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Is dental insurance for children necessary? It depends on who you ask. Dental insurance can certainly benefit many families, including children. But, for some, it may not be worth the hassle. Here’s what you need to know about dental insurance for children, including how and when you can sign up.
When You Should Get Insurance for a Child
Preventative care is crucial when it comes to caring for your teeth. That’s why there are many situations where having dental insurance for a child is a good idea. In fact, it’s so important that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) considers dental coverage an essential health benefit for children. However, according to HealthCare.gov, “While dental coverage for children must be available to you, you don’t have to buy it.”
If you’re wondering whether you should get dental insurance for your child, here are some things to consider.
No. 1: When they’re a baby
Because babies aren’t born with teeth, it might seem silly to get them started on dental insurance so soon. But the truth is that it’s a good idea to bring your child before their first birthday. Tooth decay can occur in primary teeth (also called their baby teeth) just like it can in permanent teeth. If your child develops cavities from tooth decay, it can interfere with their ability to chew and talk normally.
Getting dental insurance for your baby before you begin taking them to the dentist can also help you get ahead of issues that could be considered preexisting conditions later. Your child’s dentist will monitor the growth of their mouth and jaw to ensure they are developing normally. Establishing a dentist for your child can also be beneficial if they ever need emergency dental care because of chipping or knocking out a baby tooth.
No. 2: When they’re starting to lose their primary teeth
Typically, children’s permanent teeth will begin to come in around their sixth birthday. Regular dental care is even more important at this stage of a child’s life to make sure they have a good foundation for practicing good oral hygiene.
By the time children start developing their permanent teeth, there’s a good chance they’ve already acquired some tooth decay. This can happen easily because of the buildup of sugary foods and drinks – including juices and milk – that children often consume.
Getting dental insurance for your children as their permanent teeth begin to come in can prevent and treat tooth decay from a young age.
No. 3: During open enrollment
Open enrollment is the time of year when you can change your health, dental and vision insurance. It usually occurs between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15 of any given year, though some states may have slightly different dates. During open enrollment, you may have a couple of options when it comes to getting new insurance plans.
If your employer offers insurance benefits, they will give you information about the plans they have selected for the upcoming year. Your employer may offer dental plans that are embedded into a health insurance plan or they may offer stand-alone dental insurance plans. Either way, you would need to check the policy to see whether you can include children in your employer-sponsored plan. If you’d like to enroll in one of the employer’s plans, you can do so through them.
Alternatively, you can enroll in insurance plans through your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace. Depending on what’s available in your area, you may have a few different options. You may be able to find a health insurance plan that offers dental coverage within the plan or as an add-on to your health insurance policy. You should also be able to find stand-alone dental insurance plans to enroll in.
No. 4: When you have a qualifying life event
If you do not sign up for insurance during the open enrollment period, you may not be able to receive coverage for the year. However, there are some circumstances in which you can enroll in a new insurance plan outside of the open enrollment period. If you experience a qualifying life event, you’ll have a special enrollment period during which you can look for new insurance.
Qualifying life events include loss of healthcare coverage, which is what happens when children are no longer eligible to stay on their parents health insurance because of their age. If you have employer-sponsored coverage and you lose your job, this is considered a qualifying life event. A change in income or residence may also make you eligible to change your insurance plan.
Adding a child to your family is also considered a qualifying life event. You can add a child to your insurance policy within a period of time after birth or adoption, no matter what time of year it is.
How to Add Children to Your Dental Insurance
If you already have dental insurance, you should be able to easily add your child. You’ll need to check with your dental insurance provider to see exactly what steps you need to take to get coverage for your child.
In most cases, you’ll need to wait until open enrollment to add a child to your dental insurance policy. The exception to this rule is if you have a qualifying life event that makes you eligible for new or changing insurance coverage. Fortunately, having a baby is considered a qualifying life event, making it easy to get your baby started with dental insurance immediately. Most insurance companies allow you to add a baby within 30 days after they’re born.
When Do Kids Fall Off A Parent’s Dental Insurance?
The Affordable Care Act requires dependent children to be able to remain on their parents ‘health insurance plan until age 26. On a child’s 26th birthday, they will no longer be able to stay on their parents’ insurance.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t always extend to dental insurance. Each insurance company can set its own policy regarding how long it will allow children to remain insured with their parents’ insurance plan. Some insurance providers allow dependents to stay on their parents’ insurance policy up to age 26, while others may cut off dental coverage for dependents after age 19. It’s important to check with your insurance provider to see what its policy is.
Is Cash a Cheaper Way to Pay for Dental Care?
It might be tempting to forego dental insurance to eliminate an extra expense. For some people, dental insurance may not be worth the expense. But for others, dental insurance might save a lot of money despite the upfront cost of having a policy. It all depends on your dental health, how often you see the dentist and your dentist’s office.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to anticipate the amount of dental care that anyone may need in a given year. Children can have no cavities for years and then suddenly start having issues with tooth decay. Or your child could fall on the playground and crack a tooth, which might require an expensive emergency dental procedure. In these cases, dental insurance would likely help you save money on dental expenses.
Compare Dental Insurance
Whether you’re looking for a kids dental insurance or a plan for the whole family, there are factors to consider. Benzinga’s reviews of the top dental insurance providers can help you navigate your options to select the best fit for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should children go to the dentist?
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How often should children go to the dentist?
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Ashley Hart
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Children, like adults, should visit the dentist every six months for a regular preventative exam and cleaning. They should also go to the dentist if they’re experiencing tooth pain or experiencing other symptoms that may be related to dental disease. If a child’s dentist recommends fillings for cavities or other treatments, children may need additional dentist appointments.
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Benzinga
What happens if I don’t have dental insurance for children?
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What happens if I don’t have dental insurance for children?
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Ashley Hart
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There is no penalty for not having dental insurance for your child. If your child does not have dental insurance, you should still bring them to the dentist regularly for preventative and restorative care. The difference is that you will have to pay for your child’s dental care out-of-pocket.
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Benzinga
To determine the best dental insurance providers, we pored through all United States carriers. We winnowed the list by only including companies that have a wide coverage area and product offering. To further break down the list to the true best dental insurance providers, we gave weight to carriers that offer discounts, are available in all states and have multiple payment plan options.
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