While the Affordable Care Act requires individuals to have health insurance, it doesn’t require adults to have full dental coverage, nor does it require health plans to offer adult dental benefits. But if you don’t have dental coverage, you should seriously consider it. Here’s why.
Compared to health insurance, dental coverage is relatively low cost. Even major dental procedures are often much less costly than many medical claims, which helps keeps the price of coverage down.
Dental coverage encourages preventive check-ups that can help prevent bigger problems – and save money.
At each check-up, dentists screen for a number of health and oral health issues, from gum disease to oral cancer and diabetes. Visiting the dentist regularly could help detect issues like these early, potentially minimising their effects and preventing them from becoming more severe.
And most dental plans cover preventive care at 100%, so there’s no out-of-pocket cost for regular check-ups and cleanings.
Buying on the exchange
You can enrol through HealthCare.gov, where dental coverage is offered as stand-alone coverage for families, separate from medical plans. You are not required to purchase children’s coverage in order to purchase stand-alone coverage for you or your adult family members.
Buying off of the exchange
To buy off of the exchange, you can purchase individual or family coverage through an agent/broker or directly from your preferred dental carrier’s website. You may also be eligible to purchase dental plans through your employer or as a member of an organisation such as AARP or the Arizona Small Business Association. Be sure to explore your options to find the right plan for you and your family.
– Tiffany Di Giacinto (Delta Dental of Arizona).
