Does Dental Insurance Cover Teeth Whitening?
Contents
- Introduction
- Types of teeth whitening treatments from the dentist and over-the-counter
- A list of dental plans with teeth whitening coverage
Introduction to Teeth Whitening
There are a variety of ways to lighten the color of your teeth, ranging from over-the-counter toothpastes and whitening kits to professional whitening performed in a dentist’s office. All forms of teeth whitening are a form of cosmetic dental care. Cosmetic dentistry is often omitted from insurance coverage but there are dental plans that include teeth whitening as a benefit.
Types of Teeth Whitening Treatments
If a dental plan includes a teeth whitening benefit, the whitening covered is the type delivered by a dentist (you can always confirm this in a dental plan's Summary of Benefits brochure). There are other ways to whiten your teeth that are likely excluded from this coverage such as:
- Over-the-counter whitening toothpastes (“over-the-counter” means the product can be purchased without a prescription in a retail store like a grocery or pharmacy)
- Over-the-counter teeth whitening kits
- Laser teeth whitening provided outside a dental office
- Whitening services provided by an out-of-network dentist
For a more extensive discussion of whitening options, see our article “What's The Best Way to Whiten My Teeth?”
Which Dental Plans Cover Teeth Whitening
We’ve assembled a list of dental plans in each state that include some level of cover for teeth whitening. This is not a comprehensive list but a quick way to find a couple options available in your area. Please note dental plans cover teeth whitening at differing levels and cost-sharing. Out0-of-pocket estimates assume in-network providers and a satisfied deductible. Be certain to review the Plan Details for a given product to gain more information on the teeth whitening benefit conditions summarized below.
State | Insurance Company | Plan | ||
Alabama | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Alaska | Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Arizona | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Arkansas | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
|||
No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
California | MetLife | TakeAlong Dental HMO-Managed Care 350 (Low) | ||
No waiting period. $125 copayment for external bleaching, per arch. | ||||
California Dental Network | Plan 595 | |||
No waiting period. $250 copayment per arch for external bleaching, performed in office. $125 copayment per arch for external bleaching, for home application. | ||||
Colorado | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Classic | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Humana | Bright Plus | |||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Connecticut | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Gold | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Silver | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Delaware | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Humana | Bright Plus | |||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Florida | Guardian | Managed DentalGuard | ||
No waiting period. $165 copayment for external bleaching – per arch. | ||||
MetLife | TakeAlong Dental HMO-Managed Care 245 (High) | |||
No waiting period. $125 copayment for external bleaching, per arch. | ||||
Georgia | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Incentive | ||
No waiting period. 30% of costs covered in 1st year of enrollment, 40% in the 2nd, 50% in the 3rd and after. One per tooth per 12 months up tp $250 benefit lifetime maximum. | ||||
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Gold | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Hawaii | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
|||
No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Idaho | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Illinois | Guardian | Managed DentalGuard | ||
No waiting period. $165 copayment for external bleaching – per arch. | ||||
Humana | Bright Plus | |||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Indiana | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Platinum | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Gold | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Iowa | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Kansas | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Kentucky | Delta Dental of Kentucky | Happy Smiles | ||
No waiting period. 10% of costs covered in 1st year of enrollment, 30% in the 2nd, 50% in the 3rd and after. External bleaching procedures are covered once per 12 month period per arch; internal bleaching procedures are covered once per tooth per 12 month period | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Louisiana | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Maine | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Incentive | ||
No waiting period. 30% of costs covered in 1st year of enrollment, 40% in the 2nd, 50% in the 3rd and after. One per tooth per 12 months up tp $250 benefit lifetime maximum. | ||||
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Platinum | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Maryland | Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
||
No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Massachusetts | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Humana | Bright Plus | |||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Michigan | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Humana | Bright Plus | |||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Minnesota | Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
||
No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Humana | Bright Plus | |||
$100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Mississippi | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Missouri | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Montana | ||||
We didn't find any Montana dental plans in our inventory that had teeth whitening coverage | ||||
Nebraska | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Nevada | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Gold | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Platinum | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
New Hampshire | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Silver | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Humana | Bright Plus | |||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
New Jersey | Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
||
No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
New Mexico | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
New York | Empire Blue | Essential Choice Gold | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Guardian | Managed DentalGuard | |||
No waiting period. $165 copayment for external bleaching – per arch. | ||||
North Carolina | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Humana | Bright Plus | |||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
North Dakota | Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
||
No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Ohio | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Silver | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Gold | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Oklahoma | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Oregon | Dental Health Services | Super SmartSmile | ||
No waiting period. $100 copayment for external bleaching (per tooth). | ||||
Dental Health Services | SmartSmile | |||
No waiting period. $100 copayment for external bleaching (per tooth). | ||||
Pennsylvania | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
$100 copayment for internal bleaching (per tooth). $200 copayment for external bleaching – per arch. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Rhode Island | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
South Carolina | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
South Dakota | Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Tennessee | Delta Dental of Tennessee | Brighter Advantage | ||
No waiting period. 25% of costs covered in 1st year of enrollment, 50% in the 2nd and after. External bleaching procedures are covered once per 12 month period per arch; internal bleaching procedures are covered once per tooth per 12 month period. | ||||
Delta Dental of Tennessee | Essential Advantage | |||
No waiting period. 10% of costs covered in 1st year of enrollment, 25% in the 2nd and after. External bleaching procedures are covered once per 12 month period per arch; internal bleaching procedures are covered once per tooth per 12 month period. | ||||
Texas | MetLife | TakeAlong Dental HMO-Managed Care 245 (High) | ||
No waiting period. $125 copayment for external bleaching, per arch. | ||||
MetLife | TakeAlong Dental HMO-Managed Care 350 (Low) | |||
No waiting period. $125 copayment for external bleaching, per arch. | ||||
Utah | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Guardian | Advantage Diamond | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Vermont | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Virginia | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Gold | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Platinum | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Washington State | ||||
We didn't find any Washington State dental plans in our inventory that had no waiting period | ||||
Washington D.C. | Humana | Bright Plus | ||
No waiting period. $100 teeth whitening allowance available once per calendar year. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
West Virginia | Guardian | Advantage Diamond | ||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered up to $500 benefit year maximum. | ||||
Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
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No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Wisconsin | Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Incentive | ||
No waiting period. 30% of costs covered in 1st year of enrollment, 40% in the 2nd, 50% in the 3rd and after. One per tooth per 12 months up tp $250 benefit lifetime maximum. | ||||
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield | Essential Choice Silver | |||
6-month waiting period before coverage is available. 50% of costs covered. | ||||
Wyoming | Careington | 500 Series Dental Savings (Discount Program, Not Insurance) |
||
No waiting period. 20% discount off standard rate. | ||||
Note: Plans may not be available in all areas within a state. |
Teeth Whitening Near Me
You can discover if your area has more plans covering teeth whitening with a little more effort. First, enter your zip code on the dental insurance quote page and see what local plans are available. Second, for a plan that interests you, confirm it covers teeth whitening by reviewing its coverage on the Plan Details page. The Plan Details button is on the right-hand side of the page, below the monthly premium and above the Apply Now button.
After you click the Plan Details button, move down the Plan Details page. You will find the label “Teeth Whitening” and information regarding whether the plan covers that dental service.