Yes. Dental is sold as its own policy, and you don’t need a health plan to get one.
Where to buy it.
- Straight from a dental insurer, usually at any time of year
- Through Connect for Health Colorado, which lets you pick a dental plan without a health plan. That route follows open enrollment, or a qualifying life change.
- Through your job, if dental is offered separately from the medical plan
Waiting periods. Cleanings and checkups are often covered right away. Fillings may come with a wait of a few months, and bigger work like crowns can take up to a year. If you already know you need a crown, check this before you buy.
The yearly maximum. Dental plans cap what they’ll pay in a year, and the cap is often lower than people expect. One big procedure can use up most of it. It works the opposite way from health insurance, where the cap protects you.
The network. Ask your dentist which plans they take before you choose one. It’s a short call and it saves a lot of trouble.
For kids, look at the health plan first. Marketplace health plans often include children’s dental already.
If you’re 65 or older, the answer changes a little, and we covered dental under Medicare separately.