<p>Our medical insurance plan is being discontinued so I’m looking at new plans. (What a headache!)</p>
<p>In the process, I’ve discovered that I am required to purchase dental insurance. We have not had dental insurance for many years now. We simply have an arrangement with our dentist and pay out of pocket at the time of service. No problem. So, from what was explained to me, is that I’'m now required to buy dental ins or I will be penalized. So, I now have to waste money on a policy that I don’t need and won’t use. I fail to see the logic in this. Can I not be trusted to make good decisions for my family? Ack. </p>
<p>The insurance rep I spoke with tonight said that what is unknown (at least it is unknown to her) is how the gov will find out who had dental and when they will begin penalizing people. It seems that I have to show proof that I have a dental plan when I buy medical ins but can’t I just buy a plan, pay for a month and then discontinue playing? Seems like a way around this, but then I’m a total newbie to dealing with ACA and all it little fun facts and details. </p>
<p>How has everyone else dealt this this issue?</p>
<p>Who is requiring you to purchase dental insurance? We haven’t had it for years. In the first place, I only have my teeth cleaned twice a year and have not needed any other dental care for 20 years. The cleaning costs much less than dental insurance would. And in the second place, my sister is a dentist. That’s who my husband uses if he needs anything. I have not read or heard anywhere that dental insurance is required.</p>
<p>You are not required to buy dental insurance for yourself. Under ACA, you are required to buy dental insurance for your kids who are under 18. If you are in California, Anthem Blue Shield will require that and charge you the premium if you buy off-exchange, even if you don’t have kids under 18, but the children’s dental won’t cover you. That isn’t the law, none of the other insurance companies do that. If you buy on-exchange, then you don’t get that extra charge. </p>
<p>The cost of children’s dental isn’t much and you are right, that the coverage isn’t worth much either. But poor kids who don’t get seen by a dentist regularly have all sorts of horrible medical problems because infections in the mouth lead to other bad stuff. So that’s why the law is now: “all kids must have dental insurance.” Also probably there was some lobbying by dentists back when the law was being written. </p>
<p>Thanks for the explanation of ACA calmom.
My son will be 18 just 5 weeks after the new plan takes effect. So much hassle could be avoided if our plan terminated just a few weeks later. </p>
<p>We are on the other coast, so CA’s situation isn’t the one we are facing. </p>
<p>I understand that dental insurance can help some people. I just wish that we were not all mandated to buy it as not everyone needs it. There are options aside from dental insurance for paying for dental work like what we have arranged with our dentist. We will remain with him until he retires and he’s too young to be thinking of retiring anytime soon. :)</p>
<p>Again, you just need it for your son. I don’t think there’s any legal reason why you can’t drop it after he turns 18. If all they are asking is proof that you have it, then buy a policy for the kid, and as soon as he hits his 18th birthday, cancel the policy. You’ll pay 2 months’ premiums and that will be it.</p>
<p>By the way, dental is my biggest expense by far, and the biggest for my kids – if I factor in the cost of orthodontia +wisdom teeth removal I spent thousands on dental for them. But even without that I’ve paid a huge amount. Cracked a tooth a couple of years back, a crown cost $1300. I probably had $3000-$4000 worth of periodontal expenses last year. So I wish I could get dental insurance, but I learned a while back that it just doesn’t pay enough in benefits to be worth it, unless you opt for a dental HMO. The dental expenses are one reason I’ve gone with a HSA plan for my insurance - the insurance won’t pay, but I can use HSA dollars to pay the bills. </p>
<p>We have SOME dental coverage under H’s policy. It covers annual or more frequent cleanings, a portion of fillings, crowns and extractions (including pulling wisdom teeth). It is not a standalone dental policy but part of H’s federal medical coverage. Both our kids were covered under our family plan until they reach 26. H is now getting coverage from his employer–also a federal plan, but his is individual and I believe he has low premiums tha his employer pays 2/3rd or more of.</p>
<p>Himom, employer provided dental is different (better) than what is available on the individual market. So you are comparing apples to oranges. I assumed that bookreader is buying from the individual market by the way she phrased her concern. </p>
<p>" We simply have an arrangement with our dentist and pay out of pocket at the time of service. No problem. So, from what was explained to me, is that I’'m now required to buy dental ins or I will be penalized."
you should check into this agreement because it may cover the requirement of purchasing insurance. There are even some medical docs who are moving into this direction since it is cheaper for both sides. I heard one of them said (TV), that in his case, the arrangement is OK for covering requirement of medical insurance. I guess, it all depends on specific situation / practice / arrangment / paperwork / set up.</p>
<p>You should also check with your HR department/representative - “Change of life situations” like gaining or losing eligibility for coverage generally allow you to change that coverage even outside your open enrollment period. When your son turns 18, you may be able to immediately and legally terminate your no-longer-legally-mandated dental coverage.</p>
<p>Calmom is right. We are looking at the individual market which is entirely different from the employer-sponsored market. I should have been clearer in my original post. Individual dental plans cover very little for what you pay and I have no idea why they are being forced on us as they are often a poor value for the money. I’m sure that someone may find them useful. Perhaps it is just the plans that I am seeing compared to the dental costs in my area. </p>
<p>And yes, we have also spent a good deal of money in this category as 3 out of the 4 kids have needed braces. Even when we had dental coverage (over 10 years ago), orthodontia wasn’t covered much if at all. </p>
<p>I have to reassure you that NO dental coverage is any good, it has not been adjusted up in about 60 years, while cost has skyrocketted. We paid about $1500 out of our pocket just last year and both of us have 2 coverages - form each employer. They cover so little, they do not cover implants at all (maybe very few) and if you are really “dentally” challenged (using politically correct terminology), you are out of luck. I am planning to check out some opportunities abroad where I know that there are some American and Canadian dentists have practices. It has gotten to unsustainable levels here, and on top, Medicare does not cover anything at all, only removables. </p>