Question: I know I will need some major dental care services. The dentist I want to go to takes only Delta Dental PPO plans. Delta Dental PPO plans have a 12-month waiting period for major services. Is there a way not to have the waiting periods?  

Answer: Delta Dental, like most PPO insurance plans, does come with plan waiting periods. Six months for basic services and twelve months for major services are standard *waiting periods, though some plans may have shorter or even longer waiting periods. In California, we provide two Delta Dental insurance plans that let you choose your dentists. They have a 2000/3000 *maximum limitation with no waiting periods, but they tend to be Delta Dental’s more costly option. 

• Waiting Periods: A waiting period is specified before certain dental insurance plan benefits become available to the policyholder. For instance, a dental plan may have a twelve-month waiting period for major procedures, such as crowns or root canals. Waiting Period means that the policyholder must wait twelve months from the date of enrollment before being able to receive coverage for these procedures. Waiting periods help to prevent people from enrolling in a plan only when they need expensive procedures and then canceling their coverage once the procedures are complete. It’s vital to consider waiting periods when choosing a dental plan, as they can affect when you receive certain benefits.
• Maximum Limitation: A maximum limitation is the maximum amount a dental plan will pay for covered dental services within a specific period, usually one year. For instance, if a dental plan has a $1,000 maximum limitation per year, once you have received $1,000 worth of covered dental services within that year, you will be responsible for paying for any additional services out of pocket. The maximum limitation is typically per person per year. It’s essential to consider the maximum limitation when choosing a dental plan, as it can affect the cost of care you receive.