The American Dental Association has estimated that three million children will gain dental benefits through the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges by 2018, compared with just 800,000 adults. The difference seems jarring, until one examines the ACA's fine print.
Under the ACA, pediatric dental coverage is considered an essential health benefit that must be included in qualified health plans sold through the exchanges. Such benefits can be offered through stand-alone dental plans or a health plan with embedded dental benefits. In addition, pediatric dental coverage can be sold as a child-only plan or as a family plan.
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