Choosing the right dental insurance plan matters for managing out-of-pocket costs.
But not all providers offer the same value.
During the past 15+ years of helping Florida residents compare dental insurance plans, I've found there isn't one company that's best for everyone.
The right plan depends on whether you mostly need cleanings, whether you're already expecting a crown or root canal, whether you want a fixed copay or percentage-based coverage, and how much you're willing to pay each month for a bigger annual maximum.
My goal here is to help you understand the tradeoffs clearly enough to pick the plan that fits your situation.
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Who This Guide Is For
Florida residents shopping for their own individual or family dental plan
Seniors on Medicare, since Original Medicare doesn't include routine dental coverage
Self-employed individuals without access to a group dental plan
It's not intended for employer-sponsored group dental plans, Medicaid dental coverage, or standalone pediatric-only plans, which follow different rules than the individual plans covered here.
In the sections ahead, we'll break down:
How to evaluate dental insurance companies in Florida
Florida Blue, Ameritas, Delta Dental, and Humana's plans and pricing
Pros and cons of each company
A decision guide based on your specific situation
Common mistakes Florida buyers make when choosing dental coverage
Quick Answer
For many people who mainly need cleanings and exams and want the lowest possible cost, Florida Blue's BlueDental Care or Humana's Preventive Value Plan tend to be the cheapest starting points.
If you're already anticipating a crown, root canal, or other major work and don't want to wait months for coverage, Humana Complete or Ameritas PrimeStar Boost often fit better.
If you want flexibility to see almost any dentist in the state, Florida Blue's PPO plans or Delta Dental's PPO plans tend to have the widest reach.
Florida Dental Insurance Quick Comparison
Company
Good Fit For
Not Ideal If
Annual Max Range
Waiting Periods
Florida Blue
Families, rollover savers, chronic-condition support
Whether you live in Pensacola, Orlando, Tampa, or Miami, you'll likely have access to multiple dentists that participate in PPO dental networks.
Because Florida has such a large and competitive dental market, choosing a plan isn't usually about finding a dentist – it's about finding a plan that balances monthly premiums, waiting periods, annual maximums, and provider network flexibility.
Average Dental Costs in Florida
Costs vary depending on where you live and your dentist.
Here's what many Floridians can expect to pay without insurance for common procedures:
Dental Service
Typical Cost
Routine Cleaning
$100–$180
Dental Exam
$60–$120
Tooth-Colored Filling
$175–$350
Root Canal
$900–$1,500
Dental Crown
$1,100–$1,800
Single Dental Implant
$3,000–$6,000
A single crown or root canal can cost more than several years' worth of dental insurance premiums.
That's why I encourage clients to look beyond the monthly premium and pay close attention to waiting periods, annual maximums, and major-service coverage when comparing plans.
Find Your Plan
Answer three quick questions and we'll narrow the 13 plans in this guide down to the ones that actually fit your situation.
Just cleanings & exams
Basic work (fillings)
Major work (crowns, root canals)
No, I need coverage right away
I can wait a few months
Lowest possible price
Highest annual maximum
Your matches
Make a selection above for each question to see your matches.
How We Reviewed These Plans
We don't just look at the monthly premium.
A cheap plan that leaves you underinsured for a crown can end up costing more than a slightly pricier plan that actually covers it.
Preventive care — the cleanings and exams every plan here covers at or near 100% — is worth prioritizing on its own.
The American Dental Association recommends regular checkups specifically because catching issues early keeps them from becoming the major, expensive procedures this guide spends so much time on.
Every plan in this guide was evaluated against the same criteria:
Premiums and annual maximums – the monthly cost and whether the yearly cap grows over time
Waiting periods – how long before basic and major care are covered
Provider network – size, and whether your current dentist is likely in it
Deductibles – how they apply per person or per family
Coverage definitions – what "preventive," "basic," and "major" actually include, since this varies by carrier
Orthodontic and implant coverage – often excluded or capped
Long-term value – versus a lower premium in year one
To do this, we reviewed each company's plan documents, benefit summaries, and current Florida pricing.
We also weighed the questions clients ask us most often when choosing dental coverage.
Common Mistakes Florida Buyers Make
1
Buying the cheapest premiumWithout checking what it actually covers beyond cleanings.
2
Ignoring waiting periodsThen being surprised a crown or root canal isn't covered yet.
3
Not checking whether their current dentist participatesIn the plan's network before enrolling.
4
Only comparing premiumsInstead of comparing premiums against annual maximums together.
5
Ignoring annual maximumsEntirely, until they've already had a procedure that exceeds one.
Composite example, illustrative and not a specific client:
A common version of the first mistake above looks like this. Someone chooses the cheapest available plan because the premium is only a few dollars less per month.
A root canal and crown come up six months later, and the plan's waiting period on major services hasn't expired yet.
They end up paying for both procedures largely out of pocket — more than they would have spent on a slightly higher premium with no waiting period.
If you only remember one thing: the plan with the lowest premium and the plan that actually covers the work you need are often not the same plan.
Match the plan to what you expect to need in the next 12 months, not just what it costs today.
Our Evaluation
Rather than an unexplained star rating, here's a numeric score out of 5 for each category, with the specific reason behind each score.
Florida Blue
Preventive Care5/5
Covered at 100% across all three plan designs, no wait.
Major Work4/5
50% coverage on the PPO, capped at a $1,000 base annual maximum with a waiting period.
Waiting Periods3/5
6-month wait on major/ortho, waivable with 12 months of prior coverage.
Budget4/5
Prepaid plan starts around $10–25/month, though PPO tiers run higher.
Network5/5
Broad statewide PPO access, useful for people who move around Florida.
Ameritas
Preventive Care5/5
Covered at 100% from day one.
Major Work5/5
No waiting period, and the annual maximum rises to as much as $3,000 after year one.
Waiting Periods5/5
None on any PrimeStar plan.
Budget3/5
Premiums start at $25.83/month, higher than the cheapest preventive-only competitors.
Network4/5
One of the largest national networks, though not Florida-specific.
Delta Dental
Preventive Care5/5
Covered at 100% across all three plan tiers.
Major Work3/5
The Basic PPO excludes major services entirely, and DeltaCare USA excludes implants.
Waiting Periods2/5
6–12 month waits apply to most non-preventive care.
Budget4/5
DeltaCare USA starts around $8.92/month, among the lowest reviewed here.
Network5/5
The largest dentist network of the four companies compared.
Humana
Preventive Care5/5
Covered at 100% across all four plans, no wait.
Major Work5/5
Humana Complete covers major services with zero waiting period.
Waiting Periods4/5
None on Complete, though Bright Plus and Loyalty Plus still carry waits.
Budget5/5
The Preventive Value Plan starts at just $18/month.
Network4/5
Over 335,000 dentists nationally.
No company scores a 5 across every category.
That's why the company-by-company breakdowns below matter more than this evaluation alone.
Florida Blue offers three different plan structures, which is part of why it fits a wide range of situations: a PPO with percentage-based coverage, a copayment PPO with fixed fees, and a prepaid HMO-style plan with no annual maximum.
Pros:
Maximum Rollover lets unused benefits carry into next year, up to a $1,000 cap
Oral Health for Overall Health program adds free extra cleanings for chronic conditions like diabetes
Three plan structures fit different budgets and priorities
Cons:
Waiting periods on major services and orthodontics (waivable with prior coverage)
Smaller network on the prepaid BlueDental Care plan
Modest $1,000 base annual maximum before rollover has time to build up
Keep reading →
BlueDental Choice PPO: preventive care at 100%, basic at 80%, major at 50%, with a $1,000 annual maximum and a 6-month wait on major/ortho. Best for a wide statewide network with a modest wait.
BlueDental Copayment Plan: fixed copays instead of percentage-based coverage, on a smaller network. Best for predictable, fixed costs.
BlueDental Care (Prepaid): no annual maximum or deductible, starting around $10–$25/month plus a $35 enrollment fee. Best for budget-conscious buyers who mainly need cleanings.
Who it's best for: families and long-term policyholders who want to build up rollover savings, plus anyone managing a chronic condition like diabetes who can use the extra cleanings.
For plan details straight from the carrier, see Florida Blue's own dental plan overview.
Before enrolling, use Florida Blue's find-a-dentist tool to confirm your dentist participates in the network.
If you're comparing Florida Blue against other major carriers more broadly, see our Florida Blue review.
Ameritas structures all three PrimeStar plans the same way: lower coverage percentages in year one that increase automatically after 12 months, with no waiting period standing between you and care in the meantime.
Pros:
No waiting periods – coverage begins immediately on every PrimeStar plan
Rising annual maximum increases automatically after the first year
Large national network, one of the largest reviewed here
Cons:
Lower first-year reimbursement percentages on basic and major care
Higher premiums than the cheapest preventive-only plans, starting at $25.83/month
Full annual maximum isn't available until after year one
Keep reading →
PrimeStar Lite: preventive at 100%, basic 50%–80%, major 10%–20%, maximum grows from $750 to $1,500. Best for budget buyers who still want no waiting period.
PrimeStar Boost: adds child orthodontic coverage and a higher maximum ($1,500–$2,000). Best for families who want orthodontic coverage alongside no wait.
PrimeStar Complete: the highest tier, maximum rising to $3,000, plus hearing benefits. Best for people expecting significant dental work.
Who it's best for: people who need care soon and don't want to sit through a waiting period, especially those willing to stay enrolled long enough for the maximum to grow.
Delta Dental's biggest strength is network size and cost transparency.
The tradeoff, especially on the Basic PPO and DeltaCare USA plans, is waiting periods and, in some cases, no coverage for major work at all.
Pros:
Largest dentist network of the four companies compared here
Dental Care Cost Estimator gives upfront pricing before a procedure
Low-cost DHMO option starting around $8.92/month
Cons:
Long waiting periods – 6–12 months on most non-preventive care
No major coverage at all on the Basic PPO tier
No implant coverage on DeltaCare USA
Keep reading →
PPO Basic Plan: preventive at 100%, basic at 50% after 6 months, no major coverage. Best for people who mainly need cleanings and fillings.
PPO Premium Plan: basic at 80%, major at 50% after 12 months, plus orthodontics after a 12-month wait. Best for a wide network with orthodontic benefits.
DeltaCare USA (DHMO): no annual maximum or deductible, fixed copays, but no implant coverage. Best for budget buyers who don't need implants.
Who it's best for: people who want the broadest choice of dentists and clear pricing upfront, and who can wait out the waiting periods for anything beyond cleanings.
For plan details straight from the carrier, see Delta Dental's own Florida plan overview.
Before enrolling, use Delta Dental's Florida find-a-dentist tool to confirm your dentist participates in the network.
Networks and participating dentists do change over time, so confirm your specific dentist is still in-network directly with the carrier before enrolling.
Humana's four plans span two very different use cases: the cheapest possible preventive-only coverage, and the fastest path to full coverage if you need work done right away.
Pros:
Zero waiting period on Complete – one of the few plans here with no wait on major work
Large network of over 335,000 dentists nationally
Lowest preventive-only premium at just $18/month
Cons:
Loyalty Plus grows slowly – three years to reach its full annual maximum
No major coverage at all on the two cheapest tiers
Complete costs the most of Humana's four tiers
Keep reading →
Preventive Value Plan: preventive at 100%, no annual maximum, but no basic or major coverage. Best for people who only want cleanings covered.
Bright Plus Plan: adds basic care after a 3-month wait, still no major coverage. Best for fillings but not major work.
Loyalty Plus Plan: maximum grows from $1,000 to $1,500 over three years, major covered after 12 months. Best for people planning to stay enrolled long-term.
Complete Dental Plan: no deductible or waiting period on any tier, maximum $1,250–$1,500. Best for people who need major work soon.
Who it's best for: people at either extreme – strictly preventive care on the cheapest budget, or immediate major work with no wait.
For plan details straight from the carrier, see Humana's own PPO plan overview.
Before enrolling, use Humana's find-a-dentist tool to confirm your dentist participates in the network.
Bottom Line
If you're healthy, go to the dentist twice a year, and want the lowest possible cost: Florida Blue's BlueDental Care or Humana's Preventive Value Plan are worth starting with.
If you already know you need a crown, root canal, or other major work soon: Humana Complete is often a strong fit for zero waiting periods, or Ameritas PrimeStar Boost if you also want orthodontic coverage for a child.
If you're not sure what you'll need and want to hedge with a plan that rewards staying enrolled: Florida Blue's PPO for the rollover feature, or Ameritas for the automatically increasing maximum, are both worth a look.
Whichever you choose, read the waiting-period and major-care sections before enrolling — that's where plans actually differ from one another, more than the premium does.
Our Editorial Process
Our recommendations in this guide are based on:
Reviewing official Summary of Benefits documents for each plan
Comparing premiums currently available in Florida
Comparing waiting periods across companies and plan tiers
Comparing annual maximums and how they change over time
Reviewing provider networks
First-hand experience helping Florida residents compare dental insurance for more than 15 years
When companies update benefits or pricing, we review this page and revise our recommendations as appropriate.
No company can pay to improve its placement within this guide.
FAQs
What's the cheapest dental insurance in Florida?
Florida Blue's BlueDental Care and Humana's Preventive Value Plan are typically the lowest-cost options, starting around $10–$18/month. Both limit or exclude coverage for major services.
Which Florida dental plan has no waiting period?
Ameritas' PrimeStar plans and Humana's Complete Dental Plan don't require a waiting period before covering basic and major services.
Does dental insurance cover implants in Florida?
Coverage varies by plan. Delta Dental's DeltaCare USA plan, for example, excludes implants entirely. Several PPO plans from Florida Blue, Ameritas, and Humana cover them under major services once waiting periods are met.
Do I need dental insurance if I have Medicare?
Original Medicare doesn't cover most routine dental care, which Medicare.gov confirms directly. A standalone dental plan is worth considering.
Is an HMO or PPO dental plan better?
Neither is universally better. HMO-style (prepaid) plans tend to cost less and skip deductibles and annual maximums, but restrict you to a smaller network. PPO plans cost more but offer broader provider access and, in some cases, out-of-network coverage.
With almost 20 years of experience, Matt Kiggins is a senior editor at Florida Insurance Guide. He provides detailed advice on Florida Medicare, life insurance, and dental coverage across forty-five states. As a reputable authority in the industry, Matt specializes in health plan selection. He holds a resident 2–15 Florida Health & Life Agent License(# P116762) and is a co-founder of Policy Guide, an insurance agency in Pensacola, FL.
