Financial Strength

• One of the most important measures of a dental insurance company's reliability is its financial strength. By choosing an insurance company that has the financial reserves to meet its obligations, a consumer can improve the odds that the company will be there in future years. There are a number of financial ratings organizations that provide information on the financial strength of insurance companies. A few of these are A.M. Best, Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Before purchasing a dental insurance policy, a consumer should investiate providers using the ratings from one or more of these organizations.
  
  

Customer Reputation

• One of the best sources of information on a dental insurance company is current and former customers. Talk to friends, family members, coworkers and others about their experience with a company. The Internet also provides numerous sites where consumers share opinions and information on dental insurance companies. Dentists, hygienists and others working in a dental office may be able to provide information on various dental insurance plans that the office accepts and the office's experiences with those companies.
  
  

License

• Each state has an insurance commission that licenses and regulates insurance companies operating in the state. To obtain a license, a company must meet certain financial and business-practice standards. These help assure consumers of the reliability of a company. A consumer seeking to purchase dental insurance should contact the insurance commission for her state to determine whether a company has a license to provide dental insurance in that state. The insurance commission can provide information on regulations applicable to dental insurance policies and company practices.
  
  

Formal Complaints

• Gather information on formal complaints and administrative actions against the insurance company. A consumer can obtain this information from both the insurance commission and the state's attorney general. Consumers may also file complaints with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) about a dental insurance company. The BBB notes complaints and information regarding their resolution.