Ameritas Dental Insurance

Ameritas Dental - Company Background

Ameritas’ roots trace back to the 19th century. The company began as the The Old Line Bankers Life Insurance Company of Nebraska in 1887. Ameritas has offered dental insurance since 1959 and vision insurance since 1984. Ameritas is organized as a mutual-based organization and enjoys an “A+” rating from Standard & Poors (indicating strong insurer financial strength) and an “A” rating from AM Best (indicating excellent insurer financial strength). Across all lines of business, the company served 6 million customers in 2023 according to the Ameritas Mutual Holding Company Annual Report.

As one of the top providers of affordable dental and vision services, Ameritas has one of the most extensive dental networks in the United States with more than 673,000 access points. Customers can discuss claims questions with Ameritas' representatives from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. (midnight) Central Time Monday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Fridays. Ameritas' claims contact center associates have earned Benchmark Portal's Center of Excellence award since 2006, an achievement held only by a handful of companies. Benchmark Portal calls attention to efficiency as well as effectiveness in customer communications, and manages the largest contact center metrics database in the world.

Many of Ameritas' dental plans provide next-day coverage within the limits of their covered services. These plans also lack enrollment fees, leaving customers to pay just their normal monthly premiums and out-of-pocket fees for dental care. Preventive care, such as routine periodic exams and teeth cleanings, are covered at 100% when received from in-network providers.

Dental Plan Options from Ameritas

DentalInsurance.com carries seven dental plan options from Ameritas and two of their vision plans.

Dental Plans

• Dallas Smile Plan
• Hollywood Mega Smile 1500
• Hollywood Mega Smile 2000
• Hollywood Smile Premier 1500
• Hollywood Smile Premier 2500
• Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 1500
• Hollywood Smile Premier Plus 2000

Vision Plans

• Clear View Vision
• Clear View Vision Plus

Ameritas Customer Service Highlights

As detailed above, Ameritas has a stellar claims contact center. Their customer service motto is to do whatever it takes to help their customers get the care they need. Among the notable statistics associated with their contact center are:

• 87% of customer phone calls answered within 30 seconds
• The phone call abandon rate is only 1.01%
• 97% of customer dental claims are processed in 9 business days on average
• Dollar accuracy of processed claims 99.16%
• The contact center has, over the years, answered 1,383,422 calls  and processed 3,733,670 claims
• 97% of calls have their issue resolved by the first call

Additional Facts about Ameritas Dental Insurance

• Established in 1887, Ameritas Life offers more than 130 years of insurance industry expertise

Other Issues to Consider

For consumers with Original Medicare, dental coverage can be easily added with an Ameritas plan.

Ameritas has coverage for a broad array of dental services and some of their dental plans include orthodontia benefits for children.

Ameritas vision plans include savings on exams and eyewear when received from in-network providers.

Comparison of Ameritas Dental Plans

The service charges displayed in the table assume the satisfaction of the annual deductible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Ameritas dental insurance cost?

The cost of Ameritas dental insurance is determined by several factors: 1) the plan you select, 2) the region in which you live, and 3) the people covered by the plan. Amertias plans diff in dental service coverage and annual limits on care so each plan has its own unique monthly cost. The region in which you love affects these monthly costs because some areas have higher costs of living and more expensive dentists. Finally, the people covered by the plan also affect the price. A plan covering one individual costs less than a plan covering several family members. Other factors such as age may also affect price. In a region such as Los Angeles, Ameritas plans may cost around $30 to $50 a month for a 30 year-old.

What does dental insurance cover?

Some dental plans provide next-day coverage within the boundaries of dental services they cover. Many plans also lack enrollment fees, leaving customers to pay just their normal monthly premiums and out-of-pocket fees for dental care. In some cases, preventive care, such as routine (i.e. yearly or twice a year) exams and teeth cleanings, are covered at 100% of negotiated cost when received from an in-network dentist. In addition to these benefits, dental insurance often covers fillings, crowns, root canals, bridges, oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics, and dentures. It is important to review the benefits of your plan carefully before enrolling to understand the comprehensiveness of your coverage.

How can individuals be certain they have a complete understanding of their Ameritas dental insurance coverage?

A consumer may call the toll-free number at the top of the page and a customer service representative can answer any questions. Additionally, a consumer can review the “See Full Plan Information” button underneath the More Details section for each plan listed on the price quote page. This page also has a link to the plan brochure for the dental insurance product.

What details should individuals pay attention to in their plan documentation to understand coverage, limitations, and restrictions?

Aside from monthly premium and covered dental services, a consumer should carefully review a plan’s maximum benefit and its out-of-pocket costs for covered services. The maximum benefit is the limit on what an insurance company will pay for covered dental care each year. Most plans have a maximum benefit (with the exception of HMO dental plans and dental savings plan).

The second issue, out-of-pocket costs for covered services refers to the consumer’s cost for care in terms of deductibles, copays, or coinsurance charges. Some dental plans have high out-of-pocket costs at the beginning of enrollment and lower them in the second and third year of continuous plan membership.

Are there any limitations to the coverage provided by Ameritas dental insurance?

Insurance policies specify the conditions under which expenses are paid. Reviewing a plan brochure or Full Plan Information page (see early question) can help educate you on the major conditions of a dental plan. Among the conditions a consumer should watch for are waiting periods, which is a delay between the data an insurance policy becomes active for use and the date on which an larger cost dental procedure is covered (not all dental plans have dental insurance waiting periods).

Does It Matter If I Use an Out-of-Network Dentist?

A dentist’s network participation can have significant financial implications depending on the type of dental coverage you have. Some plans, such as HMOs and dental discount programs, have very restrictive networks and don’t offer their benefits through out-of-network dentists. PPO dental plans and indemnity plans, on the contrary, do allow plan members to use out-of-network dental professionals. However, the out-of-network care may come with more expensive copayments or coinsurance fees.

For more information, see our article on out-of-network dentists.

Is Dental Insurance Worth It?

When asking if dental insurance is worth the price, several factors play into the answer. First, uninsured dental procedures can be expensive, some costing thousands of dollars. Even minor preventive care can add up to meaningful amounts without the aid insurance. In contrast, many insurances eliminate out-of-pocket costs for preventive care such as annual teeth exams, cleanings, and x-rays. More extensive dental work like root canals, crowns, and implants can cost in the thousands depending on the number of teeth affected. Insurance plans negotiate lower base rates for these procedures with their in-network dentists and many have coverage that cover 50 percent of the expense up to an annual limit.

If dental insurance premiums seem too costly because you have very good oral health and rarely need dental care, consider alternatives like dental discount programs. These plans offer price reductions on a wide range of dental services for an annual fee.

How Does Dental Insurance Work?

Dental insurance begins with the enrollment process. A consumer selects a dental plan and completes an online enrollment form. The enrollment form will also ask for payment information like a credit card. After the application form is submitted, the applicant will be notified of when the insurance policy will become effective. This effective date is the first day when the enrollee may use the benefits of the plan such as its negotiated rates and cost-sharing for dental procedures. Some plans may have a waiting period restriction on more expensive dental care. A waiting period is a requirement for the enrollee to be covered by the plan for a minimum period of time (e.g. six months) before the plan will cover a more expensive procedure.

The enrollee will pay a monthly fee for insurance, which is known as a premium. The plan may also have a deductible amount (e.g. $50) that the enrollee will pay for covered care before the insurance plan starts contributing to costs. Finally, there are out-of-pocket costs for covered care. An example of out-of-pocket costs is a copayment, which is a portion of dental care cost paid out-of-pocket by the enrollee alongside what the insurance plan pays the dentist.

Coverage of the dental plan is traditionally broken down into three categories: preventive care, minor care, and major care. Preventive care pertains to annual cleanings, exams, and x-rays. Minor care covers treatments like fillings and simple tooth extractions. Major care covers care like root canals, crowns, and root canals.

The dentists used by an enrollee can be in-network or out-of-network. An in-network dentist has contractually agreed to accept the dental plan’s reimbursement rates. In-network dentists typically have the lowest out-of-pocket costs for the enrollee. An out-of-network dentist does not have an agreement with the dental plan. In some cases, this will mean higher out-of-pocket costs or no coverage from the insurance plan.

How Can You Compare the Costs and Benefits of Dental Plans?

Go to our home page and click the See Plans button. A screen will appear to gather a few pieces of information so the website can display insurance plans and rates local to your area. When you finish, the website will display all the plans it has available in your region along with their monthly premiums. For every plan, you will see the insurance company name, plan name, plan type (e.g. PPO, HMO, etc.), monthly premium, and annual limit on benefits if the plan has a limit. By clicking on a plan’s More Detail button, you can review the coverage level for common dental procedures. The See Full Plan Information will provide even more detail.

Can the Self-Employed Buy Dental Insurance?

Yes. However, as a single worker with no employees, the self-employed must by individual or family dental insurance (the type of options available on this site). Self-employed individuals are not eligible for the type of group dental insurance used by employers with many workers.

What Are the Benefits of Using an Online Marketplace (or Exchange) Like This One to Shop for Insurance?

The biggest advantage for a consumer is the ability to compare prices and benefits among plans in order to find the best value. A multi-insurance website highlights the strengths of a particular plan against its competitors.