Lost your dental coverage? Replace it fast with a private PPO — no employer needed.

Employer dental ends the day you leave. COBRA keeps coverage but costs $40 to $80 per month for dental alone. A private PPO plan can replace it for $30 to $100 per month and activate within days.

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Your Options

COBRA vs. individual PPO dental insurance: what changes when you leave your job.

COBRA continuation

  • Keeps your current dentist and network
  • Continues your exact existing coverage
  • No new waiting periods apply
  • Costs $40 to $80 per month for dental only
  • Coverage ends after 18 months
  • Must be elected within 60 days from the later of the date coverage was lost or the date you received the election notice

Private PPO plan

  • New in-network dentist required
  • Waiting periods may apply (Ameritas and UHC have none)
  • $30 to $100 per month
  • Permanent, no expiration
  • Buy any time, no enrollment window

Neither is universally better. The right choice depends on your dentist, your treatment needs, and your timeline.

Plan Comparison

Four PPO dental plans that activate within days — no employer enrollment required.

~Estimates vary by ZIP, age, and tobacco status.
Plan ~Monthly Activation Basic Waiting Period Notes
Ameritas PrimeStar Care Complete ~$60 Immediate Day one Day one on major services too
UnitedHealthcare Primary Dental ~$30 Immediate Day one Preventive and basic, ages 64 and under
Guardian Premier 2.0 ~$70 1st of next month Day one 85% basic coverage, $3,000 annual max
Mutual of Omaha Dental Preferred ~$90 Immediate Day one $5,000 annual max, implants after 12 months

Timing

The 63-day COBRA election window — and why individual PPO plans have no deadline.

You generally have 60 days to elect COBRA coverage, measured from the later of the date coverage was lost or the date you received the election notice. If that window closes, you lose the option entirely. For most people between jobs, this means acting quickly, especially if you have ongoing treatment or a cleaning already scheduled.

Private PPO plans have no enrollment window. You can purchase one any day of the year without a qualifying life event or special enrollment period. If your treatment needs are immediate, a plan with no waiting periods, such as Ameritas PrimeStar Care Complete or UnitedHealthcare Primary Dental, may get you covered faster than waiting for COBRA paperwork to process.

Common Questions

Dental insurance between jobs: answers to the most common questions.

Yes. UnitedHealthcare Primary Dental and Ameritas PrimeStar Care Complete both activate within 1 to 3 business days with no employer enrollment required. Preventive care is covered from day one on both plans.
COBRA for dental only is rarely worth the cost if your sole concern is keeping coverage active. The average COBRA dental premium runs $40 to $80 per month for the same benefit your employer paid $10 to $20 for. A private PPO plan in the same price range typically offers comparable or better annual maximums.
Employer-sponsored dental coverage ends on your last day of employment or at the end of the month, depending on your plan. You generally have 60 days to elect COBRA continuation, measured from the later of the date coverage was lost or the date you received the election notice. COBRA extends the same coverage at your own cost plus a 2% administrative fee.
Preventive care, including cleanings and exams, is covered from day one on nearly all PPO plans. For fillings specifically, Ameritas PrimeStar Care Complete and UnitedHealthcare Primary Dental both have no waiting period. Crowns and major work typically require a 6 to 12-month wait, except on Ameritas.

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