Home / Dental Insurance / Delta Dental / Is Delta good?
Inside Delta Dental · honest review

Is Delta Dental good insurance?

The honest answer splits cleanly: Delta is strong on the things that are hard to fake (the largest network, financial strength) and weaker on the things people complain about (service, waiting periods). Here is the balanced scorecard.

The honest read in one line.
A financially solid, widely accepted carrier with the deepest network, but uneven service. Delta earns trust on stability and acceptance more than on customer experience. Service quality and claims ease vary by state company, and waiting periods on major and orthodontic work are a recurring frustration. If you value the network and want a safe default, it fits; if you need work right away, a day-one plan may serve you better first.
The scorecard

Where Delta is strong, and where it is not

Our read of the public evidence, weighted across the four things that matter. Bars fill as you scroll.

3.6
out of 5
★★★★☆
Strong network and solvency, weaker service
Network size5.0
Financial strength4.5
Payouts & value3.6
Ease & waits3.0
Customer service2.1
The receipts

Ratings and awards, with the honest caveats

AM Best
A (Excellent)
Major entities; Delta Dental of California A- (stable) in a recent action.
S&P Global
Not public
No public S&P rating found. Treat any S&P claim as unverified.
Money 2025/26
Best for Braces
Won the ortho category, not best overall (that was Denali Dental).
Trustpilot
~1.9 / 5
Hold times, claim friction. Scores vary by state company.

There is no single "Delta Dental" rating. The association is about 39 separately rated companies, so financial strength and service scores vary by entity. Forbes named Delta Dental of California one of "America's Best Employers," which is a workplace ranking, not a consumer product endorsement.

Both sides

What people praise and what they gripe about

Strengths

  • The largest dentist network in the country, so your dentist is likely in it.
  • Strong AM Best financial strength and a century-plus brand.
  • Widely accepted and a safe default at most offices.
  • Generous payouts and balance-billing protection in network.

Common gripes

  • Waiting periods on major and orthodontic work (about 6 to 12 months).
  • Customer service and claim ease vary widely by state company.
  • Low independent review scores (Trustpilot around 1.9; BBB varies).
  • Orthodontic lifetime caps limit how much braces benefit you get.

The verdict

Delta Dental is a safe, stable choice with unmatched network reach, best for people who want their existing dentist covered and value brand and solvency. It is a weaker pick if you need major work fast or prize a smooth claims experience, where a day-one plan or a higher-rated-service carrier may fit better. Confirm your specific state company and plan, since both vary across the federation.

Compare Delta against other carriers

Common questions

Is Delta Dental good insurance?
On balance, yes for stability and network, less so for service. Delta is the largest dental carrier in the US with the deepest dentist network and strong AM Best financial strength. The weaker side is customer experience: independent review sites show low service scores driven by hold times and claim friction, and waiting periods on major and orthodontic work are a recurring frustration. It earns trust on solvency and acceptance more than on service.
What is Delta Dental's financial rating?
AM Best rates the major Delta Dental entities A (Excellent), with Delta Dental of California carried at A- (Excellent, stable outlook) in a more recent action. There is no single Delta rating, since the association is a federation of about 39 separately rated companies. We could not confirm a public S&P rating, so treat any S&P claim as unverified.
Did Delta Dental win best dental insurance?
Money named Delta Dental Best for Braces in its best dental insurance coverage, not best overall, which went to Denali Dental. Separately, Forbes named Delta Dental of California one of America's Best Employers, which is a workplace ranking, not a consumer product endorsement. We could not verify Forbes Advisor or CNN consumer rankings naming Delta as best.
Why are Delta Dental's online reviews low?
Independent platforms show low consumer scores, for example Trustpilot around 1.9 out of 5, with common themes of long hold times, claim denials and surprise waiting periods. Scores also vary widely because Delta is dozens of separate companies, so one state company can score very differently from another. Many positive reviews praise the broad acceptance and generous payouts.
How does Delta Dental compare to other carriers?
Delta wins on network size and brand trust and is widely accepted, which makes it a safe default. Competitors like Ameritas and Humana can beat it on day-one coverage and waiting periods, and a cheaper day-one plan may suit someone who needs work right away. The right pick depends on whether you value the network and stability or faster coverage.
Transparency

Sources & last reviewed

Ratings, awards and review scores from the sources below. Checked June 24, 2026. Ratings and scores vary by Delta company and change over time; confirm for your specific entity.

AM Best, Delta Dental of California and affiliates (A Excellent) · businesswire.com
Money, Delta Dental review (Best for Braces, Trustpilot 1.9, BBB) · money.com
Trustpilot, deltadentalins.com profile · trustpilot.com
Delta Dental member companies (the federation) · deltadental.com