---
title: "What Is Premium? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "A premium is the amount you or your employer pay to an insurer for dental coverage, usually every month, whether or not you use care."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/premium
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Insurance and Billing

# Premium

A premium is the amount you or your employer pay to an insurer for dental coverage, usually every month, whether or not you use care.

A premium is what you pay to keep a dental plan active. When your coverage comes through an employer, the employer may pay part and you pay the rest, often through payroll deductions. The insurer usually recalculates the premium each policy year.

The premium is separate from other costs. You may also pay a [deductible](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/deductible), [copays](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/copay), or [coinsurance](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/coinsurance). HealthCare.gov also notes that the plan with the lowest monthly premium may not be the right fit, because a plan with a higher premium may have lower costs when you receive care.

Plans with lower premiums often have tighter limits, such as a lower annual maximum or longer waiting periods. Compare the full benefit summary before choosing. See dental insurance.

## Related terms

-   [Deductible](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/deductible)
-   [Copay](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/copay)
-   [Coinsurance](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/coinsurance)
-   [Annual maximum](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/annual-maximum)
-   [Dental insurance](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-insurance)

## Sources

1.  [HealthCare.gov Glossary: Premium](https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/premium/)
2.  [National Association of Dental Plans: Glossary of Dental Insurance Terms](https://www.nadp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GlossaryInsuranceTerms_updated_12_31_20.pdf)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)