High-Performing Dental Plans Rely on Informed Employees

This enrollment season, employees will again prioritize dental insurance as costs for these services rise.

Since the plans they choose will affect their cost of care throughout the year, benefits education is essential to achieve the value and cost savings employees expect.

“Dental plans save employees money when they’re designed around the population’s needs,” says Drew Fleming, senior vice president of Ameritas group dental and vision sales and distribution. “But those cost savings are only realized if employees understand and use their benefits.”

Predictability Secures Satisfaction

A 2026 survey on employee dental benefits by Ameritas and Employee Benefit News shows more than 80% of employees with employer-sponsored dental plans say they understand their benefits, but 45% are surprised by their out-of-pocket costs for these services. That survey also shows they’re most likely to be disappointed with their coverage the first time they seek a high-cost treatment or visit an out-of-network provider.

“Satisfaction is driven by predictability,” Fleming says. “Employees who select a dental plan based on the lowest premium cost can budget for that monthly expense, but any dental services outside of preventive can result in unexpected costs.”

What Employees Need to Know

Enrollment materials should break down employee expenses such as the premium, deductibles, copays, and network versus out-of-network procedure cost examples for both routine services and more expensive procedures like crowns.

“Sample costs show employees how benefits support preventive care and how network discounts help lower costs for more expensive services,” Fleming says. “These are two key points that can influence the way employees use their benefits.”

Once new benefits begin, regular employee communications keep these messages top of mind for employees:

Preventive Care

1. Exams and cleanings, typically 100% covered by the plan, will not hit the employee’s healthcare budget.

2. Routine care enables dentists to spot signs of oral and overall health issues. Early detection and intervention can lead to better health and financial outcomes.

3. Requesting a pretreatment estimate for costly procedures helps employees avoid surprise costs.

4. Knowing what types of X-rays are covered can significantly reduce expenses. Routine bitewing X-rays are typically covered once or twice per year at 80 to 100%, but a more costly cone beam CT may not be covered at all.

Network Savings

1. Network contracts are always honored, so employees will pay no more than the provider’s discounted fee.

2. Employees preserve more of their annual benefit maximum amount when they pay less for services via network discounts.

3. Some plans offer greater benefits for employees who visit network providers. Employees may not realize how much they could save.

4. Provider directories make it easy to locate network providers near employees. Employees can also look up average network charges in their area.

Group-specific data helps employees make informed decisions about the providers they visit. That could include the average distance between network providers and the out-of-network dentists that employees currently visit, and how much the group’s employees paid in the prior year for a crown out of network versus what it would have cost in-network

“An employee who knows they could have saved $265 on the cost of a crown by visiting a network provider is more likely to change their behavior,” Fleming says.

Ameritas’s 2025 Dental Insurance Market Report reveals that a particular group’s network use increased from 62% to 65% after employees received information about network savings. That increased the group’s effective network discount and total plan savings by more than 1% each.

Employer Advantages

Consistent employee use of preventive services and network providers means plans run more smoothly, employees are more satisfied, and employers hear fewer complaints. That paves the way for a better renewal conversation.

“When you have data that shows proactive education can improve plan costs, employers will listen,” Fleming says.

Ongoing employee benefits education for dental benefits may sound like a hassle. But the outcome is well worth the effort, especially when cost is the No. 1 motivator for employers and employees seeking and renewing dental benefits. Dental carriers like Ameritas that specialize in dental benefits education can also help the broker make that lift.

“Cost is the main driver,” Fleming says, “so your employee benefits education strategy has to be as good as your plan design.”