Dental plans with at least $1,000 a year of coverage start at $49.96 a month — but many pay only $500 in year one. Here is what they really cost and the fine print that decides your payout.
Prices checked July 15, 2026 · SK, BC, AB, MB, ON · Single adult.
The short answer: a plan with at least $1,000 a year of dental coverage starts at $49.96 a month (Manitoba, age 20). In most provinces expect $56.75 to $101.50 a month depending on your age. The catch: many of these plans pay only $500 in your first year.
Is this you?
- You have been skipping cleanings or delaying a filling because you are paying cash at the front desk every time.
- Your dentist has flagged work coming up — a crown, a root canal — and you want real help with the bill before you book it.
- You are comparing plans, every brochure says "$1,000 of dental," and the prices are all different — the difference usually hides in the first-year limit.
Two terms to know
- The most a plan pays for dental in a year (the annual maximum).
- A limit that starts small and grows each year you keep the plan (a graded maximum).
- Months you must wait after buying before the plan pays anything (a waiting period).
The numbers
Each cell below is the monthly price of the cheapest plan with at least $1,000 a year of dental coverage in that province at that age — in almost every cell that plan is GMS BasicPlan with its dental add-on:
| Age | SK | BC | AB | MB | ON |
|---|
| 30 | $56.75 | $78.00 | $75.50 | $73.33 | $81.50 |
| 50 | $62.25 | $80.25 | $89.50 | $79.75 | $85.00 |
| 70 | $72.00 | $89.00 | $82.00 | $86.25 | $93.75 |
The same plan won most ages in BC, Alberta, and Ontario too, at higher prices — up to $101.50 a month at age 80 in Ontario. Manitoba is the exception at young ages: Manitoba Blue Cross Blue Choice B is $49.96 a month at 20, the cheapest qualifying price in the country. See all ages and provinces in our full research.
What this means for you
- Compare year-one maximums, not headline numbers — two plans "with $1,000 of dental" can differ by $500 in what they actually pay you this year.
- If you are leaving workplace benefits and dental work is imminent, look at conversion plans first: GMS Essential pays the full $1,000 from day one with no waiting period, which can beat a cheaper plan that starts at $500.
- If you have health conditions, guaranteed acceptance dental options exist from $51.94 a month; if you are healthy, health-questions plans are usually cheaper — compare both before deciding which door to walk through.
The fine print that matters
- The cheapest plans make you earn the maximum: GMS starts at $500 in year one, $750 in year two, and reaches $1,000 only from year three — plus a 3-month wait before anything is covered at all.
- Major work (crowns, dentures) is typically paid at only 50%, and often not until year two or three of the plan — counted from when you bought it.
- If you already know you need major work soon, a plan bought today may not pay for it this year — read the waiting period and the year-one maximum before you count on the coverage.
What $1,000 of dental really costs for your exact age, province, and family takes about two minutes to check — see your own rate and compare every qualifying plan side by side.
Rates were pulled from our own comparison engine on July 15, 2026 for a single adult losing employer coverage, filtered to plans with $1,000+ a year of dental. Full tables, methodology, and limitations are in our research report.
Frequently asked questions
How much does dental insurance with $1,000 of coverage cost?
In our July 15, 2026 check, the cheapest plan with at least $1,000 a year of dental was $49.96 a month (Manitoba Blue Cross Blue Choice B, age 20 in Manitoba). In the other provinces, GMS BasicPlan + Dental won most ages, from $56.75 a month in Saskatchewan up to $101.50 in Ontario at age 80.
Do dental plans pay the full $1,000 in the first year?
Often not. Many of the cheapest plans start you at $500 in year one and only reach $1,000 by year three, and some add a 3-month wait before covering anything. Certain plans for people leaving workplace benefits pay the full $1,000 from day one with no wait.
What share of my dental bill do these plans pay?
Typically 75 to 80% of cleanings, checkups, and fillings, up to the yearly maximum. Major work like crowns is usually covered at 50%, often only from the second or third year of the plan.
Can I get dental coverage without health questions?
Yes. Guaranteed acceptance options with $1,000+ of dental ran $51.94 to $128.00 a month in our check depending on age and province. Some are open to anyone anytime; the best ones require applying within 60-90 days of losing workplace benefits.
What does $1,000-a-year dental insurance cost in each province?
In our July 15, 2026 check, the cheapest plan with at least $1,000 a year of dental cost $56.75 a month in Saskatchewan, $78.00 in BC, $75.50 in Alberta, $73.33 in Manitoba, and $81.50 in Ontario at age 30. At age 50 it ran $62.25 in Saskatchewan, $80.25 in BC, $89.50 in Alberta, $79.75 in Manitoba, and $85.00 in Ontario. At age 70 it ran $72.00 in Saskatchewan, $89.00 in BC, $82.00 in Alberta, $86.25 in Manitoba, and $93.75 in Ontario.