As you age, it may become clear to you that dental insurance coverage could save both pain and money in the future. By investing in proper coverage now, it can save time and energy in future treatments.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most young adults can remain on their parents’ health insurance plan until age 26; however, this may not always be feasible.
You Turn 26
Turning 26 brings with it many firsts, but one important one should not be forgotten is that your parents’ dental insurance will likely expire around this age. Many young adults don’t realize that once they turn 26 they must purchase their own health plan or at least figure out how to cover routine trips to the dentist and other health expenses themselves. Policies often specify an age limit after which eligibility ends – it is therefore a wise idea to research all available policies well in advance of hitting this milestone.
Under Obamacare (aka Affordable Care Act), most health insurers only cover dependent coverage until a person reaches 26. However, this has recently changed and many insurers now permit dependents to remain on their parent’s plan until 27 – this helps ensure young adults can access quality health care without risk of lapse in coverage.
Before your 26th birthday, it’s essential that you carefully consider all of your options so you have a plan in place for when your parents’ health insurance coverage ends. If you are still enrolled in school or have a job that offers health coverage, make sure to enroll during the open enrollment period that occurs just prior to your 26th birthday. Otherwise, explore plans and subsidies offered through the marketplace as soon as possible.
Consider applying for Medicaid, as this can give you access to free or low-cost health and dental coverage. If you have limited resources, Medicaid could help ensure you can afford regular visits while also preventing more serious issues down the road. Apply at either your local health department website or state marketplace site.
You Get a Job
Most children can remain covered under their parent’s dental insurance until the age of 19, depending on policy and state laws. Some insurers might extend that limit up to 22-26, or longer if the individual remains full-time student or certified as disabled. It’s crucial that young adults create a plan for their dental care once they no longer fall under parental coverage.
One strategy would be for young adults to purchase a discount dental plan as an interim solution until they are able to afford traditional insurance policies, typically at less cost and available online or over the phone. Budget your expenses to set aside money each month so as to not face an interruption of coverage and ensure affordable dental care is always accessible.
Un excellent way for young adults to obtain dental coverage is through employment that offers benefits, particularly including insurance coverage. Employers typically cover part of your premium costs while many also provide flexible spending accounts or HSAs which can be used to pay medical and dental expenses.
If your parents’ insurance coverage changes, the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace offers special enrollment periods where you can purchase individual dental plans at special rates. By exploring different options and finding one that best meets your needs and budget using an online comparison tool, the marketplace allows for you to buy individual coverage that works.
Once you’ve lost the coverage provided by your parents, it is imperative that you create and adhere to a budget for yourself. By setting realistic financial goals and sticking with them, creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better manage expenses without incurring unexpected bills that could disrupt your finances. Making small changes over time could allow you to save up enough to cover the costs of new dental policies without jeopardizing other bills.
You Get Married
Your parents’ dental insurance as a dependent will only last so long; the length of time depends on both insurer and contract terms, and will usually end upon turning 24 if you remain full-time student, permanently and totally disabled, or covered under domestic partnership where both partners financially depend upon each other. When both spouses have dental coverage through employers, the Coordination of Benefits (COB) process determines which plan pays first; it then becomes known as the primary plan.
Dependent upon your situation, you may need to contact both employers regarding changes that need to be implemented.
You Have Children
Once you’ve reached age 18 it is important to secure your own dental coverage. Dental coverage is especially essential when you have children as their teeth may require costly treatments. Deciding if paying premiums for dental insurance premiums is worth it or not is up to each individual; many dentists also provide savings plans and payment plan options to make accessing dental care more manageable.
Your parents’ dental insurance plan may impose other restrictions that determine when you no longer qualify to remain covered, such as setting age limits for dependents or rules based on cohabitation status, marriage, full-time student status or being able to secure employment-based coverage.
If you decide to acquire your own dental coverage, be sure to compare plans and select one with an adequate level of coverage for you. Most plans provide preventive services like exams and cleanings as well as basic treatments like fillings and extractions, while some even cover adult orthodontics; it’s essential that you check what exactly each policy covers if unsure what kind of policy would best fit. Speak to a dentist who can assess your individual needs to find out which option would suit you; having adequate dental coverage can save money and ensure your smile stays healthy throughout life!
