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In this article:
- ACA enrollment important dates
- What’s new in the ACA for 2026
- ACA dental insurance costs and coverage
- Dental insurance options and dental savings plans
If you’re confused about dental insurance as it pertains to the Affordable Health Care Act – also known as the ACA, Obamacare, heathcare.gov, or the insurance Marketplace – you’ve come to the right place. DentalPlans.com is your one-stop resource for all things dental, from plans that help you save money on dental care and other healthcare needs to providing the information you need to make the best choices for your and your family’s dental health.
Important Dates: ACA Open Enrollment For 2026 Coverage
The annual open enrollment for ACA health coverage begins November 1, 2025. During this period, you can enroll in or change your ACA insurance coverage for 2026.
Key Dates for Obamacare / ACA Open Enrollment 2026
November 1, 2025 – Open Enrollment starts for health coverage for the 2026 plan year. See your coverage options at Healthcare.gov
or your state’s Marketplace.
December 15, 2025 – Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage starting January 1, 2026.
January 1, 2026 – Coverage begins for those who enrolled in or changed plans by December 15, 2025, and paid their first premium.
January 15, 2026 – Open Enrollment ends — this is the final day to enroll in or change health plans for 2026. After this date, you can enroll in or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
February 1, 2026 – Coverage begins for those who enrolled in or changed plans between December 16, 2025, and January 15, 2026, and paid their first premium.
Note: States that run their own Marketplaces may have different enrollment dates. Always check your state’s ACA Marketplace for the most current deadlines.
What’s new in the ACA for 2025?
Enhanced Premium Tax Credits May Expire
The expanded premium tax credits introduced during the pandemic (under the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act) are currently scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025, unless Congress passes new legislation. If not extended, subsidies in 2026 could significantly decrease, impacting affordability.
In states like Texas, some estimates suggest average monthly premiums could jump by 75%, causing hundreds of thousands to potentially go uninsured.
Nationally, Marketplace insurers are already projecting median premium increases of 12%–27%, with many falling within that range.
Tighter Eligibility, Documentation, & Enrollment Rules
New ACA rules aim to reduce improper enrollment and fraud. Key changes include:
- Eliminating monthly enrollment options introduced during the Biden era.
- Additional paperwork for income verification.
- Barring DACA recipients (those brought to the U.S. as kids) from enrolling.
- Replacing free automatic re-enrollment with a $5 monthly charge, unless new documentation is provided.
One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The 2025 federal budget law (called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) includes sweeping health-related provisions with consequences starting in 2026:
Stricter Medicaid renewal and application rules, including more frequent checks and added administrative hurdles.
Cuts to subsidies and federal support are expected to reduce healthcare access for many low-income populations. And if enhanced subsidies are allowed to expire and new restrictive rules take full effect, the ACA will be both more expensive and harder to access for many Americans in 2026.
What You Can Do
Plan ahead: Expect higher premiums and fewer subsidy dollars, starting with the 2026 coverage year.
Watch for legislation: Any extension of enhanced credits would require Congressional action.
Meet deadlines: Enroll by January 15, 2026, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Prepare documentation: Especially if you previously relied on auto-renrollment—now subject to new verification and possible fees.
The ACA and Dental Insurance
Very little has changed over the past eleven years regarding the notable lack of dental insurance coverage options for adults under Obamacare. It remains much easier to find dental coverage for your children. That said, you cannot purchase dental insurance alone through the Federal ACA, it still needs to be part of or added to your current ACA healthcare plan.
You can choose from:
Health plans with embedded dental coverage: If a health plan includes dental, the premium – the price you pay – covers both health and dental coverage.
Separate dental plans: If you pick a separate dental plan, you’ll pay a separate premium. This is in addition to the premium you pay for your Marketplace health plan.
The ACA offers two types of dental coverage:
High Coverage Level dental insurance has higher premiums (the amount you pay each month) but lower copays (what you pay out-of-pocket for dental care), and deductibles, (the amount you have to reach before insurance begins to cover services). That means you pay more monthly for a high-level but less when you actually visit a dentist. If you typically need more than basic dental care, you may want a High Coverage plan. But check the annual spending limit, ACA plans typically cap what they pay at between $750-$1,500. Once you reach your limit, you pay out of pocket until your plan renews the next year. (And you’ll have to pay your premiums as well).
A Low Coverage Level plan will cost less in monthly premiums but has higher copayments and deductibles. If you and your family usually just see the dentist for twice-yearly cleanings and a checkup, a low coverage plan may be right for you.
ACA Dental Insurance Costs (2026)
Average Premiums
Premiums for dental plans on the ACA Marketplace vary by state, the insurer, and whether you qualify for subsidies. In general*:
Lowest-cost plans – Starting around $9–$10 per month for a family. These entry-level plans typically only cover preventive care (exams, x-rays, and cleanings).
Midrange plans – Average $28 to $35 per month. They usually include preventive, basic, and some major services. Deductibles range from $50 to $100, with annual benefit caps between $1,000 and $1,500. Many midrange options still impose waiting periods up to 12 months for major services.
Higher-cost plans – Range from $40 to $60+ per month. These often come with higher annual maximums ($1,500–$2,000) and slightly shorter waiting periods (often 6 months for basic services and 12 months for major services).
Pediatric Dental Coverage (Required ACA Benefit)
The ACA requires pediatric dental coverage as an Essential Health Benefit.
For stand-alone pediatric dental plans in 2026, the annual out-of-pocket maximum is:
$425 for one child (up from $400 in 2024).
$850 for two or more children (up from $800 in 2024).
After the maximum is reached, the plan pays 100% of covered in-network services for the rest of the year.
Children may also qualify for reduced or no waiting periods for certain services. Always confirm details with your plan.
Orthodontia Coverage
Many low- and midrange ACA dental plans do not include orthodontics.
If your child needs braces or aligners, look for a plan that specifically lists orthodontia as covered, or consider alternative options such as a dental savings plan.
Adult Dental Coverage
ACA plans focus heavily on pediatric dental. Adult coverage is optional for insurers and usually offered only as a stand-alone dental plan.
Adult dental insurance tends to be more expensive and more limited in benefits compared to children’s coverage.
While subsidies may reduce the monthly cost, many adults still find dental savings plans (discount programs) a better value for reducing out-of-pocket costs on major services.
*Costs shown are average ranges for 2026 marketplace plans; actual premiums, deductibles, and coverage details vary by state and insurer.
See how much you can save with a dental savings plan.
Use our calculator below >
What are dental savings plans?
Dental savings plans, also known as dental discount plans, are a trusted alternative to traditional dental insurance that provide discounts on virtually all procedures. Plan members report saving an average of 50%** on their dental care. And, unlike dental insurance, dental savings plans have no annual limits, no restrictions on existing health conditions, and your savings start right away, even on restorative care such as root canals, crowns, dentures, and dental implants. Many plans even cover cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening and overlays.
It’s simple to choose a plan at DentalPlans.com, the largest marketplace for dental savings plans and dental insurance. You can compare more than 25 plans from the most trusted brands in healthcare, and easily join your selected plan. Want a personalized recommendation? Take our dental plan quiz online or use the calculator below.
*Based on collated and averaged ACA plan information for Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, Des Moines, IA, Miami, FL, New York, NY (state marketplace) and Tampa, FL.
** Discount Health Program consumer and provider surveys indicate average savings of 50%. Savings may vary by provider, location, and plan.
