The
deadline to sign up for insurance through the online marketplaces, created by
the Affordable Care Act, is only a few weeks away. People who have not yet
purchased an insurance plan have until March 31 to do so.
According
to the Department
of Health and Human Services, approximately 4 million
people had signed up for a plan through the federal and state-based
marketplaces at the end of February, and the number of uninsured
individuals continues to fall.
After
March 31, each individual who does not have health insurance will have to pay a
penalty of $95, or 1 percent of their yearly household income (if that is
higher). The amount of the fine will increase each year. Bear in mind that for
families, each uninsured person will be assessed the penalty. So for a family
of three – two parents and one adult child living at home, the amount can add
up. More on that here: [http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/03/12/deadline-health-insurance]
As
you may remember,
the ACA included pediatric dental care as one the 10 essential health benefits
so all children under the age of 19 will have access to dental insurance.
Although pediatric dental is
not a requirement for those shopping through the insurance Marketplaces,
many Marketplaces have made dental plans that cover children and adults
available for purchase. It’s important to take the extra step to purchase a
dental plan so that you and your family are covered. Dental disease is the
single most common chronic childhood illness in the US, yet it is almost 100
percent preventable with regular dental care.
It
is equally as important that adults are getting the proper oral care as well,
since oral
health is directly linked to your overall health.
The Surgeon General’s report on oral
health in America reminds us that oral health means more
than sound teeth; oral health is integral to overall health. In fact, employed
adults lose more than 164 million hours of work each year due to dental disease
or dental visits.
Some
state insurance Marketplaces have acknowledged the importance of dental
coverage by making dental plans available to anyone, not just those shopping
for medical coverage. Unfortunately, the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace
(FFM) has not taken this important step. If you live in a state using the FFM,
you must first purchase a medical plan before being allowed to shop for a
dental plan. This unnecessary barrier to dental coverage can and should be
removed so that all Americans can access critical oral health benefits.
Prevention
is key when it comes to oral health. Visiting your dentist every year is one of
the most important factors in maintaining good oral health. Without dental
insurance, however, preventive checkups can be costly and those without dental
coverage are 2.5 times less likely to visit a dentist than those who
are covered.
Take
charge of your health this month and make sure you sign up for coverage –
medical and dental – before March 31.