Quick answer
For children, yes: dental care for kids under 19 is an essential health benefit, so it must be available with marketplace coverage, either built into a health plan or through a separate dental plan. For adults, dental coverage is optional. Some marketplace health plans include adult dental, and you can add a stand-alone dental plan when you enroll in a health plan, but many adults get dental coverage through work or buy it directly from an insurer.
Key takeaways
- Pediatric dental care is an essential health benefit under the ACA.
- Adult dental coverage isn’t required, and most marketplace health plans don’t include it.
- On HealthCare.gov, you can buy a stand-alone dental plan only if you also enroll in a health plan.
- Dental plans usually have an annual maximum and may have waiting periods for major work.
- Premium tax credits generally don’t help pay for a separate dental plan.
On this page
How dental coverage works in the marketplace
When you shop for an Obamacare plan on HealthCare.gov or your state’s marketplace, you’ll see two ways to get dental coverage:
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Health plan that includes dental | Dental benefits are part of your medical plan and share its premium |
| Stand-alone dental plan | A separate plan with its own premium, deductible and benefits, added when you enroll in a health plan |
Stand-alone dental plan prices shown for children don’t apply to adults, so check the plan brochure for adult rates and benefits.
What dental plans usually cover
Most dental plans pay a larger share of routine care and a smaller share of major work:
- Preventive care, like cleanings, exams and X-rays, often covered at or near 100%.
- Basic care, like fillings and simple extractions, often covered at about 80%.
- Major care, like crowns, bridges and dentures, often covered at about 50%, sometimes after a waiting period.
Plans also have an annual maximum, the most they’ll pay in a year, commonly $1,000 to $2,000 for adults. Implants, wisdom teeth removal and orthodontics have their own rules; see will health insurance pay for dental implants and does health insurance cover braces.
Coverage for children
Children’s dental coverage on marketplace plans includes preventive care and treatment, and braces when they’re medically necessary. See health insurance for children. Children on Medicaid or CHIP get dental coverage through those programs.
Where adults can get dental coverage
- Through work. Many employers offer dental plans, often at a low cost to employees. See is it cheaper to get health insurance through your employer.
- Through the marketplace, with a health plan that includes dental or a stand-alone dental plan.
- Directly from an insurer. Off-exchange dental plans may offer richer benefits; see how to buy health insurance outside the ACA exchanges.
- Medicaid. Adult dental benefits vary by state.
- Medicare Advantage. Many plans include some dental coverage; Original Medicare doesn’t.
Buying dental and medical coverage from the same company is convenient but isn’t always cheaper; see can combining your health insurance with other insurance save you money.
Is a dental plan worth it?
Add up what you’d spend on cleanings and expected work, then compare it with the plan’s yearly premium, deductible and annual maximum. If you only need two cleanings a year, paying out of pocket, or using a dentist’s in-house membership plan, may cost less. If you expect major work, check waiting periods first. See what if you can afford your medical bills out of pocket and comparing health insurance.
When you can enroll
You can add a marketplace dental plan during open enrollment, or when you enroll in a health plan after a qualifying life event. Plans bought directly from dental insurers can often be purchased any time. If you’re changing health plans, see how to switch health insurance companies.
Compare health plans, including ones with dental benefits: see quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
Does Obamacare cover dental for adults?
Not as a required benefit. Some plans include adult dental, and you can add a stand-alone dental plan when you enroll in a health plan.
Can I buy just a dental plan on HealthCare.gov?
No. On HealthCare.gov, you can add a dental plan only when you also enroll in a health plan. You can buy dental-only coverage directly from insurers.
Do premium tax credits apply to dental plans?
Generally not to stand-alone dental plans, with a limited exception for the pediatric dental portion when your health plan doesn’t include it.
Sources
This article is general information, not insurance advice. Dental benefits vary by plan and state. Last reviewed September 2026.