An indemnity plan is a fully insured or self-insured plan where an assigned payment is provided for specific services, regardless of the actual charges made by the provider. Payment may be made to enrollees or, by assignment, directly to dentists.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) programs are plans under which patients select a dentist from a network or list of providers who have agreed, by contract, to discount their fees.

Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) pay contracted dentists a fixed amount per enrolled family or individual, whether or not they use the dental services.