No More Forced Bundles: New Act Allows Buying Dental Insurance Alone on Health Marketplaces

The aptly named Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act is taking aim at a specific hurdle many consumers face when trying to get dental coverage through the official health insurance marketplaces (often called Exchanges). Right now, depending on how your state or the federal Exchange is set up, you might be told, “Sure, you can buy that dental plan, but only if you also buy a full medical plan.”

Breaking Up the Bundle

This bill cuts the cord on that requirement. Specifically, Section 2 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to stop forcing consumers to buy a medical plan just because they want to buy a standalone dental plan on the Exchange. Think of it like this: If you’re eligible to shop on the marketplace, you can now walk in and buy just the dental coverage you need without the expensive, mandatory side order of full medical insurance (Section 1311(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Affordable Care Act).

Who This Helps: The Dental-Only Crowd

Who needs this? Plenty of people. Maybe you’re covered by Medicare, which doesn't include routine dental care, but you don't need a full Exchange medical plan. Or perhaps you’re a young, healthy freelancer who bought a low-cost, catastrophic health plan off the Exchange but still needs cleanings and fillings. Until now, these folks might have been locked out of the potentially competitive dental plans offered through the marketplace simply because they didn't want or need to double up on medical coverage.

This change is a win for flexibility. It means more options for people who only need dental care, potentially lowering the barrier to getting basic coverage. For someone who currently skips dental checkups because they can’t afford a $400-a-month health insurance package just to get access to a $40-a-month dental rider, this is a significant improvement in access.

The Fine Print: Implementation and Cost

While this is a straightforward, consumer-friendly change, there are two things to keep an eye on. First, the bill requires the Secretary of HHS to exercise this regulatory authority. If that process is slow, implementation could lag. Second, access doesn't automatically mean affordability. We need to watch the pricing. If the standalone dental plans offered on the Exchange end up being significantly more expensive than when they were bundled with medical plans, the benefit of increased access could be partially undercut by high costs. For now, though, this bill removes a bureaucratic hurdle, giving consumers more control over the insurance products they purchase.