Find a plan.
Vermont dental insurance guide 2023

Vermont dental insurance guide 2023

Vermont Health Connect has certified individual and family dental plans from one insurer

Vermont uses a state-run health insurance marketplace at Vermont Health Connect for the sale of certified individual/family dental plans.

Not all insurers who offer medical plans through the Vermont 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 Vermont

How much does dental insurance cost in Vermont?

For adults who purchase their own stand-alone or family dental coverage through the exchange, premiums range from $47 to $203 per month based on the plan tier and who is enrolled.

IHC Specialty Benefits reports that the average monthly premium for a stand-alone family dental plan sold in Vermont in 2022 was $52.84.

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?

All stand-alone pediatric dental plans available through Vermont Health Connect will comply with the ACA’s pediatric dental coverage rules. This means out-of-pocket costs for pediatric dental services 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 Vermont’s benchmark plan, which does include coverage for both basic and major dental services for children.

Which insurers offer dental coverage through the Vermont marketplace?

In 2023, one insurer offers stand-alone individual/family dental coverage through the health insurance marketplace, in Vermont. These are dental plans that are not included with a medical plan and must be purchased separately:

  • Northeast Delta Dental

These plans can be purchased through Vermont Health Connect 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 Vermont's exchange?

There are also a variety of dental insurers that sell stand-alone dental plans directly to consumers in Vermont. These plans are not subject to the ACA’s essential health benefit rules for pediatric dental coverage, but they are regulated by Vermont’s Insurance Division. 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 Vermont Medicaid and CHIP provide dental coverage?

Adults and children enrolled in Medicaid in Vermont are eligible for substantial dental services. Adults have an annual cap of $1,000 per calendar year, with preventive services not counting towards that maximum. Medicaid dental benefits in Vermont do not cover cosmetic procedures and only certain elective procedures, which will likely require prior authorization. Children enrolled for Medicaid are eligible to receive the same benefits as adults with no annual cap.

Dr. Dynasaur, Vermont’s CHIP, provides extensive dental 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.
Pediatric dental is one of the essential health benefits, although it’s a bit more complicated than the other nine. Some medical policies have pediatric dental embedded in the plan, and ...
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

Vermont health insurance marketplace guide 2023

Open enrollment for 2023 coverage will continue through January 15, 2022 in Vermont. Average premium increases for 2023 amount to roughly 15%, but premium subsidies grow to keep pace with the cost of the benchmark plan. The state's individual and small group markets are no longer merged, as of 2022.

Compare plans!
Vermont health insurance marketplace guide 2023

Short-term health insurance in Vermont

healthinsurance.org has been a guide for individuals and families since 1994. Compare plans, get a free quote, & check your subsidy eligibility today.

View plan availability in your state.
Short-term health insurance in Vermont

Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Vermont

Vermont has fully embraced the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the expansion of Medicaid. And while the state's uninsured rate is among the lowest in the country, Medicaid/CHIP enrollment was only 17% higher in 2022 than it had been in late 2013, before Medicaid expansion took effect.

See if you're eligible.
Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Vermont

Medicare in Vermont

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

Compare plans!
Medicare in Vermont

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.