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Dental Coverage

Blue Shield offers affordable and comprehensive dental plans available to clients with and without a Blue Shield health plan.1

We also offer a dental and vision plan package, Specialty DuoSM,* which includes comprehensive dental and vision coverage.

Waiting periods for new members enrolling in any Blue Shield IFP Dental PPO plan can be waived, provided the new member submits documentation of prior coverage from any dental carrier that meets the following criteria.

Our dental provider networks are among the largest in the state. The dental PPO plans include over 45,000 access points2 and our dental HMO network includes nearly 22,000 access points2 in California. Visit Find a Doctor to help your client's find a dentist in their area.

Our marketed, off-exchange dental plans will experience a modest rate increase this year. PPO dental plans rates will increase an average of 2.9%, while HMO dental plans will increase an average of 3.2%. These increases translate to less than $1 more per month/per member. The on-exchange HMO and PPO dental plans will receive a rate pass for 2022. 

2022 Evidence of Coverage || 2022 Dental Summary of Benefits and Benefit Summaries || 2022 Specialty Plans at a Glance

Dental Plans

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  • No waiting period for diagnostic or preventive services

  • Covered diagnostic and preventive services, such as X-rays and routine cleanings, do not count toward the annual coverage limit for dental PPO and Specialty Duo dental plans, providing more coverage for other services before reaching the annual limit

  • A wide range of dental benefits, including most diagnostic and preventive services and oral cancer screening, at no additional cost when using a dental network provider

  • Implants coverage available in all of our IFP dental PPO plans 

  • Orthodontic benefits are available on select plans for both children and adults

  • $50 deductible per member, per calendar year

  • Choice of a $1,000 or $1,250 calendar-year benefit maximum per member

  • Coverage even when members use a non-network dentist. Our plan reimburses members up to an allowed amount for covered services, and they pay the remaining balance of the total billed charges.

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  • A wide range of dental benefits, including most diagnostic and preventive services at no additional cost

  • No deductibles and no calendar-year maximums

  • Orthodontic services available with or without a 12-month waiting period on select plans, for both children and adults

  • Affordable fixed copayments for basic and major services

  • Specialty care available with a referral from a primary dentist

Our Specialty Plans at a Glance (PDF, 277KB) provides a side-by-side comparison of our dental plans. You can find more detailed information in our dental benefit summaries.

1 Your client must be a California resident at the time of enrollment. If your client had a Blue Shield IFP dental plan or a dental + vision package canceled, they must wait six months from the date of cancellation before they can reapply.

2 Access points represents the number of network dentists at each office location where patients are treated. A network dentist who treats patients at two separate office locations constitutes as two access points.

*Underwritten by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company (Blue Shield Life).

Contact Us

  • Producer Services (800) 559-5905

    Employer Services (800) 325-5166

  • Blue Shield of California

    PO Box 272540

    Chico, CA 95927-2540

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Health insurance products are offered by Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company. Health plans are offered by Blue Shield of California.