On this page12 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Anthem dental insurance legitimacy and licensing
- Anthem dental plans and what they cost
- Waiting periods and orthodontia
- Complaints and how to avoid claim problems
- Who should look elsewhere
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Anthem dental insurance's Essential Choice PPO plans cover cleanings, exams and X-rays at 100% in network with no waiting period, and annual maximums run from $1,000 on Bronze to $2,500 on Incentive. It is legitimate coverage from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, part of Elevance Health, sold to individuals and families in 14 states. The tradeoffs are 3- and 6-month waiting periods on most plans, orthodontia only for children on the top two plans, prices you can only see by ZIP code, and weak service ratings: a C on its corporate BBB profile and 1.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot, mostly from health plan members.
- Company
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a brand of Elevance Health (named Anthem, Inc. until June 27, 2022)6
- States with individual dental plans
- California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin1
- Plan tiers
- Essential Choice PPO Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Incentive (in Colorado: Basic, Select, Classic, Premier and Incentive)2
- Annual maximum
- $1,000 (Bronze, Silver), $1,500 (Gold), $2,000 (Platinum), $2,500 (Incentive) per person2
- Deductible
- $50 per person on every Essential Choice tier2
- Waiting periods
- None for preventive care; 3 months for basic and 6 months for complex services on Bronze to Platinum; may be waived or reduced with prior coverage2
- Orthodontia
- Platinum and Incentive only, children through age 18 (20 in Kentucky); $1,000 lifetime maximum, $500 a year2
- Price
- Not published; enter your ZIP code for a quote. Enrollment is open year-round1
Pros
- Preventive care covered at 100% in network with no waiting period
- Annual maximums up to $2,500 on the Incentive plan
- Low $50 deductible on every tier
- Year-round enrollment and 24/7 teledentistry
- Highly rated Sydney Health app
Cons
- Sold to individuals in only 14 states
- Premiums aren't shown until you enter a ZIP code
- 3- and 6-month waiting periods on Bronze to Platinum
- Orthodontia only for children and only on Platinum and Incentive
- Weak service ratings: C on the corporate BBB profile and 1.5 on Trustpilot
Best for: People in Anthem's 14 states who want a PPO dental plan with no-wait preventive care and, on higher tiers, coverage for crowns, root canals or kids' braces.
Skip it if: You need adult orthodontia, major work right away on a lower tier, or you live outside Anthem's individual dental states.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield vs. competitors
| Company | Who sells it | BBB rating | App Store rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthem | Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Elevance Health), 14 states | C (corporate profile) | 4.8 (Sydney Health) |
| Delta Dental | Independent state Delta Dental companies | Varies by state (Delta Dental of California: B+) | 1.5 (Delta Dental Mobile App) |
| Humana | Humana Inc. | A+ | 4.8 (MyHumana) |
| Guardian | Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America | A+ | 4.6 |
| MetLife | MetLife | A- | 4.2 (MetLife US App) |
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield pricing at a glance
Anthem Essential Choice PPO dental plans (individual and family), as listed October 20262
| Plan | Deductible | Annual max | Preventive | Basic (fillings) | Complex (root canals, crowns, dentures) | Orthodontia (kids) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $50 | $1,000 | 100%, no wait | 50% coinsurance, 3-month wait | Not listed | No |
| Silver | $50 | $1,000 | 100%, no wait | 50% coinsurance, 3-month wait | 50% coinsurance, 6-month wait | No |
| Gold | $50 | $1,500 | 100%, no wait | 20% coinsurance, 3-month wait | 50% coinsurance, 6-month wait | No |
| Platinum | $50 | $2,000 | 100%, no wait | 20% coinsurance, 3-month wait | 50% coinsurance, 6-month wait | $150 deductible, then 50%, 6-month wait |
| Incentive | $50 | $2,500 | 100%, no wait | 40% coinsurance, no wait | 70% coinsurance, no wait | $150 deductible, then 50%, no wait |
Coinsurance figures are as Anthem lists them; confirm in the plan's summary of benefits what share you pay. The Incentive plan lowers coinsurance the next year if you get yearly preventive care. In New York, Incentive complex services are 50% coinsurance and complex and major services have a 12-month wait. Monthly premiums depend on your ZIP code and who's covered.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, step by step
Check your state
Anthem sells individual dental plans in 14 states. Enter your ZIP code on anthem.com to see the plans and prices for your county.
Pick a tier
Choose by what you expect to need: preventive and fillings (Bronze), crowns and root canals (Silver to Platinum), or kids' braces (Platinum or Incentive).
Find an in-network dentist
PPO plans let you see any dentist, but you'll pay the least at an in-network dentist. Check yours in Anthem's Find Care tool before you enroll.
Enroll any time
Individual dental enrollment is open year-round. Ask whether prior dental coverage can shorten or waive waiting periods.
Use and manage the plan
Preventive visits are covered from day one. Manage claims and ID cards in the Sydney Health app, and use 24/7 teledentistry for advice.
Anthem dental insurance legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is a licensed Blue Cross Blue Shield insurer and part of Elevance Health, a publicly traded company that was called Anthem, Inc. until June 27, 2022. Anthem sells individual and family dental plans in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, and its plans are regulated by each state’s insurance department.
Service ratings are weak. The BBB rates the corporate Anthem, Inc. profile C, not accredited, with 337 complaints in three years; regional Anthem offices have separate profiles with different ratings. Trustpilot shows 1.5 out of 5 from 132 reviews, though most are about health coverage rather than dental plans. The Sydney Health app, used to manage Anthem plans, has a 4.8 rating from about 571,000 App Store ratings.
Anthem dental plans and what they cost
Anthem’s Essential Choice PPO plans come in five tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Incentive (named Basic, Select, Classic, Premier and Incentive in Colorado). All have a $50 per-person deductible and cover cleanings, exams and X-rays at 100% in network with no waiting period. Annual maximums are $1,000 on Bronze and Silver, $1,500 on Gold, $2,000 on Platinum and $2,500 on Incentive.
Bronze covers basic services like fillings but doesn’t list complex services. Silver, Gold and Platinum add root canals, crowns and dentures after six months. Incentive has no waiting periods outside New York and lowers your coinsurance the next year when you keep up with preventive visits. Anthem doesn’t publish premiums; you’ll see them after entering your ZIP code, and they vary by county and household size.
Waiting periods and orthodontia
On Bronze through Platinum, fillings have a three-month wait and complex services like root canals and crowns have a six-month wait. Anthem says waiting periods may be waived or reduced if you had prior dental coverage, so ask before you enroll. In New York, the Incentive plan’s complex and major services have a 12-month wait.
Orthodontia is covered only on Platinum and Incentive, only for children through age 18 (20 in Kentucky), with a $150 deductible, 50% coinsurance and a $1,000 lifetime maximum paid at up to $500 a year. Platinum adds a six-month wait for orthodontia. Adult braces aren’t covered on these plans. Family plans also offer pediatric coverage up to age 18, 20 in Kentucky and 26 in Connecticut.
What customers say about Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Large national PPO dental network
- Preventive care covered at 100% from the start
- Well-rated Sydney Health app
- Individual reps who resolve problems
Common complaints
- Long hold times and dropped calls
- Denied claims and unclear explanations
- Premium increases
- Billing errors
Complaints and how to avoid claim problems
Most public complaints about Anthem involve long hold times, denied claims, premium increases and billing errors, and many come from health plan members. For dental, the most common surprises are waiting periods, annual maximums that run out mid-treatment, and higher bills from out-of-network dentists.
Before major work, ask your dentist for a pre-treatment estimate sent to Anthem, confirm the dentist is in network, and check how much of your annual maximum is left. If a claim is denied, ask for the reason in writing and file an appeal. If that fails, you can file a complaint with your state insurance department.
Who should look elsewhere
Anthem’s individual plans aren’t sold outside its 14 states. If you need adult orthodontia or expensive work in the first six months, Bronze to Platinum won’t help much; compare the Incentive plan or a competitor without waiting periods. If you only want cleanings, add up a year of premiums and compare it with paying your dentist directly or using a dental discount plan.
Alternatives to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Delta Dental Worth comparing if your dentist is in Delta's network or you live outside Anthem's 14 states. Read review
- Humana dental Sells individual dental plans more widely and has an A+ BBB rating. Read review
- Guardian dental Another national option to quote, with an A+ BBB rating. Read review
- Dental discount plan or a dental school clinic If you mainly need cleanings, a discount plan or a dental school clinic can cost less than a year of premiums.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Anthem good dental insurance?
Its PPO plans cover preventive care at 100% with no wait and offer annual maximums up to $2,500. Service ratings are weak, with a C on the corporate BBB profile, so confirm your dentist is in network and compare quotes.
How much is Anthem dental insurance per month?
Anthem doesn't publish premiums. Enter your ZIP code on anthem.com to see prices, which vary by county, plan tier and who's covered.
What states offer Anthem individual dental plans?
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Does Anthem dental have a waiting period?
Not for cleanings, exams and X-rays. On Bronze to Platinum, fillings have a 3-month wait and complex services a 6-month wait; the Incentive plan has none outside New York. Prior coverage may shorten the wait.
Does Anthem dental cover braces?
Only for children through age 18 (20 in Kentucky) on the Platinum and Incentive plans, with a $1,000 lifetime orthodontia maximum.
What is the annual maximum on Anthem dental plans?
$1,000 on Bronze and Silver, $1,500 on Gold, $2,000 on Platinum and $2,500 on Incentive, per person per year.
Can I use Anthem dental insurance with any dentist?
Yes, PPO plans let you see any dentist, but you'll pay less with an in-network dentist. Out-of-network dentists can bill you for the difference.
When can I enroll in Anthem dental?
Anthem says individual dental enrollment is open year-round, so you don't need to wait for open enrollment.
Is Anthem the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield?
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in its states and is owned by Elevance Health. In other states, different Blue Cross Blue Shield companies sell coverage.
What is Anthem's BBB rating?
The corporate Anthem, Inc. profile in Indianapolis shows a C rating, not accredited, with 337 complaints in three years as of October 2026. Some regional Anthem offices have separate, higher ratings.
Sources (7)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Anthem: Individual and family dental insurance (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Anthem: Essential Choice PPO dental plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Anthem, Inc. profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Anthem reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: Sydney Health (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SEC: Elevance Health Form 10-Q, June 30, 2022 (name change from Anthem, Inc.) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Delta Dental of California, Humana, Guardian Life and MetLife profiles (accessed October 12, 2026)
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