The Careington 500 Series is a discount network, not insurance. Enroll and pay $12.95/month individual ($129/year) plus a one-time $20 enrollment fee, wait about 3 business days for activation, then show your card at any participating dentist and pay their discounted network price, about 20-60% off usual fees, directly at each visit.
If you want the verdict first: is the Careington 500 Series worth it? This page explains the mechanics step by step.
You sign up online and pick a household tier: individual ($$12.95/mo or $129/yr), couple ($16.95/mo), or family ($18.95/mo). A one-time $20 enrollment fee applies to new memberships. Annual billing is where the best effective rates sit; monthly billing costs more over a year but spreads the payment out. Figures come from our Careington plan data, verified carrier-direct July 2026.
Activation takes about 3 business days. There is no waiting period beyond that: once active, the card discounts everything the network covers, including work insurance usually makes you wait months for, like crowns and implants. Book your appointment for after the activation date and there is no gap in value.
You are never assigned anyone. Search the network directory by name and ZIP code to check whether your current dentist already participates (One of the largest U.S. dental networks). If they do, nothing changes about your relationship; you just hand over the card instead of an insurance ID. If they do not, the card does nothing at that office, which is why this check comes before you pay for anything.
At each visit the front desk applies the network fee schedule and you pay it directly. No claims forms exist. For example, against national-average prices from our audited cost index, a $125 cleaning typically lands around $50-$100, and a $1,300 crown around $ 520-$1,040, inside the 20-60% advertised band. Your specific dentist's discounted price is the number that counts, so ask the office to quote it when you book.
It is not insurance: nothing reimburses you, and the network only discounts dentists who participate. It also is not a payer of last resort for work already in progress. And it is not exclusive: the same 500 Series network is resold by 1Dental under different household pricing, which we compare in Careington vs 1Dental.
About 3 business days. Schedule appointments after activation; there is no further waiting period on any procedure.
The dentist, directly, at the discounted network price. Careington only administers the network and your membership fee.
Yes. It is a month-to-month-style membership you can end, subject to the terms on your plan at signup; see our cancellation guide for how refunds generally work across plans.