Does Obamacare Cover Dental?

Is dental insurance included in Obamacare? The short answer: for adults it is not, but at least basic services for children will be included.

Provisions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare) require health polices to provide dental for children. Usually, the details of the children’s dental coverage can be found in the same brochure as the major medical coverage for the whole family. This dental coverage does not apply to anyone on the policy who is over 18.

However, many people add dental to their policy and most carriers offer the option to have the billing for both plans on the same statement. The Health Insurance Marketplace makes this very easy; before finalizing the major medical policy there is an option to add a dental plan. It is important to recognize that dental coverage is not part of the health insurance requirement – a dental plan does not need to be added in order to avoid the penalty for not having health insurance.

Particularly if you believe you will be receiving a tax credit to lower the cost of your health insurance, it is highly recommended to add a dental plan. Dental plans are inexpensive and provide great coverage – free cleanings, low copays for exams and low deductibles for major work.

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