A Guide to Delta Dental of Washington's Group Dental Plans for Washington Employers

Choosing benefits can be challenging because of all the competing considerations: balancing cost, competition in hiring, and employee expectations. Dental coverage can help make your benefits package more competitive and support employee health.

Many employers search for group dental insurance when they are really looking for dental benefits or dental coverage for employees. The right dental plan can support preventive care and give employees help paying for common dental services.

Delta Dental of Washington offers group dental plans for Washington employers, with options for different business sizes, budgets, and workforce needs.

How Does Group Dental Coverage Work?

Group dental coverage is an employer-sponsored benefit that helps employees and covered family members pay for dental care. Here’s a simple breakdown of how coverage works.

1

Employer Selects a Plan

The employer chooses a dental plan, determines contribution amounts, and makes coverage available to eligible employees.

2

Employees Enroll

Employees enroll during the enrollment period and may be able to add eligible dependents.

3

Coverage Helps Pay

When employees visit a dentist, the plan helps cover eligible services based on plan benefits.

4

Employee Cost Sharing

Depending on the plan, employees may pay monthly contributions, deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.

Benefits of Offering Dental Coverage to Employees

Providing dental coverage for employees delivers both employee and employer value:

Improved retention and satisfaction

Employees are more likely to stay when benefits meet their needs.

Encourages preventive care

Many plans cover cleanings and exams at 100%, helping employees avoid costly procedures later.

Competitive hiring advantage

Benefits like dental coverage influence job decisions for many candidates.

Flexible cost control

Employers can choose how much to contribute toward premiums.

Delta Dental of Washington Group Plan Options

Delta Dental of Washington offers group dental plans for businesses of different sizes, from small employers with just a few employees to larger organizations that need more plan design flexibility. The right option depends on your group size, budget, contribution strategy, and how much choice you want to give employees.

Plans for Employers: 2–99 Employees

Employers with 2 to 99 enrolled employees can choose from dental plan options designed for different budgets, contribution strategies, and employee needs. These plans can be a good fit for businesses that want clear choices, predictable costs, and a simple way to offer dental benefits.

Examples of 2–99 group plan options include:

  • Delta Dental PPO™ plans: A flexible option with access to a large dentist network and different annual maximums and coverage levels. Select PPO plans include enhanced preventative benefits, such as 100% coverage for eligible preventative services with no deductible or reduction to the annual maximum. Fluoride and sealants are covered for eligible members.
  • Delta Dental PPO™ Voluntary Enhanced plans: A voluntary option that allows employees to contribute towards the premium while giving employers a way to offer enhanced dental benefits without employer premium contribution. Disclaimer: Participation requirements apply.
  • Delta Dental PPO™ Voluntary Standard plans: A lower cost voluntary option that allows employers to offer dental coverage while employees contribute towards the premium. Disclaimer: Participation requirements apply.
  • Delta Dental PPO™ Maximum Wellness plans: A plan that rewards preventive care by allowing annual maximums to increase over time when members get eligible preventive services.
  • Delta Dental PPO™ Core Buy-Up plans: A core plan with the option for employees to buy up to richer coverage.
  • Delta Dental PPO™ Patient Essentials plans: A PPO option designed for eligible small groups looking for essential dental benefits with lower annual maximum options. Disclaimer: Plan, availability, benefits, limitations, exclusions, and contribution requirements vary by group size and plan selection. The Patient Essentials Plan is only available for groups with 2-50 employees.
  • DeltaVision®: Complement your dental plan offering with a DeltaVision® plan administered by VSP® Vision Care. ​

Voluntary dental plans allow employees to choose coverage and contribute towards the cost of their premiums. These plans provide employers with a way to offer dental benefits while limiting or eliminating employer contribution requirements. (Disclaimer: Participation requirements apply.)

Some plan options and features vary by group size. For example, orthodontic coverage may be available for groups of 10 or more, and more customized options may be available for groups with 51 to 99 enrolled employees. Plan details, contribution rules, and participation requirements vary by plan.

Explore Plans for Small Business

Plans for Larger Employers: 100+ Employees

Larger employers often need more flexibility because their workforce may include employees across different locations, income levels, family needs, and benefit preferences. Delta Dental of Washington offers large group dental plan options with flexibility to support different workforce needs.

Examples of larger group options include:

  • Delta Dental PPO™ plans: A flexible option that lets members choose any dentist, with greater savings in network.
  • Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier™ plans: A plan design that can combine access to Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier dentists, depending on the group’s plan.
  • Custom plan designs: Eligible larger plan groups may have access to customized plan features, including benefit levels, annual maximums, deductibles, orthodontic coverage, waiting periods, and other plan features.
  • Self-funded options: Large employers with 300+ subscribers may fund claims directly while Delta Dental of Washington administers the plan.
  • DeltaVision® options: Large groups may be able to add vision coverage alongside dental benefits.

Because larger employers often have more complex needs, we work with brokers or businesses directly to design plan solutions that balance employee needs with business goals. Many business associations offer access to dental coverage for their members and many in Washington partner with Delta Dental of Washington for their dental benefits options. Some associations offer access to dental coverage options for their members. If you belong to an association, connect with your association partner to learn what dental benefits may be available to your business.

Explore Plans for Large Business

Why Choose Delta Dental of Washington

Washington employers choose Delta Dental of Washington for a few key reasons:

  • Local expertise: Delta Dental of Washington is based in Washington and serves more than 4 million members. That local focus means employers can work with a dental benefits partner that understands Washington businesses, providers, and communities.
  • Large dentist network: Members have access to one of the nation’s largest directly contracted dental networks, with more than 150,000 contracted dentists nationwide and more than 91% of Washington dentists available to Delta Dental of Washington subscribers.
  • Lower, more predictable costs: In-network dentists agree to negotiated fees for covered services, which can help lower out-of-pocket costs and make treatment costs easier to understand before care.
  • Ease of administration: Delta Dental of Washington supports employers and members with onboarding resources, plan tools, claims support, and dedicated service teams.
  • Focused on oral health: Dental benefits are not an add-on for Delta Dental of Washington. Oral health is the core focus, supported by direct provider relationships, quality standards, and ongoing investment in member, employer, and provider experience.

Learn more about Delta Dental of Washington.

Get a Quote for Group Dental Coverage

Looking to offer dental coverage for your employees? Delta Dental of Washington can help employers:

  • Get a personalized quote
  • Compare plan options
  • Talk with a local dental benefits specialist

Explore our dental plan options to find coverage that fits your business needs.

For business with 2-50 enrolled employees, request a quote through our small business plans: here.

For businesses with 100+ enrolled employees, contact GroupSales@deltadentalwa.com to discuss large group options.