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Maryland dental insurance guide 2023

Maryland dental insurance guide 2023

Maryland Health Connection has certified individual and family dental plans from four insurers

Maryland uses a fully state-run exchange known as the Maryland Health Connection for the sale of certified individual/family dental plans.

Not all insurers that offer medical plans through the Maryland exchange include dental services with their health plans. Both pediatric and adult dental coverage may be purchased through the exchange.

Frequently asked questions about dental coverage in Maryland

How much does dental insurance cost in Maryland?

For adults who purchase their own stand-alone or family dental coverage through the exchange, premiums range from $21 to $90 per month.

IHC Specialty Benefits reports that the average monthly premium for a stand-alone family dental plan sold in Maryland in 2022 was $46.71.

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 exchange-certified pediatric stand-alone dental plans available in Maryland 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 Maryland’s benchmark plan, which does include coverage for both basic and major dental services for children.

Which insurers offer dental coverage through the Maryland marketplace?

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

  • Dominion National
  • Delta Dental
  • DeltaCare USA / Alpha Dental
  • CareFirst BCBS

These plans can be purchased through the Maryland exchange 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 Maryland's exchange?

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

In Maryland, there are also various dental discount plans available. Dental discount plans are not dental insurance, but can offer lower prices for services 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 Maryland Medicaid and CHIP provide dental coverage?

Starting in 2023 (due to legislation enacted in 2022), Maryland permanently expanded dental services for adult Medicaid recipients. Adults now have access to diagnostic, preventive, periodontal, and restorative services with no cap or annual benefit maximum. Children can receive dental services through Medicaid and the state’s Healthy Smiles program.

MCHP, which is Maryland’s CHIP, provides coverage to uninsured children and pregnant women with income above the eligibility limits for Medicaid.

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 ...

Other types of coverage

Individual and Family
Short-term
Medicaid
Medicare

Maryland health insurance marketplace guide 2023

CareFirst, CareFirst Blue Choice, Kaiser, and UnitedHealthcare offer exchange plans for 2023, with an overall average rate increase of 6.6%. From 2019 through 2021, rates declined significantly, due to the state's successful reinsurance program. Maryland is continuing to offer additional state-funded subsidies for young adults in 2023.

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Maryland health insurance marketplace guide 2023

Short-term health insurance in Maryland

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

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Short-term health insurance in Maryland

Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Maryland

Medicaid/CHIP enrollment in Maryland has grown significantly in the last few years. From late 2013 to late 2022, enrollment grew by 95%. Much of that growth is due to the state’s decision to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, and the COVID pandemic, which drove Medicaid enrollment higher nationwide. Maryland Medicaid began providing adult dental benefits as of 2023.

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Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Maryland

Medicare in Maryland

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

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Medicare in Maryland

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.