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Arkansas dental insurance guide 2023

Arkansas dental insurance guide 2023

The Arkansas health insurance marketplace has certified individual and family dental plans from three insurers

Arkansas has a state-based exchange using the federal enrollment platform at HealthCare.gov for the sale of certified individual/family dental plans.

Not all insurers who offer medical plans through the Arkansas exchange include dental coverage with their health plans, but stand-alone dental plans are available for purchase that cover both adults and children.

Frequently asked questions about dental coverage in Arkansas

How much does dental insurance cost in Arkansas?

For adults who purchase their own or family stand-alone dental coverage through the exchange, premiums range from $36 to $93 per month.

IHC Specialty Benefits reports that the average monthly premium for a stand-alone family dental plan sold in Arkansas in 2022 was $43.57.

If a family is purchasing coverage through the health insurance exchange, the premiums associated with pediatric dental coverage may or may not be offset by premium tax credits (premium subsidies). Here’s more about how that works, depending on whether the health plan has integrated pediatric dental benefits.

Are stand-alone pediatric dental plans on the exchange ACA-compliant?

The pediatric stand-alone dental plans available in Arkansas will comply with the ACA’s pediatric dental coverage rules. This means out-of-pocket costs for pediatric dental care will not exceed $375 per child in 2023 (or $750 for all the children on a family’s plan), and there is no cap on medically-necessary pediatric dental benefits.

As is the case for all essential health benefits, the specific coverage requirements for pediatric dental care are guided by the state’s essential health benefits benchmark plan.

You can see details here for Arkansas’s benchmark plan, which does include coverage for both basic and major dental services for children.

Which insurers offer dental coverage through the Arkansas marketplace?

In 2023, there are three insurers that offer stand-alone individual/family dental coverage through the health insurance marketplace in Arkansas. These are dental plans that are not included with a medical plan and must be purchased separately:

  • BEST Life
  • Delta Dental of Arkansas
  • Arkansas BCBS

These plans can be purchased through HealthCare.gov during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15) or during a special enrollment period triggered by a qualifying life event. Exchange-certified stand-alone dental plans are compliant with the ACA’s rules for pediatric dental coverage.

Can I buy dental insurance outside of Arkansas's exchange?

There are also a variety of dental insurers that sell stand-alone dental plans directly to consumers in Arkansas. These plans are not subject to the ACA’s essential health benefit rules for pediatric dental coverage, but they are regulated by the Arkansas Insurance Department. If you would like to purchase a non-ACA qualified dental plan, ask a dentist for recommendations or search online.

There are also various dental discount plans available in every state. Dental discount plans are not insurance, but can offer discounted rates at participating dentists. Here’s what you need to know about the differences between dental insurance and dental discount plans.

To find plans in your area, search online for dental discount plans and the state you are looking to buy a plan in.

How does Arkansas Medicaid and CHIP provide dental coverage?

Adults enrolled in Medicaid in Arkansas are eligible to receive up to $500 in annual dental services (not including extractions and dentures). Eligible children (up to age 21) can receive comprehensive dental benefits.

ARKids First (a combination CHIP program) provides dental coverage to children and some women with income above the eligibility limits for Medicaid.

What dental resources are available in Arkansas?

Related articles

Here's what you need to know when you're shopping for adult dental coverage through a state health insurance marketplace or directly from a dental plan carrier.
There is no penalty for not having pediatric dental on your policy – and in most exchanges, you can purchase a plan without pediatric dental. But off-exchange, carriers are required ...
If you're an adult who bought a dental insurance plan, your out-of-pocket costs will depend entirely on the amount of dental care you need during the year. But for children, ...
For those who purchase their own insurance, the decision to purchase dental coverage is not always as clear-cut as the decision to purchase health insurance.
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Dental insurance and dental discount plans can both be useful in terms of reducing your total dental costs, but they vary significantly in terms of the benefits you get and ...

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Arkansas health insurance marketplace guide 2023

Arkansas transitioned to a state-based exchange in 2017, but is continuing to use the Healthcare.gov enrollment platform. Centene/Ambetter (including QualChoice) and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield (including Health Advantage) offer plans for 2023. Average rates increased about 6%, and enrollment hit a new record high for 2023.

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Arkansas health insurance marketplace guide 2023

Short-term health insurance in Arkansas

Check short-term health insurance plan availability in Arkansas and shop for coverage. Learn about state regulations regarding short-term plan duration and renewal.

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Short-term health insurance in Arkansas

Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Arkansas

Arkansas expanded Medicaid by using Medicaid funds to purchase exchange plans for eligible enrollees. The program has been altered over time and is now called Arkansas Health and Opportunities for Me (ARHOME). The state still uses a privatized approach to Medicaid expansion, but will temporarily pause automatic enrollment of new enrollees in private plans (letting the default be traditional fee-for-service Medicaid instead) if enrollment in private plans exceeds 80% of all ARHOME enrollees (all enrollees still have the option to select a private plan).

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Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Arkansas

Medicare in Arkansas

For all information on Medicare in Arkansas, healthinsurance.org has you covered. Get all the resources you need to make an informed decision.

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Medicare in Arkansas

Learn about health insurance coverage options in your state.

Our state guides offer up-to-date information about ACA-compliant individual and family plans and marketplace enrollment; Medicaid expansion status and Medicaid eligibility; short-term health insurance regulations and short-term plan availability; and Medicare plan options.