Dental coverage in the Marketplace

Two ways to get dental coverage

• A health plan that includes dental. When you compare plans, you can see which ones include it. One premium covers both health and dental.
• A separate dental plan. You pay its premium on top of your health plan's premium.

One rule to know: you cannot buy a Marketplace dental plan on its own. You have to be buying a health plan at the same time.

Kids and adults are treated differently

For children 18 and under, dental coverage is an essential health benefit. That means it has to be available to you, either inside a health plan or as a separate dental plan. You don't have to buy it, though.

For adults, dental isn't an essential health benefit, so health plans don't have to offer it.

Watch for waiting periods

Some separate dental plans have a waiting period before they cover services for adults. During that time you still pay the monthly premium, but the plan won't pay for care until the waiting period ends. Ask the insurance company about waiting periods before you enroll.

Changing or dropping dental coverage

• If you have a separate dental plan, you can cancel it any time and keep your health plan.
• If dental is built into your health plan, you can't remove just the dental part. You'd have to switch health plans, during Open Enrollment or with a Special Enrollment Period.