Maximizing Your Dental Coverage: How to Combine a Dental Savings Plan with Insurance

Jessica Levco

March 10, 2025

U.S. dental care costs have been steadily increasing, posing significant challenges for many patients.

In 2021, the American Dental Association (ADA), reported that national dental expenditures reached $162 billion, an 11% rise from 2020. Many factors contribute to this increase, including: higher prices for supplies, increased laboratory fees and rising labor costs.

This increase has led to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients, especially those without adequate dental insurance coverage. Money reports that 92% of Americans might delay dental care due to financial concerns, highlighting the affordability crisis in dental services.

CareQuest says that lower-income families bear a disproportionate burden, spending 7.4 times more out-of-pocket on dental care compared to their higher-income counterparts. One way people can offset these financial challenges is by adding dental discount plans like Altogether Dental to their voluntary benefits.

Can You Use a Dental Savings Plan and Insurance Together?

The dental savings plan has emerged as a solution to offset costs. Unlike traditional insurance, these plans operate on an annual-fee basis and offer discounts on a range of dental procedures, including teeth whitening. Plus, you can have both an Altogether Dental membership plan and your insurance.

Are you wondering “what’s the difference dental savings plan vs dental insurance plans?” Let's take a quick look at Altogether Dental’s explanation.

Dental Insurance:

Requires a monthly or annual premium, with costs varying by plan.
Covers preventive care (such as cleanings and X-rays) and some basic procedures.
Has an annual coverage limit, meaning once the maximum is reached, patients must pay out-of-pocket.
Uses a network of dentists, with better coverage for in-network providers.
Often includes waiting periods before major treatments are covered.

Dental Savings Plans:

Involve a one-time annual or monthly membership fee instead of premiums.
Offer discounts on all procedures without a coverage limit.
Typically allow patients to visit any in-network dentist
No waiting periods, so discounts apply immediately.

Dental insurance helps cover costs but comes with limits and waiting periods, while a dental savings plan offers immediate discounts with more flexibility.

When Does Combining a Dental Savings Plan with Insurance Make Sense?

Dental discount plans can help save you money, especially when you combine your discount plan with your dental insurance.

Are you worried about how to pay for a dental procedure? As an Altogether Dental member, here are a few benefits you’ll enjoy:

Lower costs: With Altogether Dental, you’ll enjoy discounts of 15-50% on all dental procedures — everything from cleanings, fillings, orthodontia, dentures and more.
No waiting periods: Discounts are made available immediately upon enrollment.
No annual maximums: There are no annual limits on the amount of discounts you can receive.
Flexibility: Our partnership with Aetna gives you access to 260,000+ choices of in-network general and specialty care dentists.

Things to Keep in Mind When Combining a Dental Savings Plan with Insurance

Before you select your dental savings plan, make sure you verify that your dentist participates in the plan. If you need to find a dentist, your Altogether Dental concierge can help you or you can search by ZIP code.

How to Choose the Right Dental Savings Plan to Pair with Insurance

Combining a dental savings plan with dental insurance can be an effective strategy to manage your dental care expenses. We suggest you consider these things:

Participation: Verify that your dentist participates in the savings plan.
Separate usage for procedures: Insurance and savings plans typically cannot be applied to the same procedure simultaneously.
Annual maximums: Once you reach your dental insurance cap, your savings plan can help reduce out-of-pocket costs for additional treatments.

By understanding these factors and coordinating the use of both plans, you can maximize your dental care savings and access a broader range of services.