Dental Insurance for Individuals

Dental coverage (for adults) is available either as part of a comprehensive medical plan, or by itself through a “stand-alone” dental plan.

Under the health care law, dental insurance is treated differently for adults and children 19 and under.

• Dental coverage for children is an essential health benefit. This means if you’re getting coverage for someone 19 or younger, dental coverage must be available as part of a health plan or as a stand-alone plan. While it must be available to you, you do not have to buy it.
• This is not the case for adults. Insurers don’t have to offer adult dental coverage.

Under the health care law, most people must have health coverage or pay a penalty. But this isn’t true for dental coverage. You don’t need to have dental coverage, even for children, to avoid the penalty.