Ways to save money
A good individual dental insurance company will go out of its way to offer you chances to save money. One of the most common is bundling dental plans with vision plans. Both are relatively inexpensive on their own, but when you buy them together, a good insurance company will give you a discount.
Why is this so common?
Both dental and vision plans have been largely excluded from traditional health insurance plans. Yet, you still need the coverage - so there's a huge demand for both.
3. Options to add coverage later
Right now, it might just be you shopping for an individual dental insurance policy. But, if you get married or have kids, you'll need to expand your coverage. A good insurance company will make it easy for you to add family members, without starting over from scratch.
You also shouldn't have to jump through hoops to add more coverage for yourself. For example, if your dentist thinks you might need braces sometime in the next year - and your individual dental insurance policy doesn't cover orthodontic services - your company should make it easy for you to add them on. Just be advised that getting extra coverage usually means paying a little more in premiums. Plus, there's usually a "waiting period" you have to meet before you can take advantage of new coverage - like having the orthodontic coverage in place a month or two before you get your braces.