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Guardian Dental Insurance Provider Review [2024]

Curious about Guardian dental insurance? Learn about Guardian’s benefits, coverage options, and affordable alternatives.

Last updated on

September 9, 2024

Katharine Hall

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Guardian Dental Insurance Provider Review [2024]

Thinking about enrolling in a dental insurance plan with Guardian? Choosing a plan that works for your budget and dental care needs can be difficult, especially with so many different premiums and levels of coverage to compare. And if you’re anticipating more expensive care like wisdom tooth removal, the process can seem overwhelming.

We can help make the process easier. Our Guardian dental insurance provider review will help you learn all about Guardian dental insurance, including a breakdown of their plan options and some of the pros and cons of choosing a plan with them. We’ll also provide alternatives to Guardian dental plans so you can choose the most affordable dental care for you.

What is Guardian Dental Insurance?

Guardian dental insurance is part of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, which is based in Manhattan and has more than 70 agencies nationwide. Guardian offers four levels of dental insurance plans to help policyholders access the services and care they need.

Like most insurance companies, Guardian’s dental plans do not provide 100% coverage for all services. If you need help accessing more expensive procedures like implants or braces, try a free-to-use dental discount service like Flossy

Flossy is a dental discount service that only charges you for the services you receive and offers savings of up to half the normal price of common dental treatments. On top of amazing savings, there are no waiting periods for services - no need for approval to access the care you need!

All you need to do is join Flossy and search for an in-network provider through Flossy’s network of rigorously vetted dental providers. Make an appointment within the app and access affordable, top-notch care ASAP.

Guardian Dental Insurance Review 

If you’re looking to combine a dental discount plan like Flossy with dental insurance, it’s important to learn about your options before committing. Guardian is one such option for dental insurance coverage. We’ll review some of the pros and cons of Guardian’s dental insurance plans.

Pros

The benefits of choosing a dental plan from Guardian include:

  • No waiting periods for preventative care: All plans require no waiting period for preventative care, and all except the Starter plan require no waiting period for basic care like fillings and simple extractions. (May vary by state)
  • Other types of insurance available: Policyholders can also access life, disability, vision, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance plans.
  • Major service coverage options: Higher-premium plans offer up to 50% coverage for major care, implants and dentures, and orthodontia.
  • Teeth whitening coverage options: The Diamond plan offers 50% coverage on teeth whitening services.
  • Fast approval process: Guardian advertises approval within minutes of application.

Cons

Some of the limitations of Guardian dental plans include:

  • Delayed coverage: Coverage begins on the first day of the following month after enrollment if policyholders pay by credit card or Automated Clearing House (ACH).
  • Lower maximum payouts: The highest-premium plan, Diamond, offers an annual maximum payout of only $1,500, while the Starter plan only pays out a maximum of $500 in the first year and $1,000 by the third year.
  • No major care coverage for Starter policyholders: The lowest-premium plan does not cover any major care services, including crowns, complex extractions, oral surgery, implants, dentures, and orthodontia.
  • Long waiting periods for major care: Major procedures like crowns, complex extractions, implants, dentures, and orthodontia require a 12-month waiting period. Teeth whitening coverage requires a 6-month waiting period.

Types of Guardian Dental Insurance Plans & Coverage

We’ll explore Guardian’s four dental insurance plans and what coverage they provide. Coverage may vary by state. Plan premiums start as low as $15/month and vary based on the coverage provided.

1. Guardian Diamond

Guardian’s Diamond plan offers the most coverage for the highest monthly premium. Policyholders can receive total or partial coverage for all types of dental services. 

Preventative care is 100% covered, while basic care like fillings is 80% covered, with no waiting periods for either. Diamond policyholders also receive 50% coverage for major care like crowns or complex extractions, implants, dentures, orthodontia, and teeth whitening.

The annual maximum payout is $1,500, but exceptions include dental implants, orthodontia, and teeth whitening, which have lifetime or yearly annual payouts of between $500 and $1,000. There is no deductible for in-network preventive care, and Guardian offers a $50 deductible for all other dental services and for out-of-network care. Teeth whitening has a separate deductible of $50.

2. Guardian Achiever

Guardian’s Achiever plan offers 100% coverage for preventative care. Basic care is 70% covered, and both basic and preventative care require no waiting period. Major care, implants, dentures, and orthodontia are all covered up to 50% with a 12-month waiting period, but teeth whitening is not covered.

Maximum payouts increase with each year policyholders stay up to their third year. Guardian will pay out $1,000 maximum for the first year, $1,250 for the second, and $1,500 for the third. Dental implants and orthodontia, however, have lifetime maximums of $1,000 (and a yearly max of $500 for orthodontia).

There is no deductible for in-network preventive care, and Guardian offers a $50 deductible for all other dental services and for out-of-network care.

3. Guardian Core

Guardian’s Core plan preventative and basic care and some major care services. Preventative and basic care services are 80% and 50% covered, respectively, with no waiting periods. Major care, implants, and dentures are 50% covered with a 12-month waiting period, but the Core plan doesn’t cover orthodontia or teeth whitening.

Maximum payouts increase with each year policyholders stay, starting at $500 in year one and reaching $1,000 by year three, but dental implants have a separate lifetime maximum of $700. There is no deductible for in-network preventive care; all other dental services and out-of-network care have a $50 deductible.

5. Guardian Starter

The Starter plan offers 100% coverage for preventative care, with no waiting period. Basic care is 50% covered with a 6-month waiting period, but major care, implants, dentures, orthodontia, and teeth whitening are not covered.

Maximum payouts increase for the first three years, starting at $500 and reaching $1,000 in year three. There is no deductible for in-network preventive care, and a $50 for all other dental services and out-of-network care.

Cost of Guardian Dental Insurance 

The cost of Guardian dental insurance - and all of your dental care under one of Guardian’s plans - depends on which plan you choose. Premiums for the four plans range from $15 to $37 per month.

Be sure to review what each plan covers and consider your dental care needs before choosing whether to enroll with Guardian.

Alternatives to Guardian Dental Insurance 

Whether you need alternatives or supplements to a dental insurance plan, you have options. Let’s review a few top alternatives for affordable dental care.

Flossy

Flossy is a free-to-use service that connects you with dental providers offering discounts on common treatments and procedures. You can use it as an alternative or complement to dental insurance to access discounts on all types of dental care, even teeth whitening! You’ll get access to Flossy’s network of trusted dental providers, and you can even make appointments directly in the Flossy app. 

Thanks to Flossy’s dedication to transparent and affordable dental care, you can access amazing discounts immediately - no waiting periods and no membership or hidden fees! You can also prepare for your appointments with Flossy’s cost estimator so that you don’t have any surprises once the bill comes.

Access affordable dental care with Flossy today!

Dental Financing 

Dental financing is another option if you have major dental procedures coming up. Many major care services are costly, but some loan providers offer personal loans to cover such costs. They’re often called dental loans or medical loans.

Make sure you do your research on loans beforehand so you know what monthly payment you can afford, and compare loans to find the best for your needs. The loan servicer will set an interest rate and monthly payment, giving you immediate access to funds for dental care while helping you pay it off at a rate that works for your budget.

Out-of-Pocket

Depending on your monthly budget and the state of your savings, paying for dental care out-of-pocket might make sense for you. You may even be able to find free- or low-cost dental care near you at dental schools or free clinics.

Flossy can help make those out-of-pocket expenses more affordable. You can access discounts on any kind of dental care at any time - no waiting involved! Their network of dentists will provide you with amazing discounts and equally amazing dental care.

In-House Payment Plans

If you need to spread out the cost of dental care over time but don’t want to get a third-party loan servicer involved, talk to your dentist. Some offices allow patients to sign up for in-house payment plans, or dental installment plans, which set a monthly amount for them to pay to the dental office directly.

Many plans offer flexible schedules and payments as well as no credit check options, making dental care more widely accessible. Patients can get the care they need without waiting, and the hope is that they’ll seek timely treatment more often to prevent more serious dental health issues.

Before committing to a payment plan, check out Flossy’s dental provider network and cost estimator for services. Their discounts might make your dental care more immediately affordable, helping you avoid having to incorporate monthly fees into your budget.

More About Guardian Dental Insurance

Still have questions about whether Guardian is right for you? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about Guardian dental insurance.

What Does a Guardian Dental Plan Cover?

The level of coverage you can get from Guardian dental insurance depends on the plan you choose. All Guardian plans offer 100% coverage for preventative care and some level of coverage for basic care. But keep in mind that the least-expensive plan, Starter, does not cover any major dental care. Higher-premium plans, however, provide 50% coverage for major care, including teeth whitening. 

Where is Guardian Insurance Accepted?

To learn if Guardian dental insurance is available in your area, use their website to search for plan pricing based on location. Guardian’s website allows you to search for in-network providers near you.

Is Guardian Dental a PPO?

A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) offers coverage within a large network of providers, some out-of-network coverage, and annual maximum payouts. Guardian dental plans are all PPO insurance plans.

What Payment Options Does Guardian Dental Offer?

Guardian dental accepts payments for premiums with credit or debit cards, Automated Clearing House (ACH) drafts, and check or money order. Credit, debit, and ACH payments can be completed online, while policyholders paying by check or money order will receive invoices in the mail.

Choose the Best Dental Coverage

Guardian dental offers several plan options for insurance, with varying premiums and levels of coverage. Depending on your budget and dental care needs, you may find a plan that helps you afford the dental services you need.

But if your insurance plan doesn’t cover enough of your dental care expenses, or if a monthly dental insurance premium doesn’t fit in your budget, you can always access affordable care with Flossy. With absolutely no membership fees and a wide network of trusted dentists, Flossy can help you get the care you need at prices that won’t break the bank. 

Care for your dental health today with Flossy!

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