Dental savings plans are also sold as dental discount plans — same membership, two search names. The quick picks below cover both.
Careington 500 Series is our default dental savings plan pick for most people because it combines a broad national network with 20–60% published savings. Humana has the lowest monthly price at $6.99 per applicant. Cigna has the lowest annual membership price among the national plans reviewed at $96. Aetna has the largest published network at 262,000+ locations, at $149/year through 1Dental. Always confirm your dentist and procedure price before enrolling.
1Dental price: $149/year for one member, all fees included, or $14.95/month plus a $30 setup fee.
Check price at 1Dental →Use these quick picks to identify the best fit for your situation. See our full comparison for methodology, detailed trade-offs, and all plan reviews. No plan pays for placement.
| Plan | From / mo | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Careington 500 SeriesBest Overall | $14.95/mo($149/yr through 1Dental with no setup fee) | One of the largest in the U.S. |
| Humana Dental SavingsBest for Seniors | $6.99/mo | 135,000+ |
| 1DentalBest for Families | $14.95/mo + $30 setup($149/yr · all fees) | Careington network — one of the largest in the U.S. |
| Aetna Dental SavingsLargest Network | $14.95/mo($149/yr) | 262,000+ |
| Cigna Dental SavingsBest Transparency | $8/mo($96/yr) | ~110,000 |
Full methodology, trade-offs, and per-plan verdicts: full dental savings plan comparison → · side-by-side table: compare all plans
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Careington is our default pick for most people because it combines a broad national network, 20–60% published savings, individual and family tiers, and no waiting periods. Membership costs $149/year for an individual through 1Dental or $199/year for a household of 3+, with no setup fee on annual billing. Careington does not publish a dentist count, so check its directory for your dentist instead of relying on an estimated network total.
Activation takes about 3 business days. There are no waiting periods, claim forms, deductibles, or annual maximum. You pay the participating dentist's member fee directly. The exact price varies by dentist and procedure, so confirm the member rate before treatment.
Read the full Careington review for its coverage, limitations, and enrollment details.
Start with Careington
Careington from $149/yr through 1Dental (or $14.95/mo plus a $30 setup fee) — broad national network, no waiting periods.
At $149/year through 1Dental with no setup fee, Aetna costs more than Cigna ($96/year) but publishes 262,000+ provider locations, the largest network reviewed here. Confirm that your dentist participates because a large national total does not guarantee local access.
For an individual comparing annual prices, Cigna is the lowest-cost national option reviewed here; Aetna is the pick when network size matters more. Read the full Aetna Dental Savings review.
Humana Dental Savings costs $6.99/month per applicant and includes discounts on dentures, implants, and major restorative work across a published network of 135,000+ dentists. It can be worth comparing for seniors who expect those procedures, provided the intended dentist participates and the member price beats the alternatives.
Read the full Humana Dental Savings review and confirm local participation before enrolling.
DentalPlans.com isn't a single plan — it's a marketplace where you enter your zip code and compare 30+ different plans available in your area. Prices range from $79–$199/year individual, $119–$299/year family. The marketplace shows fee schedules for specific procedures so you can compare apples-to-apples for whatever work you actually need.
DentalPlans.com is the best choice when (a) you want to see every option in your specific area before committing, or (b) you have specific procedure needs (implants, ortho, dentures) and want to filter for plans that cover them at the steepest discounts. Read the full DentalPlans.com review.
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For most uninsured Americans, Careington 500 Series at $149/year through 1Dental with no setup fee is the best dental savings plan. It pairs a large network with the longest track record and the most consistent discounts. Edge cases shift the answer: Humana wins on monthly price and for seniors, Aetna wins on published network size, DentalPlans.com wins for selection.
Membership price alone does not determine savings. Compare the plan fee plus any enrollment fee with the member price for your expected procedures. The lowest-cost plan that includes your dentist and meaningfully discounts the care you need is usually the strongest choice.
No single plan is "best" universally — it depends on your dentist's network participation and the specific procedures you need. For most uninsured Americans without specific needs, Careington wins on discount depth and network breadth (Aetna is cheaper on price alone). For specific cases, the answer shifts.
Same list as dental savings plans: Careington for most people, Humana for the lowest individual price, Aetna Vital Savings for the largest published network, Cigna when you want a published fee schedule. A dental discount plan is a savings plan.
They do not reimburse claims or pay benefits; members pay participating dentists at negotiated rates. Review the plan's terms and your state's required disclosures before enrolling.
Yes. Many people stack them — use insurance for major work that hits the annual cap, then use the savings plan discount on additional procedures. Coordinate with your dentist's billing office to make sure they apply correctly.
Activation timing varies. Careington and Aetna list about 3 business days, while some options can activate sooner. Confirm the membership's effective date before scheduling treatment; no-waiting-period language does not mean every plan is active the moment you enroll.
Yes — avoid any plan advertised as "free" (these are lead-gen traps), any plan that requires monthly billing only with no annual option, and any plan that doesn't publish a searchable dentist directory. Stick to the established names: Careington, Humana, Aetna, Cigna, DentalPlans.com.
Cigna Dental Savings has the lowest annual membership among the national dental savings plans reviewed, at $96 per year for an individual and $132 per year for a family. Humana Dental Savings costs $6.99 per month per applicant. Careington 500 Series and Aetna Dental Savings each cost $149 per year through 1Dental with no setup fee. 1Dental covers households of 3 or more members for $199 per year on the Careington network.
| Plan | Individual price | Household option | Network size | Published savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Careington 500 Series | $149/yr via 1Dental | 1Dental 3+ members $199/yr | One of the largest U.S. networks | 20–60% |
| Aetna Dental Savings | $149/yr via 1Dental | Family tier (see review) | 262,000+ provider locations | 15–50% |
| Humana Dental Savings | $6.99/mo per applicant | No family tier | 135,000+ dentists | 20–40% |
| Cigna Dental Savings | $96/yr | $132/yr family | ~110,000 dentists | 15–40% |
Prices as listed on each plan's enrollment page; last reviewed October 2026. Confirm dentist participation and the member fee for your procedure before enrolling.
Best dental discount card 2026 · Compare all plans side by side