Dental insurance is a mess. Honestly, most people sign up for a plan through their job, see a monthly deduction on their pay stub, and just pray they don't need a root canal. But when you start looking at the Cigna Plus Dental plan, things get confusing fast because it isn’t actually insurance. People call it that. They search for it using that term. Even some HR reps describe it that way. They’re wrong.
It’s a discount program. Specifically, it’s a dental savings plan powered by the Cigna PlusSavings network.
If you walk into a dentist's office expecting a $0 copay because you "have Cigna," you’re going to have a very awkward conversation with the receptionist. This plan works more like a Costco membership than an Aetna or Blue Cross PPO. You pay an annual fee, you get a card, and you get access to "contracted rates" that are significantly lower than what a "cash patient" would pay. It sounds simple. It’s not. There are layers to how this affects your wallet, especially if you’re self-employed or retired and looking for a way to stop overpaying for cleanings.
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The Massive Difference Between Insurance and Cigna Plus Dental
Insurance has "maximums." This is the part that usually bites people in the neck. You pay premiums all year, but the moment you need a $3,000 bridge, the insurance company tells you they only cover $1,500 per year. You're stuck. The Cigna Plus Dental plan doesn't have a cap. Since you’re just paying a discounted rate out of your own pocket, you can use it for $10,000 worth of work if you need to. No one is going to cut you off.
There are no waiting periods. This is huge.
Most traditional plans make you wait six months for a filling and twelve months for a crown. It’s their way of making sure you don't just sign up because your tooth hurts today. With the Cigna Plus network, you can basically sign up, get your digital ID card, and book an appointment for tomorrow. If you have a literal hole in your molar right now, insurance is useless to you for the short term. This plan actually helps.
You’ve got to be okay with the "fee-for-service" model, though. You aren't paying a $20 copay. You’re paying the negotiated rate. If a cleaning normally costs $200 and the Cigna Plus rate is $80, you owe $80. To some, that feels like a loss compared to "free" cleanings under a PPO. But when you factor in that the annual membership for a Cigna savings plan often costs less than two months of insurance premiums, the math starts to look a lot better for the discount side.
What Does the "Plus" Actually Get You?
It's not just teeth. That’s the "Plus" part of the branding.
Cigna has bundled in a bunch of random health discounts that have nothing to do with X-rays. We’re talking about vision care, hearing aids, and even some prescriptions. If you need a new pair of glasses or your kid needs a hearing exam, you can sometimes snag 20% to 50% off through the same network providers. It’s a weird perk, but for a freelancer who doesn’t have a corporate benefits package, it’s a lifesaver.
Specifically, the vision benefits usually run through the Outlook Vision network. It covers over 50,000 providers. You get discounts on frames, lenses, and even LASIK. Is it the best vision coverage in the world? No. But it’s a "free" add-on to the dental plan.
The Network Trap: Don't Skip This Part
Here is the reality check: your dentist might not take it.
The Cigna Plus Dental plan relies on the Cigna PlusSavings network. This is separate from the standard Cigna dental insurance network. Just because a dentist "takes Cigna" doesn't mean they accept the discount plan. This is where most the negative reviews come from. Someone buys the plan, goes to their lifelong dentist, and finds out the office won't honor the discount.
- Always use the specific provider search tool on the Cigna or DentalPlans.com site.
- Call the office. Don't just ask "Do you take Cigna?"
- Ask: "Do you participate in the Cigna PlusSavings discount network?"
- If they say no, you're paying full price. Period.
Roughly 110,000 dentists participate nationwide. That sounds like a lot until you realize there are about 200,000 practicing dentists in the US. You have a roughly 50/50 shot of your current guy being in the network. If you’re loyal to a specific doctor who isn't on the list, this plan is a waste of your money. If you’re willing to switch to a nearby clinic to save $400 on a crown, it's a goldmine.
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Braces and Boredom: The Orthodontic Loophole
Most adult dental insurance plans exclude orthodontics. It’s infuriating. You’re 30 years old, your bottom teeth are crowding, and the insurance company says "Sorry, that’s cosmetic or for kids."
Cigna Plus Dental usually includes a discount for orthodontics—even for adults.
It’s typically around 20% off. If Invisalign costs you $5,000, saving 20% puts a thousand bucks back in your pocket. That’s more than the cost of the membership for several years combined. It’s the same story with "major" work like dentures or root canals. While insurance might cover 50% (after a long waiting period and a deductible), the discount plan gives you an immediate reduction.
Is It Actually Worth the Cash?
Let's do some quick, messy math.
A typical individual Cigna Plus Dental plan membership might cost you around $100 to $150 a year.
If you go in for two cleanings and one set of X-rays, the "rack rate" at a dentist in a city like Chicago or Dallas might be $500 total. With the discount plan, you might pay $220.
Total spent: $150 (membership) + $220 (dentist) = $370.
You saved $130.
That’s a boring win. It's fine. But where it gets wild is the big stuff. If you need an emergency crown, that can easily hit $1,200. The Cigna Plus rate might bring that down to $700. Now you've saved $500 in a single visit. For people with "bad teeth" or those who haven't been to a dentist in five years, the savings plan is almost always a better financial move than traditional insurance because of that lack of an annual maximum.
There’s also the paperwork factor. Or rather, the lack of it.
Insurance involves claims, denials, "missing information" requests, and months of waiting to see if they’ll actually pay the doctor. With a savings plan, you pay the discounted rate at the office and you're done. No claims. No "Pre-Determination of Benefits." It’s a much cleaner transaction.
The Fine Print People Ignore
You can't "stack" this. If you already have dental insurance through your spouse, you generally can't use the Cigna Plus discount on top of it to erase the remaining balance. It’s one or the other.
Also, the discounts aren't uniform. A dentist in rural Ohio might have a different contracted rate than one in Manhattan. Cigna sets the "fee schedule," but it varies by zip code. You can actually look up these fee schedules before you buy. If you’re analytical, go to the website, put in your zip code, and look at the "Procedure Search" tool. It will tell you exactly what a Code D1110 (Adult Cleaning) costs in your neighborhood.
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Real-World Advice for the Uninsured
If you are currently without dental coverage, don't just jump into the first PPO you see on the healthcare exchange. Those plans often have $50 deductibles and $1,500 maximums that make them nearly useless for major surgery.
Instead, look at your actual dental history.
Are you a "cleaning only" person? If so, the math between a discount plan and insurance is usually a wash. You might save $50 either way.
Do you have old fillings that are starting to crack? Do you have a family history of gum disease? If you suspect you have $2,000+ of dental work in your near future, the Cigna Plus Dental plan is objectively superior because it won't cap your benefits. You get the discount on every single dollar you spend.
Moving Forward With a Plan
Stop overthinking the "insurance" label. If you need work done soon, follow these steps to see if this specific plan actually fits your life:
- Check your current dentist: Use the Cigna PlusSavings search tool. If they aren't there, decide right now if you're willing to move to a new office.
- Compare the fee schedule: Look up the costs for the specific work you need (crowns, fillings, or just cleanings) in your specific zip code.
- Audit your other needs: If you also wear glasses or need a hearing check, the "Plus" benefits might save you another $100 a year, making the membership fee basically pay for itself before you even sit in the dentist's chair.
- Check the effective date: Most of these plans activate within 24 to 48 hours. If you have an appointment on Monday, don't buy the plan on Monday morning. Give it a couple of days for the system to process your membership so the dentist can verify it.
Dental health is expensive because it's treated as an "extra" in the American healthcare system. It's not. An infection in your tooth can literally end up in your heart. Using a tool like this is just a way to bypass the high-margin "rack rates" that dentists charge to people who don't know any better. Pay the membership fee, get the lower rate, and keep your money.